interjection

bon voyage

bon voy-AHZH

Bon voyage (interjection) means Said to someone setting off on a journey, wishing them a safe and pleasant trip. Example: “Bon voyage, and send us a photo from the airport.”

interjection

Said to someone setting off on a journey, wishing them a safe and pleasant trip.

"Bon voyage, and send us a photo from the airport."

"We waved from the quay and shouted bon voyage."

noun

A farewell of this kind, used before a noun to describe a send-off.

"They threw her a bon voyage party the night before she flew."

How to Use Bon voyage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA way of wishing someone a good trip.

When to use it

Borrowed from French and fully at home in English, though it can sound slightly grand for a short journey.

Memory tip

Use it for real journeys, especially long ones; for a trip to the shops, safe travels sounds odd and bon voyage sounds like a joke.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

bon appétit → au revoir →

Common pairings

bon voyage party bon voyage card wish someone bon voyage

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, and send us a photo from the airport.

Etymology

French, literally good journey.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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safe travels have a good trip godspeed

Related Words

Godspeed

Rhymes for bon voyage

age wage cage page rage gage sage mage usage image stage adage

See all rhymes for bon voyage →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between bon voyage and au revoir?

Bon voyage wishes someone a good journey and is only used when they are travelling. Au revoir simply means goodbye, or literally until we see each other again, and works in any parting.

Is bon voyage still used in English?

Yes. It is a long-established loan phrase that appears on greetings cards, at send-off parties and in speech, though many people now prefer the plainer safe travels.

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