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Bon voyage / have a good journey in many languages

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How to wish people a good or safe journey. The phrase, bon voyage, is used in English without change, though the pronunciation is quite like the French.

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If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me .

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Welcome | Hello | How are you? | Long time no see | What's your name? | Where are you from? | Pleased to meet you | Good morning | Good afternoon | Good evening | Good night | Goodbye | Good luck | Cheers! | Have a nice day | Have a nice weekend | Bon appetit | Bon voyage | Yes, No | Maybe | I don't know | Do you understand? | I understand | I don't understand | Please speak more slowly | Please say that again | Please write it down | Do you speak English? | Do you speak [your language]? | I'm learning [your language] | How do you say ... in [your language]? | Speak to me in [your language] | Excuse me | I would like ... | How much is this? | Sorry | Please | Thank you | Where's the toilet? | This gentleman/lady will pay for everything | Would you like to dance? | Do you come here often? | I miss you | I love you | Get well soon | Go away! | Leave me alone! | Help! | Fire! | Stop! | Call the police! | Merry Christmas | Happy New Year | Happy Easter | Happy Birthday | Congratulations | One language is never enough | My hovercraft is full of eels

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Bon Voyage: French Vocabulary Explained

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Expression: Bon voyage Pronunciation: [bo(n) vwa yazh] Meaning: have a good trip Literal translation: good trip Register : normal Notes: The expression bon voyage is used in both French and English to say goodbye to travelers and wish them well.

Related Expressions

• bonnes vacances - enjoy your vacation/holiday
• bonne route - safe journey, drive safely
• bon retour - safe journey home

In French, bon can be added to pretty much any noun to wish someone well:

• bon appétit - enjoy your meal
• bon match - enjoy the game, have a good game
• bonne promenade - have a nice walk, enjoy your walk
• bon vélo - have a nice bike ride, enjoy your bike ride
• bon week-end - have a nice weekend

And it means "happy" in relation to special occasions:

• bonne année - happy New Year
• bon anniversaire - happy birthday
• "Bon Anniversaire": Saying Happy Birthday in French
• The Universal Wish: 'Bon appétit'
• Common French Phrases
• French Idiomatic Expressions With 'Bon'
• Typical New Year's Greetings in French
• Vocabulary Lesson: French for Travelers
• French Vocabulary: Hobbies, Sports, and Games
• Must-Know Vocabulary for French Restaurant Dining
• How to Use the French Adverb 'Enfin' ('At Last, Finally')
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• 11 Synonyms for "Great" in French
• The French Expression "Meilleurs Vœux"
• French Vocabulary: Driving and Cars
• Tips to Improve Your French Vocabulary

Bon voyage in Different Languages. Learn How to Say and Translate

Bon voyage in Different Languages: Please find below many ways to say Bon voyage in different languages. This page features translation of the word "Bon voyage" to over 100 other languages. We also invite you to listen to audio pronunciation in more than 40 languages, so you could learn how to pronounce Bon voyage and how to read it.

Saying Bon voyage in European Languages

Saying bon voyage in asian languages, saying bon voyage in middle-eastern languages, saying bon voyage in african languages, saying bon voyage in austronesian languages, saying bon voyage in other foreign languages.

• bombing campaign
• Bon appetit

All About the Phrase “Bon Voyage” – and the Travel Habits of the French

French people have been wishing each other Bon voyage (Have a nice trip) for centuries. The saying is so common that it’s one of those French phrases that’s been adopted into other languages, including English .

Despite how frequently you might hear it, like any ultimate travel destination, bon voyage offers a lot more to discover than you might expect.

Let’s take a guided tour of Bon voyage  and learn about the travel habits of the French along the way!

What does bon voyage mean?

Bon voyage means “Have a good trip”. But as you can see, there aren’t quite as many words to it. Literally, it’s just “Good trip/voyage”.  So, how did we get there?

Wishes in French with bon(ne)(s)

Bon voyage is a shortened form of a phrase like Je vous souhaite un bon voyage. (I wish you a good trip.) or Fais bon voyage (Have a good trip.).

Both of these sentences are still used today, but they tend to be more formal (for the first) or uncommon (for the second).  This is because the French like to keep things brief, so why not just say it in two words?

Bon voyage isn’t the only phrase that expresses a wish like this. There’s a whole list of them, and you may know at least a few already.

These include:

• Bonne année  – Happy New Year
• Bonnes vacances – Have a nice vacation
• Bon appétit – Enjoy your meal
• Bonne journée / Bonne soirée – Have a nice day/evening
• Bon weekend – Have a nice weekend
• Bonne route – Have a good/safe drive
• Bon anniversaire – Happy birthday! This is a less common equivalent of Joyeux anniversaire .

You’ll frequently hear and see these phrases – and you may discover some others, as well. In French, you can add Bon , Bonne, Bons, or Bonnes to a noun (often a gerund (a noun that describes an action)) to say “Have a good….” or “Enjoy…”.

For instance, if you run into someone as you’re headed to the movies, they might tell you << Bon film !>> (“Enjoy the movie!”).

Or you could hear Bonne baignade ! (Have a nice swim!),  and so on.

The structure Bon(ne)(s) + noun works for so many situations, but it can be tricky for us non-native speakers sometimes. For instance, if you want to say “Enjoy the book!”, you can’t use the word livre (book); it would be Bonne lecture! (Happy reading!).

Expressing a complex wish, like “Have a nice day at work!” can also be confusing. You can’t just say Bon travail ! – that literally means “Good work/Good job!”. 

So, what can you do to be sure you get these phrases right?

Sometimes, using these expressions is something that will come from listening to and absorbing French.

Other times, you might be able to correct yourself if you realize you’re using an expression that already means something, as in the case of Bon travail . 

And when it comes to one of those complex wishes, like “Have a good day at work,” it’s probably best to just say it in a different way – it’s not a simple idea, after all.

So, “Have a good day at work” could be Passe une bonne journée au bureau! or in a more formal conversation, Je te/vous souhaite une bonne journ é e au bureau!

….Then again, since the French prefer to keep things concise, you could probably just say Bonne journ ée and leave it at that.

If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry. The phrases with bon(ne)(s) that I’ve listed, as well as a few others , are the most common ones, and are important to know. But if you feel unsure about using bon(ne)(s) + noun otherwise, remember that there are always other ways to say what you want.

For example, I could say «  J’esp è re que tu passeras une bonne journée au travail. » (I hope you’ll have a good day at work) or « J’esp ère que ce livre te plaira. »  (I hope you’ll like this book.). Just think about the meaning behind the wish.

Other ways to wish people well in French using bon(ne)(s)

The expressions we’ve just learned about translate to “Have a good____”. But there are some other expressions in French that use bon(ne)(s) to wish people well in a slightly different way.

In these cases, instead of talking about something concrete or expected, these expressions refer to things like luck or the future.

You’ve probably come across one of the most famous before:

Bonne chance – Good luck

Other common phrases like this include:

• Bonne continuation   – Keep it up! or Good luck with your future endeavors!
• Bon rétablissement – Get well soon
• Bon courage – Hang in there (Although this phrase isn’t necessarily as informal is “Hang in there,” and can be used in most situations)

There’s no major difference between these expressions and others like them , and the ones we looked at earlier, but there are two subtle ones you may come across:

• These well-wishes tend to stay in their original structure. Whether they’re stand-alone statements, or used in a longer phrase (ex: Je vous souhaite une  bonne continuation ), you wouldn’t replace Bon/Bonne with Super in any of these phrases.

• When you’re talking about events, like your continued career or your path back to health, you add un or une before bon/bonne when it’s used in a sentence, as you can see in the example in the previous paragraph. But when you talk about a totally abstract concept or feeling like luck or courage, you don’t use an article (ex: Je te souhaite bon courage. ) .

How to take bon voyage to the next level

Although you can’t add to or change the core phrases we saw in the last section, you can modify bon voyage and its closest cousins a bit.

Most of the time, Bon voyage is a perfectly normal way to wish someone a good trip. But maybe you want them to know you hope they have an EXTRA good trip.

In this case, you can add tr è s (very), like so: Passe(z) un tr è s bon voyage. or Je vous/te souhaites un tr è s bon voyage.

In informal situations, like when you’re talking to a friend, you could replace tr ès bon or just tr ès with super.  For example: Passe(z) un super voyage OR Passe(z) un super bon voyage.

For more formal situations, excellent would be a good replacement.  For example: Je vous souhaite un excellent voyage.

You’ve probably realized that when you add tr ès, super , or excellent , you can’t just use Bon voyage on its own, though.

Do the French say Bon voyage a lot?:  The French and travel

The average working French person gets five weeks of paid vacation a year, plus about a week’s worth of personal days. There are also a number of national holidays in France, and schools have two-week vacations every six weeks, plus two months of summer vacation. Train tickets are usually affordable, and low-cost airlines operate out of many French airports. So it’s no wonder that the French are among the nationalities that travel the most . 

Where and when do the French travel?

But where do they like to go?  It turns out that most French people tend to travel primarily within France .

Part of this can be explained by the French rail system, which is highly developed and fairly affordable. It’s easy to go to major cities or even small towns, and since many trains are high speed, a trip like that might only take a few hours. Add to this the wide range of landscapes to be found in mainland France alone – from the warm beaches of the Côte d’Azur, to the ski slopes of the Alps, to attractions in major cities like Paris. France is even home to Europe’s only Disney theme park.

And of course, many French people use at least some of their vacation time to visit family and friends who also live in France.

As for when the French travel, there are some traditions around that. But it turns out they don’t totally reflect reality.

For instance, French people typically go on their longest or even only vacation in summer. August is considered a month when everything shuts down (well, except in vacation/tourism destinations, of course). Entire businesses will close their doors because everyone is on vacation.

But with globalization, as well as new, strategic ways of thinking, that’s changed in recent years. According to recent statistics, 69% of the French population takes a summer vacation. But many companies have at least a few employees who stay behind in August – and those people aren’t always disappointed about it. Some French people prefer to work during this time because their offices are usually calmer since so many of their coworkers and bosses are away. They take a vacation another time – when most destinations will be less crowded and pricey, besides.

Similarly, in winter, especially during the winter school holidays, French people traditionally go on ski trips. And yet, it turns out that only 1 in 10 French people go skiing every year.

Part of these lower-than-expected numbers is due to cost. Not everyone can afford to travel – especially taking a ski trip, which involves a lot of expenses beyond room and board.

Which countries do the French travel to most?

Although France itself is the number-one travel destination for French people, the French do go abroad, as well. And when you think about it, with all of the vacation time they have, a majority of a French person’s travel might be national, but they might go beyond their borders for at least one of those trips.

The top countries visited by the French in 2019 include Spain, Greece, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, and Russia, as well as Canada and the United States.

What do people think of French tourists?

All of this traveling has earned the French  a reputation in the hospitality and tourism industries, as well as with locals in certain places. The typical French tourist is known to be critical, curious, cheap, and seductive.

As some of the people interviewed in this article suggest , seemingly negative traits like being critical may also make them have a more in-depth travel experience. For instance, a tour guide in India explains that instead of saying that they like or don’t like an ice cream flavor, a French tourist will often ask about what’s in it.

They might also make suggestions for how its taste might be improved, which goes with another way the French are perceived: as comparing everything to how good it is or how much it costs back in France.

None of this is to say that the French are terrible tourists (even though they often joke about this amongst themselves). After all, tourists from every country have their good and bad points , and a lot of times it has to do with how well their culture meshes with the local one.

For what it’s worth, one thing I’ve noticed about French people who travel to other countries is that whether or not they complained or made comparisons to France on-site, they generally seem to see their experience as positive, even as a way to expand their knowledge and perspective on the world. Whether they spent a week sunbathing on a beach somewhere, or visited a new city or monument, they come home with a sense of having learned something, and (understandably) often nostalgia for the place they left.

This Egyptian tour guide agrees with me. She loves French tourists because [ i]ls sont très cultivés, ils s’intéressent aux monuments. Ils ne voyagent pas seulement pour prendre des photos (They’re very educated, they’re interested in monuments. They don’t travel just to take pictures.).”

A recent survey shows that 53% of French people see taking a vacation as important and something they’re willing to make sacrifices for.  In addition to self-care and getting away from it all, I think some of this could also be chalked up to wanderlust and a natural curiosity and fascination with other places.

Do you have a favorite place to travel? How about somewhere you dream of going – particularly in France? Whether you’re planning a trip or just armchair traveling, Bon voyage!

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Alysa Salzberg

Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. She has taught English and French for more than ten years, most notably as an assistante de langue vivante for L'Education Nationale. She recently published her first novel, Hearts at Dawn , a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling that takes place during the 1870 Siege of Paris. You can read about her adventures here , or feel free to stop by her website .

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Definition of bon voyage

• congee
• good-by

Examples of bon voyage in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bon voyage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

French, literally, good journey!

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near bon voyage

Cite this entry.

“Bon voyage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bon%20voyage. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of bon voyage.

French, literally, "good journey"

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Everything about the French sentence "Bon voyage"

You are in the right place to find out all the things you need to know about the basic sentence "Bon voyage". To be more specific, this includes a detailed explanation of what it is and how to use it in a normal conversation with an audio example. Along with the useful things we sprinkled like dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio, synonyms and more!

French to English translation

Translation : Have a nice trip

Register : Neutral - Basic

Audio pronunciation

IPA : / bɔ̃ vwajaʒ /

What does bon voyage mean?

It literally means:

• Voyage → Trip

It means "Have a good trip " or "Have a nice trip ". We use it when saying goodbye to someone (or a group of people) leaving for a trip, to wish a safe and nice time during the trip.

Cool thing: "bon voyage " is also used in English with the exact same meaning.

When you want to wish a safe and good trip to someone or a group of people, you can simply add "Bon voyage ". 

If you want to make a sentence out of it, you can say: "Fais bon voyage " (Have a nice/good trip). And for a formal version, use instead: "Je vous souhaite un bon voyage → I wish you a good/nice trip "

If the trip involves driving on the road, you can use "Bonne route → Have a nice (trip on the) road ". And if it's a flight: "Bon vol → Have a good/nice flight ".

Finally, if the trip is about going home, you can also use "Bon retour → Have a good/nice journey home ".

A little trick, if you add "bon(ne) " before a noun, it will mean: "enjoy *noun* " or "have a nice/good *noun* ".

Few examples:

• Bonne journée → Have a nice day
• Bon week-end → Have a nice weekend
• Bon appétit → Enjoy your meal
• Bonne visite → Enjoy your visit
• Bon match → Enjoy the game
• Je vous souhaite un bon voyage → I wish you a good/nice trip
• Fais bon voyage → Have a good/nice trip
• Bonne route → Have a nice (trip on the) road / Be safe on the road
• Bon vol → Have a good/nice flight
• Bon retour → Have a good/nice journey home

Example in a dialogue with French audio

Allez, on y va !

Come on, let's go!

Ça marche ! Bon voyage !

All right! Have a nice trip

Merci ! À plus tard !

Thanks! See you later!

Learn French the easy way with our French - English parallel texts with slow French audio

C'est n'importe quoi

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C'est combien ?

How to Say Bon Voyage in Italian: A Buon Viaggio Guide

Looking to learn how to say Bon Voyage in Italian? The short answer is: ‘ Buon Viaggio .’ This quick guide explores the language nuances of ‘Buon Viaggio,’ offering straightforward tips on how to express this warm Italian farewell.

Keep reading to learn how to say goodbye in style, perfect for adding a touch of Italy to your well-wishes.

What’s Italian for Bon Voyage?

The phrase ‘Bon Voyage’ directly translates to ‘Buon Viaggio’ in Italian. Often used to wish someone a good trip , it’s a common expression that will come in handy whether you’re waving a friend off on their Italian holiday.

Hear the correct pronunciation of ‘Buon Viaggio’ below. ‘Buon’ translates to ‘good’ in English, and ‘Viaggio’ means journey or voyage.

Now, an example using ‘Buon Viaggio’ to say ‘Bon Voyage’:

The phrase ‘Buon Viaggio,’ which translates as ‘have a good trip’ or ‘have a good journey,’ is highly common in social situations and is perfect if you’re saying goodbye to someone setting off on an adventure to Italy.

Other Ways to Say Bon Voyage in Italian

In Italian, you can express wishes for a good trip by utilizing the imperative form of the verb ‘fare,’ which translates to ‘make’ or ‘do,’ and in this context, it also implies ‘have.’

When addressing someone close to you, use ‘ Fai buon viaggio! ‘ This translates to ‘Have a good trip!’ or ‘Have a good journey!’ and is used in informal one-on-one conversations.

For more formal situations, with someone you’re unfamiliar with, an elder, or a person of higher status, say, ‘ Faccia buon viaggio! ‘

When speaking to a group, the phrase changes to ‘ Fate buon viaggio! ‘ This version also conveys the wish for a good trip in a group.

Wishes for a Great Trip in Italian

Apart from ‘Buon Viaggio,’ you can also wish a great trip to someone by saying, ‘ Fai un bel viaggio e torna presto !’ (Have a nice trip and come back soon!), another way of bidding farewell.

If you are in a more familiar setting, you can say ‘ Divertiti ,’ meaning ‘Have Fun.’ 

Using ‘Buon’ in Various Context

In the context of saying ‘Bon Voyage’ in Italian, the word ‘Buon’ plays a vital role . Besides its use in ‘Buon Viaggio,’ this word is a cornerstone in Italian phrases expressing well-being and good wishes.

‘Buon’ commonly precedes phrases like ‘Buon Appetito’ for ‘Enjoy Your Meal’ and ‘Buonanotte’ for ‘Good Night,’ highlighting its versatility in conveying positive sentiments.

Suggested Read : How to Say ‘Goodnight My Love’ in Italian

Here is a selection of phrases illustrating the versatile use of ‘Buon’ in Italian expressions:

Listen to the examples in Italian from the table above. The audio is intentionally slowed to aid in practicing and mastering Italian pronunciation.

Formal and Informal Farewells in Italian

As in English, Italian farewells come in formal and informal formats. ‘Buon Viaggio’ is considered mildly formal but can be used regardless of the relationship.

For a more casual expression, one might use ‘ Buona fortuna ,’ which translates to ‘Good Luck.’

Suggested Read : 25 Ways to Say Good Luck in Italian

Expressions for Well-Being and Good Wishes in Italian

Expressing good wishes in Italian doesn’t stop at ‘Buon Viaggio’ (‘Bon Voyage’ in Italian). Common phrases include ‘ Buona fortuna ‘ for ‘Good Luck’ (mentioned earlier) and ‘ Buon divertimento ‘ for ‘Have Fun.’

Remember that it’s also culturally appropriate to wish someone ‘Buon Appetito’ before a meal.

Suggested Read : How to Say Eat in Italian: Your Guide to Mangiare

Farewells for Different Relationships in Italian

Many Italian phrases fit various relationship contexts, from close friends to formal environments. ‘ Arrivederci ‘ is another formal phrase commonly used to bid someone farewell.

For close friends, it is common to say ‘ Ciao ,’ a universal phrase denoting both hello and goodbye. Learning to say hello in Italian is beneficial in many ways.

Before You Go…

Ready to enrich your Italian travel experience even further? Dive into 135 Basic Italian Phrases for Travel . Complete with a PDF Cheat Sheet, it’s the essential tool to navigate conversations seamlessly while exploring Italy.

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Definition of bon voyage exclamation from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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Translation of bon voyage – English–Spanish dictionary

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(Translation of bon voyage from the Cambridge English-Spanish Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translation of bon voyage | PASSWORD English–Spanish Dictionary

(Translation of bon voyage from the PASSWORD English–Spanish Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

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How Do You Say BON VOYAGE in Italian?

Is someone you know going on a trip? Perhaps even to Italy? Say buon viaggio to wish them bon voyage in Italian! 

Table of Contents

BON VOYAGE AND BUON VIAGGIO

Buon viaggio means have a good trip or have a good journey in Italian, just like bon voyage does in French. Buon means good in Italian, and viaggio means trip or journey , so buon viaggio literally means good trip , or good journey . 

In French, bon means good , and voyage means trip/journey , so the French bon voyage has the same construction and meaning as the Italian buon viaggio .

The pronunciation of buon viaggio is: boo-OHN vee-AH-jee-oh

Listen to how to pronounce buon viaggio here:

A: Domani vado in Spagna. Tomorrow I’m going to Spain. B: Davvero? Buon viaggio! Really? Bon voyage!

ANOTHER WAY TO SAY BON VOYAGE IN ITALIAN

You can also tell someone to explicitly have a good trip by using the Italian verb fare in the imperative form ( l’imperativo ), otherwise known as the command form. Fare means to make or to do , as well as to have in this context.

Fai buon viaggio! means Have a good trip! in the informal singular you form. Use it when speaking to someone you know well.

Faccia buon viaggio! means Have a good trip! in the formal singular you form. Use it when speaking to someone you don’t know well, an elder, or someone with superior social status.

Fate buon viaggio! means Have a good trip! in the plural you form. Use it when speaking to a group. 

USING THE WORD BUON

Buon isn’t just for trips! You can use the Italian word buon , or good , in a variety of situations, like to wish people a good day, a good weekend, a good vacation, a happy birthday , happy holidays , and much more. 

Here are some examples:

In English, when we tell someone to have a good trip we often mean their whole vacation, not just the part when they are traveling. In Italian, buon viaggio refers to the journey part, when the person is traveling to their destination. If you’d like to give someone best wishes for their entire vacation, say buona vacanza , or buone ferie .

A SONG ABOUT BON VOYAGE! IN ITALIAN

The Italian singer-songwriter Cesare Cremonini’s 2015 hit Buon Viaggio (Share the Love), or Bon Voyage , encourages us to gather our courage to take that trip, no matter where it takes us. 

Buon ascolto! Happy listening!

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How to Say Bon Voyage in German: Formal and Informal Ways

Germans, known for their rich language and culture, have a variety of expressions to wish someone a pleasant journey. Whether you prefer a formal tone or a more casual approach, this guide will provide you with useful phrases and tips on how to say “bon voyage” in German. We’ll also touch on regional variations, although they are not as common. So, let’s dive in and discover how to wish someone a great trip in German!

Formal Ways to Say Bon Voyage in German

If you want to express your well-wishes in a more formal way, the following phrases will come in handy. These expressions are suitable for professional settings, when addressing people you are not very familiar with, or to show respect to your elders:

1. “Gute Reise!”

Simple, yet effective, “Gute Reise!” directly translates to “Have a good journey!” It’s the most commonly used phrase in formal contexts and it always gets the job done. This expression is appropriate for any occasion and can be used with anyone, from colleagues to business partners.

2. “Ich wünsche Ihnen eine angenehme Reise.”

If you want to add a touch of formality and politeness, you can say “Ich wünsche Ihnen eine angenehme Reise.” This means “I wish you a pleasant journey.” This phrase showcases your respect and consideration for the person you are addressing. It’s a great option for occasions such as saying goodbye to your boss or a respected elder.

Informal Ways to Say Bon Voyage in German

When interacting with friends, family, or peers, a more casual and familiar tone is often preferable. Here are a few informal phrases you can use to wish someone a great trip in German:

1. “Schönen Urlaub!”

For friends or family members going on vacation, “Schönen Urlaub!” is the way to go. It translates to “Have a great holiday!” and perfectly conveys your well-wishes in a warm and friendly manner. This phrase can be used in both spoken and written communication, making it versatile and convenient.

2. “Viel Spaß auf deiner Reise!”

If you want to express your excitement for someone’s trip, you can say “Viel Spaß auf deiner Reise!” which means “Have fun on your journey!” This phrase injects enthusiasm and positivity into your wishes and is commonly used among friends and peers. It shows that you genuinely hope they enjoy their travel experience.

Regional Variations

Although German is generally a standardized language, there can be some regional variations in how “bon voyage” is expressed. Below, you will find a couple of examples of regional phrases:

1. Bavarian Variation: “Froi’ di!”

In Bavarian, a dialect spoken in the southern region of Germany, you can use the phrase “Froi’ di!” to convey “Have a good time!” or “Enjoy yourself!” This expression perfectly captures the Bavarian warmth and charm, and it’s a great choice if you happen to be in Bavaria or want to embrace the local culture.

2. Swiss German Variation: “Es guets Reise!”

In Switzerland, where Swiss German is spoken, you can use the phrase “Es guets Reise!” to wish someone a good journey. This is a regional variation that showcases the uniqueness of Swiss culture. If you’re traveling to or from Switzerland, or simply want to impress Swiss friends, this phrase will definitely come in handy.

Now that you have learned various ways to say “bon voyage” in German, both formally and informally, you can easily express your well-wishes to your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Remember to adapt your choice of phrase based on the formality of the situation and your relationship with the person you are addressing. Adding a regional touch can also be a fun way to embrace the local culture or impress your German-speaking friends from specific regions. So go ahead, use these phrases confidently, and wish everyone a wonderful journey in German!

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Definition of 'bon voyage'

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Italian Phrase of the Week: Buon viaggio! (Have a good trip!)

Is your Italian friend about to head off on a trip ? Then today’s expression will definitely come in handy!

The Italian phrase for Have a good trip! is Buon viaggio!

Literally translating as good journey or good trip , it greatly resembles the French expression with which we are all familiar: Bon voyage!

Buon viaggio, Alice! Ci vediamo tra una settimana!

Have a good trip, Alice! See you in a week!

In English, it’s common to express well-wishes for someone’s journey with phrases like “ Have a good trip! ” or “ Have a safe trip! ” However, in Italian, there’s no requirement to include a verb or specifically mention the person’s safety.

Unlike the English word trip , which can encompasses both the journey from point A to point B and the activities carried out at the destination, the word viaggio refers specifically to the journey.

In order to make an exact reference to the time spent at the location, it is better to opt for a different phrase: Buone vacanze! ( Have a good vacation! ) It can also be used when saying goodbye to someone (such as a classmate) at the beginning of the summer holidays and the end of the scholastic year.

Buone vacanze, Stefano. Ci vediamo a Settembre!

Have a good vacation, Stefano. See you in September!

Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.

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English-Language Thoughts

Bon voyage.

Or perhaps buon viaggio would be more appropriate, considering that when this is published, I’ll be on a flight from Dublin to Rome for a few days of well-earned rest. So you won’t hear from me for about a week or so, but rest assured my immersion in Italian will give me lots of fresh ideas to write about!

For now, let’s think about how we’d say bon voyage in English. Well, bon voyage of course, we’ve borrowed it from French . Or you could say have a nice trip , or safe journey , but you probably wouldn’t use the word voyage (the English word, not French), would you?

Not unless someone was going on a cruise, because while viaggio and voyage in Italian and French respectively can mean journey or trip , voyage in English only refers to a lengthy voyage by sea (or space !) All three words can be traced back to the Latin viaticum , meaning provisions for a journey, but in English the word ended up becoming more specific.

Still, not too specific, because as I mentioned earlier, we can also refer to a journey through space as a voyage ( These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise… ) A voyage in a space ship , no less. Why do we use nautical terminology to refer to space travel?

I think it’s mainly because when people first started to conceive of voyaging in space in early science fiction, sea travel was still the only way to effectively travel long distances, so it seemed natural to use the same terminology to refer to travelling the vast distances of outer space. And after we developed air travel, sea travel seemed so much slower, so it was logical to use the same language to refer to even lengthier space travel. Plus, space just feels more like the sea, with its vast stretches of featureless expanse, without anything solid underneath you.

Just a little thought before I embark on my journey. Have fun while I’m away, and see you soon!

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[…] this this evening because recently I’ve been reading a Batman comic book that I bought while on holiday in Italy, to get some Italian reading practice. Obviously Batman is called Batman, though I’m […]

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Bon Voyage World Languages Academy

Live Showcase with Give-Away Tuesday, July 23rd 2:15-2:45pm EST At Bon Voyage World Languages Academy, our mission is to create a new generation of culturally aware, global citizens who embrace new experiences and ideas, and who work to create a more collaborative world.

Bon Voyage World Languages Academy was founded by our director, Elizabeth Porter, in April 2016 and offers language classes for both credit and enrichment. Courses take place online in our virtual Zoom Classroom. These courses are designed for students ages 3 to 18 and adults. Our virtual classroom functions much like a traditional brick and mortar classroom, and offers us many of the same benefits of a regular classroom, including the ability to group students into cooperative learning teams.

Elizabeth Porter is a National Board Certified French teacher and linguist with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Linguistics, a Master’s degree in Education, and a French degree called a DEUG in French as a Foreign Language (FLE). She is the author of “Pathways to Language Fluency- Changing How We Think About Language in the United States.” She also has a TED Talk called “Learning Language with All Five Senses.”

She lived in France and the United States and is fully bilingual in both French and English. She has a passion for language and the science behind how the human brain acquires language.

Elizabeth attended college in Normandy, France and spent a significant amount of time in Paris while growing up. She taught elementary and middle school English in Normandy, returning to the United States in 2002 to teach French stateside. She is a passionate teacher with nearly 20 years of teaching experience.

Elizabeth is also a school administrator specializing in Project Based Assessment and Curriculum and Instruction. She enjoys traveling with her children and connecting with people around the world.

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