🌙 How to Say Good Evening in French — and When to Use It

“Good evening” may seem like a simple phrase, but in French, what you say actually depends on one key detail: Are you just arriving or about to leave? And more importantly—is the evening still going on, or is it time for bed? Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it all so you can greet and part ways like a true French speaker.

So let’s see how to say good evening in French.

👋 When You’re Arriving: “Bonsoir”

If you’re arriving somewhere—whether it’s a restaurant, a party, or a friend’s house in the evening—you’ll simply say:

Bonsoir. → Good evening.

It’s just like saying “Bonjour” during the day—friendly, polite, and perfectly appropriate in almost every situation.

Example:

Bonsoir, est-ce que vous avez une table pour deux ?
Good evening, do you have a table for two?

French people use Bonsoir as a neutral greeting in the evening. It doesn’t sound overly formal—nothing like the grand “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen” you might hear in English. It’s warm, natural, and a common part of everyday French conversation.

(And just a heads-up: if you say Bonjour late in the day, someone might jokingly glance out the window to check if the sun’s still up!)

After greeting someone, it’s just as important to know how to say bye in French when it’s time to leave.

🚶‍♀️ When You’re Leaving: “Bonne soirée”

Now, if you’re heading out or saying goodbye in the evening, the phrase changes. This time, you’re not greeting—you’re wishing someone a good evening ahead.

Bonne soirée. → Have a good evening.

Examples:

Bonne soirée, à demain !
Have a good evening, see you tomorrow!
Merci encore, bonne soirée !
Thanks again, have a nice evening!

This is what you say when the evening is still going, and the people you’re talking to are likely to stay up a while—maybe they’re having dinner, watching a movie, or continuing a night out. It’s a little goodbye with a kind wish tucked in.

For more examples, have a look here.

💌 Want to Add a Personal Touch?

You can make your evening wish a little warmer or more personal with a full sentence:

Je vous souhaite une bonne soirée.
I wish you a good evening. (formal/plural)
Je te souhaite une bonne soirée.
I wish you a good evening. (informal/singular)

Both of these sound a little more heartfelt—great for a friendly or slightly more formal context.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Talking to a Group?

If you’re addressing several people, especially if they’re staying behind to enjoy themselves, you can say:

Bonne fin de soirée à tous.
Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone.
Excellente soirée à tous.
Wishing you all a wonderful evening.
Passez une bonne soirée.
Enjoy your evening.

These phrases work especially well if you’re leaving a gathering or event a bit early, and want to send off the others with a cheerful farewell.

😴 What If It’s Bedtime?

Ah, now here’s an important distinction: if the person you’re talking to is clearly winding down for the night—pajamas on, teeth brushed—bonne soirée no longer fits.

In that case, you switch to:

Bonne nuit. → Good night.

This is the equivalent of “sleep well” or “sweet dreams.” It marks the end of the day, not just the evening.

🌟 In Short

Situation	What to say
Arriving in the evening	Bonsoir
Leaving but the evening continues	Bonne soirée
Leaving and it’s bedtime	Bonne nuit

🌜 Final Words

French has a lovely way of making even simple things like “hello” and “goodbye” feel thoughtful. Learning when to say bonsoir, bonne soirée, or bonne nuit helps you sound not just correct, but kind, too.

And if you ever forget and mix them up—don’t worry. People will understand, and might even smile at the effort.

Politeness, after all, is always in style. ✨

If you know how to greet someone at night, why not go back to basics and learn how to say hi in French for any time of day?

While learning greetings, it’s also helpful to know polite phrases like please in French to make your conversations smoother.