Dictionary / French / Good luck
How to Say "Good luck" in French
Bonne chance
/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/
Literally: Good luck
Bonne
good
chance
luck
Good to know
In theatre, many performers think bonne chance brings bad luck before a show. Instead they say merde, which is a swear word. It is a known custom, but keep it for people who share it, such as actors and other performers before a show. Bonne chance is always safe.
Correct
Bonne chance
What people say wrong
Bon chance
Not correct; chance is feminine
The mistake to avoid. Chance is a feminine noun, so it is bonne chance, never bon chance. Bonne is said with a clear n sound, unlike bon. The bigger point is when to use it. Bonne chance is for things that depend on luck, like a draw, an audition or a job you have applied for. For something long or hard, like a day of moving house or a week of revision, French speakers say bon courage. It means hang in there, and you will hear it a lot at work.
In context
Bonne chance pour ton entretien demain.
Good luck with your interview tomorrow.
Tu as encore trois heures de route ? Bon courage.
You still have three hours of driving? Hang in there.
Bonne chance à tous les candidats.
Good luck to all the candidates.