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French Phrase

Je te souhaite une bonne soirée.

/ʒə tə swɛt yn bɔn swa.ʁe/
Meaning"I wish you a good evening."
💡

Meaning

This phrase is a polite and warm way to bid someone farewell in the late afternoon or evening. It literally means 'I wish you a good evening' and conveys a sense of well-wishing for the person's remaining hours of the day. It is more formal than a simple 'bonne soirée' but remains very common in daily interactions.

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When to use

Use this when leaving a friend, colleague, or acquaintance after 5 PM or 6 PM. It is perfect for ending a conversation, hanging up the phone, or leaving a social gathering.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Jetesouhaiteunebonnesoirée

1

Je te

The subject 'Je' (I) is followed by the indirect object pronoun 'te' (you), meaning 'to you'.

2

Souhaite

This is the first-person singular present tense of the verb 'souhaiter' (to wish).

3

Bonne soirée

The adjective 'bonne' (good) is feminine to match the noun 'soirée' (evening).

🗨In Conversation

A

Merci pour le dîner, c'était délicieux.

Thank you for the dinner, it was delicious.

De rien ! Je te souhaite une bonne soirée.

You're welcome! I wish you a good evening.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Je te souhaite un bon soir.

    Use 'soirée' to refer to the duration or the experience of the evening rather than the point in time.

  • Je te souhaite une bonne nuit.

    'Bonne nuit' is only used when someone is actually going to sleep.

↔Alternatives

  • Bonne soirée !

    Good evening!

  • Passe une bonne soirée.

    Have a good evening.

  • Je vous souhaite une excellente soirée.

    I wish you an excellent evening.

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Cultural Tip

In France, the transition from 'bonjour' to 'bonsoir' usually happens around 6 PM. Saying 'bonne soirée' implies the evening is still ongoing and the person will enjoy it, whereas 'bonne nuit' is strictly reserved for when someone is going to bed.