Happy New Year In French: 15+ Best Ways + Sound

happy new year in french ling app

Would you like to learn how to say “Happy New Year” in French? If that is the case, you have arrived in the right place!

Knowing how to speak French or simply being ready with the correct words and sentences on the right occasion will make you look refined and well-educated. In addition, if you have French friends wishing you good health and the best for the future, you can understand them and answer them correctly.

Below are the best wishes to use during the holiday season and sound like a local.

How To Say Happy New Year In French

Whether you are invited to a New year’s party, have French-speaking friends, or plan to spend your holiday season in France, you should go prepared armed with the most common ways to wish a happy birthday.

It is even better if you know additional phrases to impress others or deal with special occasions. The new year celebration is not just a day. It is the way how French citizens celebrate the end of an entire period of holiday and the start of a new period in their life.

So, what do French people say during New Year? Here are basic new year’s greetings in French that you can use:

  1. Bonne année
    – Happy Year (Literal translation, but it means “happy new year”)
  2. Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année!
    – Happy Holidays!
  3. Bonne santé
    Good health to you
  4. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
    – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
  5. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année de la part de…
    – Season’s greetings from…
  6. Meilleurs Voeux!
    A greeting that works all year round
  7. Vœux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux Noël
    – Wishes of Happiness for a Merry Christmas
  8. Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes, et bonne année
    I wish you happy holidays and a happy new year
  9. Passez un Joyeux Noël en famille
    Have a Merry Christmas with your family
  10. Bonne année et bonne santé
    Happy New Year and good health
  11. Que l’année vous procure bonheur, santé et prospérité
    May the year bring you happiness, health and prosperity
  12. Bonnes Fêtes!
    – Happy Holidays!
  13. Joyeuses Fêtes!
    – Happy Holidays!
  14. Bonnes et Heureuses Fêtes!
    – Happy and Happy Holidays!
  15. Vœux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux Noël
    – Happy wishes for a merry Christmas
  16. Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes, et bonne année
    – I wish you an excellent holiday season and a happy new year
  17. Passez un Joyeux Noël en famille
    – Have a happy Christmas with your family
  18. Je vous envoie tous nos bisous pour la nouvelle année
    – Sending you all our kisses for the new year

French involves knowing basic phrases first and practicing them so that you can go to the next level and learn more complex sentences. If you want to go the extra mile to wish others a joyful year and show their deepest friendship, you can learn more complex sentences.

new year celebrations in france

Other Ways To Say Happy New Year In French

If you are looking for original ways to say “Happy New Year” in the French language, here are some interesting phrases. If you feel brave, you can exercise telling them and show off with others at the right moment:

  • Meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année
    Best wishes for the coming year
  • Nous vous envoyons tous nos meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année et vous embrassons bien fort
    – We send you all our best wishes for the new year and kiss you very much
  • Que te souhaiter de mieux que la santé dans ta vie, la prospérité dans ton travail et beaucoup d’amour tout au long de cette nouvelle année
    – What best could we wish you more than health in your life, prosperity in work, and lots of love throughout the New Year
  • Je te souhaite une très bonne année, pleine de projets, de rencontres et de belles surprises
    – I wish you a very happy, full of projects, encounters, and beautiful surprises
  • Une année se termine, une autre la remplace: voici une merveilleuse occasion de vous adresser tous mes vœux de bonheur et de réussite
    – A year ends, another one replaces it: Here is a marvelous occasion to send you all my wishes for happiness and success

Although some are more elaborated phrases, they have a deep significance and can convey your good wishes for the entire season and the upcoming year.

french new year phrases how to say happy new year in french

French Words Related To New Year And The Holiday Season

The new year is the end of a period of celebrations. You want to know other words related to the entire season, such as those related to celebrating Christmas and the holidays in general. Adding new word to your vocabulary can be a great way to learn a new language.

Here are some typical french words to know:

  • Le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre
    New Year’s Eve (literally translates “the waking of Saint Sylvester”)
  • Le jour de l’an
    New Year’s Day
  • La minuit
    – Midnight
  • Le premier de Janvier
    – January 1st
  • La fête
    – Party
  • Danser
    – To dance
  • Les ami(e)s
    – Friends
  • Les feux d’artifice
    – Fireworks
  • Un toast
    – A toast
  • Je vous souhaite un joyeux Noël
    – I wish you a merry Christmas
  • Joyeux Noël!
    – Merry Christmas

During new year celebrations, you can run across any of these words. French generally like to spend the new year with the whole family or friends. Therefore, it is common to have long dinners before midnight (le réveillon) and wait for the new year.

If you are invited for new year’s eve or Christmas, remember to bring presents and greeting cards.

Here are some ideas for a new year’s greeting you can use on greeting cards or holiday cards:

  • Meilleurs vœux
    – Best wishes
  • Meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année
    – Best wishes for the New Year
  • Joyeuses fêtes
     – Happy holidays
  • Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année
    – Happy New Year

In general, if you know how to wish others a great year and learn the necessary words to celebrate Christmas with your friends, you are all set.

New Year’s Greetings And French Traditions

In France, French new year’s greetings can be sent late. The entire holiday season in France lasts more than a month. It starts on December 6th (Saint Nicholas) and ends on January 6th. This may be confusing to many people because usually, one can send greetings cards until January 31st, so if you forget to send the new year’s greetings in December, you are in luck because you have an entire month to remedy the situation!

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