Meaning of French bonne année in English

Bonne Année is the French way to say “Happy New Year.” The phrase literally means “good year,” with bonne being the feminine form of “good” and année meaning “year.”

Like in English, the French say bonne année at midnight on New Year’s Eve and throughout the first few days of January. It’s often paired with et bonne santé (“and good health”), since health is traditionally considered the most important thing to wish for in the new year. When writing a formal card or email, you might see longer expressions, such as Je vous souhaite une bonne année pleine de bonheur (“I wish you a happy new year full of happiness”).

Interestingly, in France, it’s common to continue saying bonne année well into January, especially when greeting someone for the first time that year. There’s even an informal “deadline” — by the end of the month, people stop saying it.

Though bonne année is a fixed phrase, it shares its structure with other common well-wishes in French, like bon anniversaire (“happy birthday”) or bon voyage (“have a good trip”). So, while the direct translation of “Happy New Year” works, the phrase follows a broader French pattern of using bon or bonne to wish someone well.