French Phrase
Bonne nuit.
Meaning
A friendly way to wish someone a good night, usually said when parting in the evening or before going to sleep. It conveys a warm, caring sentiment and is equivalent to English ‘Good night.’
When to use
Use it after dinner, at bedtime, or when you are leaving someone’s home late in the evening. It is not used as a greeting in the morning or early afternoon; for those times you would say ‘Bonjour’ or ‘Bon après‑midi.’
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bonnenuit
Adjective agreement
‘Bonne’ is the feminine form of the adjective ‘bon’ and must agree with the feminine noun ‘nuit’.
Noun gender
‘Nuit’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘night’; therefore the preceding adjective takes the feminine ending –e.
🗨In Conversation
Bonne nuit !
Good night!
Merci, à demain !
Thanks, see you tomorrow!
✕Common Mistakes
Bon nuit.
‘Bon’ is the masculine form; ‘nuit’ is feminine, so the adjective must be ‘bonne’.
Bonne nuitée.
‘Nuitée’ is a noun meaning ‘overnight stay’; it is rarely used as a farewell and sounds overly formal.
Bon soir.
The correct expression for ‘good evening’ is ‘Bonne soirée’; ‘Bon soir’ is not idiomatic.
↔Alternatives
Bonne soirée.
Good evening.
Dors bien.
Sleep well.
Fais de beaux rêves.
Sweet dreams.
Bonne nuitée.
Have a good night (rare, more formal).
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking families it’s common to say ‘Bonne nuit’ to children and close relatives, often accompanied by a kiss on the cheek. In a more formal or business setting you would usually say ‘Bonne soirée’ earlier in the evening and reserve ‘Bonne nuit’ for when you’re actually leaving the person’s presence for the night.