Wishing someone 'good luck' is a common and kind gesture, no matter the language. But when you're speaking French, you might find yourself wondering how to go beyond the most basic expressions. Just like in English, there are many nuances and situations where different phrases fit best. In this article, we'll explore 9 fantastic ways to say 'good luck' in French, helping you sound more natural and confident in your conversations!

The standard 'good luck' – bonne chance

The standard “good luck” – bonne chance

Bonne chance is the most common and direct way to say “good luck” in French.

Literally translated, bonne chance means “good chance” (bonne for “good” and chance for “luck” or “chance”).

This phrase is incredibly versatile and can be used in almost any situation where you'd wish someone good luck in English.

You can use it before an exam, a job interview, a competition, a journey, or any event where a positive outcome is desired.

While bonne chance is about luck, another common phrase you'll hear is bon courage. This translates to “good courage” or “strength” and is used to wish someone fortitude or resilience when facing a difficult or challenging task.

The key difference is that bonne chance implies hoping for a favorable outcome often influenced by external factors, whereas bon courage acknowledges the effort and difficulty involved, wishing the person strength to overcome it, regardless of the outcome.

In French culture, there's often an emphasis on effort and preparation. While bonne chance is common, bon courage is frequently used to acknowledge the hard work ahead, sometimes even more so than just wishing for luck.

You can also express this with a full sentence, such as Je te souhaite bonne chance (I wish you good luck) or Je vous souhaite bonne chance (I wish you all good luck/I wish you (formal) good luck).

💡 * Bonne chance pour ton examen ! (Good luck for your exam!)

On te souhaite bonne chance pour ton nouveau travail. (We wish you good luck for your new job.)

Je pars en voyage demain. Bonne chance à toi aussi ! (I'm leaving on a trip tomorrow. Good luck to you too!)

N'oublie pas de dire bonne chance à Marie pour sa présentation. (Don't forget to say good luck to Marie for her presentation.)

Je vous souhaite bonne chance dans vos projets. (I wish you all good luck in your projects.)

The theatrical or very informal 'break a leg' – merde

In French, the word merde, which literally means "shit," is famously used to wish someone good luck, especially in theatrical or performance contexts. This tradition is akin to the English phrase "break a leg." Historically, it's said to come from the days when the amount of horse manure outside a theater indicated a successful, well-attended show.

When actors, dancers, musicians, or performers are about to go on stage, it's customary to say "merde!" to them. This is considered a good luck charm and is universally understood within the performing arts community as a positive, encouraging wish, despite its literal meaning. It's often said with a smile and a nod, signifying camaraderie and shared anticipation.

Beyond the theater, merde can also be used in very informal, everyday situations to wish someone good luck, particularly when facing a challenge or an important event. For example, if a friend has a big exam, an important interview, or a difficult task ahead, you might jokingly or affectionately say "merde!" to them. However, it's important to note its vulgarity.

While merde is a vulgar word, in these specific contexts (theater and close informal settings), its intention is entirely positive. It conveys a robust, almost defiant sense of good luck, implying a wish for success against the odds. It's a phrase exchanged among those who understand its cultural nuance, and it definitely adds a touch of French flair to well-wishing.

Due to its literal meaning, using merde should be reserved for contexts where its idiomatic use is understood and appreciated. It's not appropriate for formal situations or with people you don't know well. In general, bonne chance (good luck) is a safe and polite alternative for most circumstances.

💡 *Avant le spectacle, les acteurs se sont souhaité "merde" les uns aux autres. (Before the show, the actors wished "break a leg" to each other.)
*Tu as ton examen demain ? Alors, merde ! (You have your exam tomorrow? Well then, break a leg! / Good luck!)
*Il est monté sur scène après que son ami lui ait dit "merde". (He went on stage after his friend told him "break a leg".)
*Pour ton entretien d'embauche, merde ! J'espère que ça va bien se passer. (For your job interview, good luck! I hope it goes well.)

The direct 'I wish you good luck' – je te souhaite bonne chance

When you want to directly express 'I wish you good luck' in French, the most common and straightforward phrase is je te souhaite bonne chance.

This phrase can be broken down: je (I), te (you, informal direct object pronoun), souhaite (wish, from the verb souhaiter), and bonne chance (good luck).

The verb souhaiter means 'to wish' and is a regular -er verb. It's often followed by a direct object pronoun (like te or vous) and then the thing being wished, such as bonne chance.

For a formal context, or when addressing multiple people, you would use je vous souhaite bonne chance, replacing te with vous.

Je te souhaite bonne chance (or je vous souhaite bonne chance) is perfect for wishing someone success before an event like an exam, a job interview, a competition, or any challenging situation.

While je te souhaite bonne chance is direct, you might also hear simpler expressions like Bonne chance! (Good luck!) or sometimes Courage! (Courage!/Hang in there!) depending on the context, but je te souhaite bonne chance remains the most complete and explicit wish.

💡 * Je te souhaite bonne chance pour ton examen! (I wish you good luck for your exam!)

Nous vous souhaitons bonne chance pour votre nouveau projet. (We wish you good luck for your new project.)

Elle leur a souhaité bonne chance avant le match. (She wished them good luck before the game.)

Je vous souhaite à tous bonne chance! (I wish you all good luck!)

The encouraging 'courage' or 'strength' – courage

The French word courage directly translates to 'courage' in English, but it also encompasses the broader meanings of 'strength', 'bravery', or 'fortitude'.

It's frequently used as a standalone exclamation to offer encouragement, express solidarity, or tell someone to 'hang in there!' or 'be strong!' in challenging situations.

As a masculine noun, le courage, it refers to the quality of being brave, having mental or moral strength, or the ability to face difficulty, pain, or danger without fear.

💡 * Courage ! (Hang in there! / Be strong!)

Il faut du courage pour affronter cette épreuve. (It takes courage to face this ordeal.)

Je te souhaite bon courage pour ton examen. (I wish you good luck/strength for your exam.)

Elle a fait preuve de beaucoup de courage. (She showed a lot of courage.)

Avec un peu de courage, tu y arriveras. (With a little courage, you'll succeed.)

The more formal 'may luck be with you' – que la chance soit avec toi

The more formal 'may luck be with you' – que la chance soit avec toi

The phrase que la chance soit avec toi directly translates to "may luck be with you." It's a wish for good fortune, often used in situations requiring a more solemn or impactful tone.

This expression carries a notably more formal and sometimes even dramatic register than the common bonne chance. It's less conversational and implies a deeper, more earnest wish.

You'd typically use que la chance soit avec toi in significant moments, such as before a major exam, a crucial performance, or a challenging endeavor, rather than for everyday goodbyes.

Grammatically, soit is the third-person singular subjunctive form of the verb être (to be). The subjunctive is used here to express a wish or a hope, fitting for the sentiment of the phrase.

While bonne chance is the go-to for casual well-wishing, que la chance soit avec toi elevates the sentiment, making it sound more profound or even slightly poetic. Remember to use vous (que la chance soit avec vous) for plural or formal singular situations.

💡 * Que la chance soit avec toi pour ton entretien demain ! (May luck be with you for your interview tomorrow!)

Avant d'entrer sur scène, il lui a murmuré : "Que la chance soit avec toi." (Before going on stage, he whispered to her: "May luck be with you.")

C'est une épreuve difficile, mais que la chance soit avec vous tous. (It's a difficult ordeal, but may luck be with all of you.)

Pour ce nouveau chapitre de ta vie, que la chance soit avec toi. (For this new chapter of your life, may luck be with you.)

The comprehensive 'all my wishes for success' – tous mes vœux de réussite

The phrase "tous mes vœux de réussite" translates directly to "all my wishes for success" and is a profound, comprehensive way to express your hope for someone's successful outcome in a significant endeavor. It goes beyond a simple "good luck."

This expression is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts when someone is embarking on a major life event or professional challenge. Think of situations like important exams, job interviews, starting a new business, a new career path, or a significant project. It conveys a deep sense of support for their overall achievement.

Unlike the more casual "bonne chance" (good luck), "tous mes vœux de réussite" carries a weight of formality and sincerity. It's often found in written correspondence such as farewell cards, professional emails, or when bidding someone adieu before a critical undertaking, emphasizing a genuine desire for their prosperity.

While "bonne chance" focuses on the element of fortune, "tous mes vœux de réussite" specifically targets success as a result of effort and favorable circumstances. It encompasses a broader spectrum of positive outcomes, making it suitable for situations where sustained effort and positive results are desired.

💡 * Je te souhaite tous mes vœux de réussite pour ton examen de fin d'année. (I wish you all my wishes for success for your end-of-year exam.)

À l'occasion de votre nouveau poste, tous mes vœux de réussite. (On the occasion of your new position, all my wishes for success.)

Pour le lancement de votre entreprise, tous mes vœux de réussite. (For the launch of your company, all my wishes for success.)

Nous vous adressons tous nos vœux de réussite dans vos futurs projets. (We send you all our wishes for success in your future projects.)

The slightly old-fashioned or ironic 'good journey' or 'good luck' – bon vent

The French expression bon vent literally translates to 'good wind'. Historically, it was a genuine wish for sailors to have favorable winds for their journey, thus wishing them a 'good journey' or 'good luck'.

In modern French, bon vent has largely become an idiomatic expression that can carry a slightly old-fashioned or, more commonly, an ironic connotation. While it can still genuinely mean 'good luck' or 'have a good trip' in certain contexts, it's often used to imply a wish for someone to leave, sometimes with a hint of relief or dismissal.

When used ironically or sarcastically, bon vent effectively means 'good riddance' or 'don't let the door hit you on the way out'. It's a polite, yet firm, way to express that you are happy for someone to depart, suggesting their absence is welcome. The tone of voice is crucial in conveying whether the wish is genuine or ironic.

💡 * Il a enfin décidé de partir en voyage. Bon vent!

Après toutes ses plaintes, il a démissionné. Bon vent!

Tu pars à l'aventure? Bon vent et reviens nous voir!

Elle a dit qu'elle ne reviendrait plus. Bon vent!

The action-oriented 'cross your fingers' – croise les doigts

To express the sentiment of 'crossing your fingers' in French, you use the phrase croise les doigts.

Literally meaning 'cross the fingers' (from the verb croiser, to cross), this idiom is used to wish someone good luck or to express hope for a positive outcome.

It's most often heard in the imperative form, such as Croise les doigts ! (Cross your fingers!) when speaking to one person, or Croisez les doigts ! when addressing multiple people or using the formal 'vous'.

Just like in English, this gesture and phrase are universally understood as a sign of hopeful anticipation or a plea for good fortune.

💡 *Je croise les doigts pour ton examen. (I'm crossing my fingers for your exam.)
*Croise les doigts pour que ça marche ! (Cross your fingers that it works!)
*Nous avons croisé les doigts, mais ça n'a pas suffi. (We crossed our fingers, but it wasn't enough.)
*Tout le monde croise les doigts pour une bonne nouvelle. (Everyone is crossing their fingers for good news.)

The personal 'I'm crossing my fingers for you' – je croise les doigts pour toi

The most direct and common way to say "I'm crossing my fingers for you" in French is Je croise les doigts pour toi.

This phrase literally translates to "I cross the fingers for you." Let's break it down: 'Je' (I), 'croise' (cross, from the verb croiser), 'les doigts' (the fingers), and 'pour toi' (for you). The verb croiser means 'to cross'.

Just like in English, this expression is used to wish someone good luck, especially in situations where a positive outcome is desired but uncertain. It's a very common and natural way to express support and hope for someone's success.

The 'pour toi' part can be adapted depending on who you are wishing luck to. For example, 'pour vous' (for you, plural or formal), 'pour elle' (for her), 'pour lui' (for him), 'pour nous' (for us), or 'pour eux/elles' (for them).

💡 *Je croise les doigts pour toi pour ton examen! (I'm crossing my fingers for you for your exam!)
*Nous croisons les doigts pour qu'elle obtienne le poste. (We're crossing our fingers for her to get the job.)
*Croise les doigts pour moi, j'ai une interview importante. (Cross your fingers for me, I have an important interview.)
*Je croise les doigts pour que tout se passe bien. (I'm crossing my fingers that everything goes well.)
*Ils croisent les doigts pour leurs résultats. (They are crossing their fingers for their results.)

Are there other ways to say 'good luck' in French?

Our list covers the most common ways to wish 'good luck' in French. However, the French language is rich with expressions, and you might encounter regional variations, more formal phrases, or even modern slang.

To explore further, you might search online for 'comment dire bonne chance en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local idioms.

As you discover new expressions for 'good luck,' always verify their meaning and observe how they are used in real-world contexts before incorporating them into your vocabulary.

Immerse yourself in French media — books, films, music, and podcasts. You'll naturally pick up various nuances and informal ways to express good wishes and encouragement.

For a deeper dive into idioms and expressions related to luck, the WordReference entry for 'chance' or 'bonne chance' can be an excellent starting point.

I hope this article has broadened your understanding of wishing 'good luck' in French. To conclude, here's a thought from Louis Pasteur that resonates with the idea of creating your own luck: Le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés. (Chance favors only the prepared mind.)

9 ways to say "good luck" in French