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Je vais dire bonne année à mes parents.

Je vais dire bonne année à mes parents.
I am going to wish my parents a happy new year.
From Lesson 69:The near future (aller + infinitive)·French

Breakdown of Je vais dire bonne année à mes parents.

le parent
the parent
mon
my
aller
to go
dire
to say, to tell
bonne année
happy new year

Questions & Answers about Je vais dire bonne année à mes parents.

How does this sentence use the 'near future' tense?
It combines the present tense of aller (to go), which is vais here, with the infinitive verb dire (to say). Just like in English, je vais dire literally means 'I am going to say'.
The translation says 'wish', but doesn't dire mean 'to say'?
Exactly! In English we 'wish' someone a happy new year, but in French, you 'say' it. French uses dire for giving greetings, such as dire bonjour (to say hello) or dire bonne année (to wish a happy new year).
Why do we need the word à before mes parents?
In French, the verb dire (to say) is followed by the preposition à (to) when you mention the person receiving the message. You are literally saying happy new year to your parents.
Why is there no word for 'a' before bonne année?
When giving standard holiday greetings, French drops the article (such as une). Instead of saying 'a happy new year', you just say bonne année directly.

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