Bien is probably the first word that comes to mind when you think of "well" in French. But just like in English, there are many nuances to how we use "well," and French offers a rich vocabulary to express them. Whether you're talking about feeling well, doing well, or something being well-done, knowing different ways to say "well" will significantly enhance your fluency and conversational skills. Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "well" in French, and when to use each one!

The standard 'well' – bien

The standard ‘well’ – bien

Bien is one of the most versatile and frequently used adverbs in French, primarily meaning 'well'.

Its most common function is as an adverb modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that an action is performed correctly, effectively, or to a good standard. For example, parler bien (to speak well) or travailler bien (to work well).

When used with the verb être (to be), bien can express a state of being well, comfortable, or feeling good. For instance, Je suis bien ici (I am comfortable/good here) or Tu vas bien? (Are you well? / How are you?).

Bien can also act as an intensifier, similar to 'very' or 'really', adding emphasis to an adjective or another adverb. For example, C'est bien beau (It's really beautiful) or Il est bien grand (He is very tall).

In conversational French, bien is often used to express agreement, approval, or understanding, much like 'good' or 'okay' in English. Bien, je comprends (Okay, I understand).

It's also found in polite phrases or to introduce a concession, such as Eh bien... (Well...) or Bien sûr (Of course).

Many idiomatic expressions incorporate bien, highlighting its integral role in the language. Some examples include tout va bien (everything's fine), être bien dans sa peau (to be comfortable in one's own skin), and bien que (although).

It's crucial to distinguish bien (an adverb, 'well') from bon (an adjective, 'good'). While bien modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, bon modifies nouns. For instance, Il chante bien (He sings well) vs. C'est un bon chanteur (He is a good singer).

The versatility of bien makes it an essential word for any French learner to master, allowing for nuanced expression in a wide range of contexts.

💡 * Il parle français très bien. (He speaks French very well.)

Je me sens bien aujourd'hui. (I feel good today.)

C'est bien fait! (It's well done!)

Bien sûr, je viendrai. (Of course, I will come.)

Ça va bien, merci. (I'm doing well, thank you.)

The 'very well' – très bien

The 'very well' – très bien

Très bien is one of the most fundamental and versatile phrases in French, commonly translating to 'very well' or 'very good.' It's an indispensable expression for conveying positive feedback or agreement.

Most frequently, très bien functions as an adverb, modifying verbs to describe how an action is performed. It emphasizes the quality or proficiency of an action, indicating a high level of performance.

It can also be used as a standalone exclamation to express strong approval, meaning 'Excellent!' or 'That's great!' When implicitly describing something as 'very good,' it often stands alone or refers to a preceding statement, acting almost as an adjective.

In everyday conversations, très bien is a common way to respond positively to questions like 'How are you?' (Ça va ?), or to confirm understanding and agreement, similar to 'Okay' or 'Alright' in English.

While bien means 'well' or 'good,' the addition of très ('very') intensifies the meaning significantly. It indicates a higher degree of quality, proficiency, or agreement, distinguishing it from merely 'good' to 'very good' or 'excellent.'

This phrase is incredibly common and natural in daily French conversation, making it an essential component for any learner wishing to express positive feedback, agreement, satisfaction, or general approval effectively.

💡 * Je parle français très bien. (I speak French very well.)

C'est très bien ! (That's very good/excellent!)

Comment vas-tu ? – Très bien, merci. (How are you? – Very well, thank you.)

Il a très bien travaillé sur ce projet. (He worked very well on this project.)

Tu as très bien compris la leçon. (You understood the lesson very well.)

The interjection 'well...' – eh bien

In French, the phrase eh bien is a highly versatile interjection that can be translated in various ways, most commonly as 'well...' in English.

Its primary function is to introduce a thought, a response, or a new idea, often signaling a moment of reflection, transition, or mild surprise.

One of its most frequent uses is to express hesitation or to give oneself a moment to think before speaking, similar to how 'well...' is used in English when you're pondering a response.

Eh bien can also serve as a connector, smoothly transitioning from one idea to the next or introducing a question or statement. It acts as a conversational bridge.

Depending on the intonation, it can convey a sense of mild surprise, resignation, or even a touch of impatience. The context and speaker's tone are key to understanding this nuance.

Consider eh bien a useful filler word that adds a natural flow to French conversations, making your speech sound more authentic and less abrupt.

💡 * Eh bien, je ne sais pas quoi dire. (Well, I don't know what to say.)

Eh bien, qu'est-ce que tu en penses ? (Well, what do you think about it?)

Tu as fini ? Eh bien, c'est rapide ! (You finished? Well, that was fast!)

Eh bien, il faut y aller maintenant. (Well, we have to go now.)

Eh bien, d'accord, faisons ça. (Well, alright, let's do that.)

The 'properly' or 'as it should be' – comme il faut

The French expression comme il faut literally means 'as it is necessary' or 'as it should be'. It conveys the idea of something being done 'properly,' 'fittingly,' or 'in good taste'.

More than just 'correctly,' comme il faut implies adherence to social standards, etiquette, or good manners. It describes something that is appropriate, respectable, and meets expected norms of decorum.

It is often used to describe behavior, appearance, or actions that are considered proper or refined in a given social or formal setting. Think of it as 'the done thing' or 'the right way to do it' from a societal perspective.

💡 * Il faut se comporter comme il faut en public. (One must behave properly in public.)

Elle est toujours habillée comme il faut. (She is always dressed properly/appropriately.)

Ce n'est pas comme il faut de parler ainsi à ses aînés. (It's not proper to speak like that to one's elders.)

C'est une personne très comme il faut. (He/She is a very proper person.)

The 'wonderfully well' – à merveille

The 'wonderfully well' – à merveille

À merveille is a French adverbial phrase that translates to 'wonderfully well,' 'perfectly,' or 'marvelously.'

It conveys a strong sense of excellence, often used to describe something that has turned out exceptionally well or been executed flawlessly.

You'll hear à merveille when someone wants to express that a task, a plan, or an outcome was not just good, but outstandingly successful and delightful.

While 'très bien' (very good) is common, à merveille elevates the sentiment, implying a level of perfection or delightful success that is truly noteworthy and impressive.

Think of it as a way to say 'it couldn't be better' or 'it was absolutely splendid,' highlighting a perfect or ideal outcome.

💡 * Le gâteau est réussi à merveille. (The cake turned out wonderfully well/perfectly.)

Tout s'est passé à merveille. (Everything went wonderfully well/perfectly.)

Elle chante à merveille. (She sings wonderfully well/marvelously.)

Ces couleurs vont à merveille ensemble. (These colors go wonderfully well together.)

La nouvelle organisation fonctionne à merveille. (The new organization works wonderfully well.)

The 'correctly' or 'properly' – correctement

The French adverb for "correctly" or "properly" is correctement. It's derived from the adjective correct (correct, right) and follows the common pattern of adding -ment to the feminine form of an adjective (which for correct is also correct) to create an adverb.

As an adverb, correctement modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about how an action is performed. In most cases, it is placed immediately after the verb it modifies, especially in simple tenses like the present or imperfect.

You'll use correctement when you want to express that an action is performed in the right manner, according to rules, standards, or expectations. This could refer to following instructions accurately, behaving appropriately, or executing a task as it should be done.

It's also frequently used in the context of accuracy and precision, particularly when discussing language or specific tasks. For example, to say someone speaks or writes a language correctly, or that a calculation has been done without error. It implies a lack of mistakes.

Common phrases include parler correctement (to speak correctly), écrire correctement (to write correctly), or faire quelque chose correctement (to do something properly). It emphasizes precision, adherence to standards, and the absence of errors.

💡 * Il faut parler correctement le français pour être compris. (One must speak French correctly to be understood.)

As-tu bien rangé tes affaires correctement ? (Did you put your things away properly?)

Elle a répondu correctement à toutes les questions de l'examen. (She answered all the exam questions correctly.)

Veuillez remplir ce formulaire correctement pour éviter tout problème. (Please fill out this form properly to avoid any issues.)

Le moteur ne fonctionne pas correctement, il y a un problème. (The engine is not working correctly, there's a problem.)

The 'perfectly well' – parfaitement

The French adverb parfaitement translates directly to "perfectly" or "perfectly well" in English. It's used to express that something is done without fault, completely, or absolutely.

As an adverb, parfaitement modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating a high degree of quality or completion. It conveys a sense of absolute correctness or flawlessness.

Beyond just 'perfectly,' parfaitement can also be used emphatically to express strong agreement, similar to saying 'exactly!' or 'absolutely!' in English, often in response to a question or statement.

💡 * Il parle français parfaitement. (He speaks French perfectly.)

Ça me convient parfaitement. (That suits me perfectly.)

Tu as parfaitement raison. (You are perfectly right.)

Comprenez-vous ? - Parfaitement ! (Do you understand? - Perfectly!)

Cette robe te va parfaitement. (This dress suits you perfectly.)

The 'in good health' or 'in good shape' – en bonne forme

To express being "in good health" or "in good shape" in French, you'll commonly use the phrase en bonne forme.

This versatile expression primarily refers to physical well-being. It implies that someone is healthy, fit, and has good energy levels, often as a result of exercise or a healthy lifestyle.

While often about physical condition, en bonne forme can also extend to a more general sense of well-being, including mental health, or even to non-human entities, like a business or an economy being "in good shape".

You might hear variations like être en pleine forme (to be in great shape/top form) to emphasize a very high level of fitness or health.

💡 * Je suis en bonne forme après mon jogging matinal. (I am in good shape after my morning jog.)

Malgré son âge, elle est toujours en bonne forme. (Despite her age, she is still in good health.)

Il faut manger sainement pour rester en bonne forme. (You must eat healthily to stay in good shape.)

L'économie du pays est en bonne forme. (The country's economy is in good shape.)

Après les vacances, je me sens en pleine forme. (After the holidays, I feel in great shape.)

The 'quite well' or 'rather well' – fort bien

The French expression fort bien translates directly to “quite well,” “rather well,” or sometimes even “very well.” It's used to indicate a good degree of something, often with a slightly more emphatic or formal tone than simply très bien (very well).

While très bien is common for everyday 'very well,' fort bien often implies a sense of satisfaction, approval, or a higher standard of 'well-being' or performance. It suggests that something is not just good, but quite good, or sufficiently good, often exceeding basic expectations.

Fort bien carries a slightly more literary or formal nuance. You might encounter it more in written French, formal speeches, or in conversation when you want to add a touch of elegance or emphasis. While not archaic, it's less frequently used in casual, rapid-fire daily conversations compared to its more common counterpart, très bien.

💡 * Cela marche fort bien. (That works quite well.)

Il parle fort bien le français. (He speaks French rather well.)

J'ai fort bien dormi. (I slept very well/quite well.)

Cette idée me semble fort bien. (This idea seems quite good to me.)

Le concert s'est fort bien passé. (The concert went very well.)

Are there other ways to say 'well' in French?

Our guide covers the most common and versatile ways to express 'well' in French. However, French, like any rich language, offers a spectrum of nuances, from formal expressions to regional colloquialisms, or even specific technical terms, that allow for a more precise or colorful way to say it.

To delve deeper, you could try an online search for 'synonymes de bien' or explore phrases related to specific contexts, such as 'comment dire bien fait en français' for 'well done,' or 'comment dire bien manger' for 'to eat well' in a specific region.

While you might discover many interesting alternatives for bien, always verify their definitions and observe how they are used in real-world contexts. This will help you understand their precise meaning and appropriate usage.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts — pay close attention to how native speakers express 'well' or similar concepts. You'll naturally pick up on more subtle variations.

For a comprehensive list of synonyms and expressions related to bien or 'well,' a dictionary like Larousse or WordReference can be an invaluable starting point. Look up bien and explore its various entries and associated phrases.

I hope this article has helped you understand the versatility of 'well' in French. To conclude, here's a thought that emphasizes the importance of doing things well, attributed to Aristotle: Nous sommes ce que nous faisons de manière répétée. L'excellence n'est donc pas un acte, mais une habitude. (We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.)

9 ways to say "well" in French