Learn French: Bonne nuit, Madame.

Bonne nuit, Madame.

Good night, madam.

Breakdown of Bonne nuit, Madame.

Madame

madam

bonne nuit

good night (to someone going to bed)

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Questions & Answers about Bonne nuit, Madame.

Why is it Bonne and not bon?

In French, adjectives change to match the gender of the noun they describe. The word for night, nuit, is feminine, so the masculine word bon changes to the feminine form bonne.

Can I say Bonne nuit to greet someone at night?

No, just like in English, Bonne nuit is only used when you are saying goodbye or when someone is going to bed. If you want to say hello to someone in the evening or at night, you should use Bonsoir.

Why is Madame capitalized in this sentence?

When you speak directly to someone using a formal title like Madame or Monsieur, it is treated like their name and gets a capital letter.

Does the double 'n' in Bonne change how it sounds compared to bon?

Yes! The masculine word bon has a nasal sound where the 'n' is not fully pronounced. But in the feminine word bonne, the double 'n' means you clearly pronounce the 'n' sound.