You’re standing at the airport gate. Your best friend is heading to Tokyo for six months. You want to say something better than "have fun," but "see ya" feels a bit too casual for a life-changing move. You settle on those two famous words: Bon voyage. It feels sophisticated. It feels final. It feels... French. But honestly, most of us just toss the phrase around without actually knowing where it started or why it stuck.
The meaning of bon voyage is technically simple, but the vibe it carries is surprisingly heavy. It’s not just a polite wave. It’s a centuries-old linguistic handoff from the French language to the rest of the world, specifically aimed at people braving the unknown. Back when "traveling" usually involved a wooden boat and a high probability of scurvy, wishing someone a "good journey" was less about a vacation and more about a survival wish.
Today, we use it for weekend trips to Vegas. There's a bit of a disconnect there, right?
Where did the meaning of bon voyage actually come from?
It’s French. Obviously. If you break it down literally, bon means "good" and voyage means "journey" or "trip." Simple. But the word voyage itself has roots in the Old French veage, which stretches back to the Latin viaticum. In Roman times, viaticum referred to the money or provisions given to a soldier or traveler for their trip.
So, at its core, the phrase isn't just a wish; it's a nod to the resources and safety required to get from point A to point B.
By the 17th century, the phrase started bleeding into English. You’ll find it in literature and ship manifests from the 1600s. Back then, "travel" was genuinely dangerous. People didn't go to Europe to "find themselves"; they went for trade, war, or colonization, and many didn't come back. When someone said bon voyage in 1750, they weren't hoping you liked the hotel breakfast. They were hoping you didn't hit a reef or get intercepted by privateers in the Atlantic.
The French Perspective
Interestingly, if you go to Paris today, you might hear Bon voyage, but you're just as likely to hear Bonne route (good road) or Bon séjour (good stay). The meaning of bon voyage in its native tongue is specific to the act of moving. Once you arrive at your destination, the voyage is over. If you tell someone bon voyage while they are already sitting at a cafe in Lyon, they’ll look at you like you’ve lost your mind. It’s for the transition, not the destination.
Why English speakers are obsessed with it
We love borrowing French words to make things sound fancy. It's called "prestige borrowing."
Saying "have a good trip" is functional. It’s a hammer. It gets the job done. Saying bon voyage is like using a gold-plated screwdriver. It adds a layer of romanticism. It evokes images of 1920s ocean liners, steam trunks, and champagne toasts on the deck of the Titanic (hopefully with a better ending).
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English is a scavenger language. We saw a perfectly good French phrase and decided it filled a gap. We don't really have a single-word equivalent that captures the same spirit. "Godspeed" is too religious for most. "Safe travels" is a bit clinical. Bon voyage hits that sweet spot of adventure and class.
Common mistakes people make with the phrase
Listen, if you’re going to use it, use it right.
First off, the pronunciation. It’s not "Bawn-Voy-Age." It’s closer to bohn vwah-yahzh. The "n" in bon is nasal—you don't really pronounce it fully. You sort of let it hang out in the back of your throat. And please, for the love of linguistics, don't say "Bones Voyages" if there's more than one person. Even if you’re talking to a crowd, the phrase usually stays singular in common English usage, though the French would pluralize it in writing as bons voyages.
Another thing? Don't use it for a commute.
"Hey, I'm heading to the grocery store."
"Bon voyage!"
No. That’s weird. Unless the grocery store is three states away and you’re traveling by mule, keep it in your pocket. The meaning of bon voyage implies a significant distance or a journey of some substance. It requires an itinerary.
When is it actually appropriate?
- International flights: Absolutely.
- Road trips: Kinda, if it's a long one (think Cross-Country, not a trip to the mall).
- Cruises: This is the phrase's natural habitat.
- Starting a new chapter: Sometimes people use it metaphorically when someone starts a new job or a marriage. It’s a bit "extra," but it works.
The "Bon Voyage" party: A dying tradition?
We used to have actual parties for this. Before commercial flight became a miserable experience of taking off your shoes and sitting in middle seats, people would gather on docks to see off travelers. They’d throw streamers. They’d drink.
In the mid-20th century, "Bon Voyage" gift baskets were a massive industry. You’d send fruit, wine, and chocolates to someone’s cabin on a ship. Nowadays, we send a text with a plane emoji.
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Maybe we should bring it back? Honestly, travel has become so routine that we’ve lost the "gravity" of it. Reclaiming the meaning of bon voyage is about acknowledging that leaving home is still a big deal. It’s a transition from the known to the unknown.
Cultural variations: How the rest of the world says it
If you feel like bon voyage is a bit too cliché, there are plenty of other ways to send someone off. Every culture has its own version of this safety-check-plus-well-wish.
- Sayonara (Japanese): Most people think this just means "goodbye," but it’s heavier. It’s more like "if it must be so." It’s often used when the parting is for a long time.
- Buen viaje (Spanish): The direct equivalent. Very common, very friendly.
- Godspeed (English): This one is old school. It comes from "God spede," meaning "May God prosper you." It’s what you say when someone is doing something genuinely dangerous, like launching into space. NASA uses it a lot.
- Vaya con Dios (Spanish): "Go with God." More religious, very final.
- Arrivederci (Italian): Literally "until we see each other again." It implies a return, which is a nice sentiment for a traveler.
The psychology of the "Good Journey"
Why do we feel the need to say anything at all?
Social scientists like Bronislaw Malinowski have studied "phatic communication"—speech that serves a social function rather than conveying information. When you say bon voyage, you aren't actually informing the traveler that you hope their trip is good. They already know you hope that. You're performing a ritual.
Rituals reduce anxiety. Travel is stressful. By using a set phrase, we’re creating a "safety blanket" of words. We’re signaling that the person is leaving the tribe, but they are still part of it, and we expect them to return. It’s a social tether.
Technical grammar check (for the nerds)
Is it capitalized? Usually only if it’s the start of a sentence or a title.
Is it italicized? In formal writing, foreign loanwords are often italicized (bon voyage), but this phrase has been in English for so long (since 1676) that most style guides, like the AP Stylebook, say you don't need to. It's officially part of the English lexicon now.
How to use "Bon Voyage" in 2026
If you want to use the phrase without sounding like a 19th-century aristocrat or a robot, context is everything.
The "Classic" approach: Use it in a handwritten card. There is something timeless about seeing Bon Voyage written in ink on heavy paper. It feels intentional.
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The "Ironic" approach: Using it for very small journeys. "Going to the kitchen for snacks? Bon voyage!" It’s a dad joke. Use sparingly.
The "Metaphorical" approach: When someone is retiring. It’s the ultimate "long trip."
Key takeaways for your next send-off
Understanding the meaning of bon voyage helps you pick the right moment for it. It's a phrase rooted in history, carry-on luggage, and a genuine wish for safety.
- Don't overthink the French. Most people won't care if your accent is perfect, but getting the "V" sound right helps.
- Save it for the big stuff. It loses its punch if you say it every time someone leaves the room.
- Pair it with something real. Instead of just shouting the phrase, tell them why you're excited for their trip.
Practical steps for a meaningful goodbye
If you're actually seeing someone off soon, skip the generic text. If they are moving abroad or taking a major trip, try a "Bon Voyage" kit instead of just the words.
Throw together a small pouch with a high-quality eye mask, some local currency for their destination, and a physical note. In the note, you can mention the history of the phrase—how it’s been used for hundreds of years to protect travelers. It turns a cliché into a conversation piece.
Check the destination's specific customs too. In some cultures, like Russia, there’s a tradition of "sitting for a minute" in silence before leaving on a journey. It’s a moment of reflection that pairs perfectly with a final bon voyage as you stand up to head to the door.
Next time you’re at the terminal, remember that you’re participating in a linguistic tradition that outdates airplanes, trains, and even the United States itself. It’s a small way to make the world feel a little more connected, one journey at a time.