{"id":118350,"date":"2023-12-30T16:46:31","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T21:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/christmas-greetings-in-french\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T23:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T04:26:00","slug":"christmas-greetings-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/christmas-greetings-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Merry Christmas in French (and Other Holiday Greetings)"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Merry Christmas” in French is joyeux no\u00ebl,\u00a0<\/em>but there is a lot of other useful Christmas vocabulary to learn. From mingling with new friends, to sharing gifts with family or searching for the perfect words for your Christmas card, this post will give you the most important phrases you need to express your holiday excitement.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

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Merry Christmas in French: Joyeux No\u00ebl !<\/em><\/h2>\n

\"merry<\/a><\/p>\n

The most important Christmas phrase to know is of course, “Merry Christmas.”<\/p>\n

In French, this is\u00a0Joyeux No\u00ebl<\/strong>.<\/i> Joyeux<\/em> translates to “joyous,” while No\u00ebl\u00a0<\/em>is simply the word used for “Christmas.”<\/p>\n

It’s the most common holiday phrase<\/strong> and you’ll likely hear it a lot once it gets closer to Christmastime.\u00a0Here are some examples:<\/p>\n

Bonsoir ! Joyeux No\u00ebl !<\/strong> <\/em>\u2014 Good night! Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n

Je vous souhaite un Joyeux No\u00ebl !<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 I wish you a Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n

After you’ve mastered the pronunciation, you’ll be able to use this phrase in any situation that you normally would in English.<\/p>\n

More French Holiday Phrases<\/h2>\n

\"merry<\/a><\/p>\n

Meilleurs v\u0153ux \u2014 <\/em>Best wishes\/Season’s Greetings<\/h3>\n

Outside of the holiday season,\u00a0Meilleurs <\/em>v\u0153ux<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>means “good wishes” or “best wishes.”<\/p>\n

At Christmastime, it means “Season’s Greetings,”<\/strong> and is the perfect holiday phrase to encompass all of the Christmas and New Year’s holiday events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meilleurs v\u0153ux ! <\/em><\/strong>\u2014 Season’s greetings!<\/p>\n

Bonnes et Heureuses F\u00eates \/ Joyeuses F\u00eates \u2014 <\/em>Happy Holidays<\/h3>\n

If you get sick of saying\u00a0Joyeux No\u00ebl<\/em> over and over, you can switch to Bonnes et Heureuses F\u00eates !<\/em> or Joyeuses F\u00eates<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(either one means “Happy Holidays”).<\/p>\n

This is a good substitute for Meilleurs v\u0153ux <\/em>and a great way to greet someone and catch all the season’s events together<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This one is also great for people\u00a0who might not celebrate Christmas.<\/p>\n

Joyeuses f\u00eates !<\/strong> \u00c0 l’ann\u00e9e prochaine !<\/em> \u2014 Happy Holidays! See you next year!<\/p>\n

V\u0153ux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux No\u00ebl \u2014 <\/em>Happy wishes for a Merry Christmas<\/h3>\n

Here’s an example of when\u00a0Joyeux No\u00ebl\u00a0<\/em>is used as only part of the greeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is a more pleasant and also more advanced<\/strong> way to wish someone a Merry Christmas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Je vous envoie v\u0153ux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux No\u00ebl <\/strong>!<\/em> \u2014 I send you happy wishes for a Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n

Passez un<\/em> Joy<\/em>eux<\/em> No\u00ebl en famille \u2014 <\/i>Have a good Christmas with your family<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you’re talking with someone about their plans for the holiday season, and they mention your family<\/strong>, this greeting would be perfectly appropriate.<\/p>\n

J’esp\u00e8re que vous passez un Joyeux No\u00ebl en famille<\/strong>. <\/em>\u2014 I hope that you have a good Christmas with your family.<\/p>\n

Bonne ann\u00e9e !\u2014 <\/i><\/b>Happy New Year!<\/h3>\n

Literally translating as “Good Year,” you can use this phrase if you’d like to wish someone a happy New Year.<\/p>\n

Joyeux No\u00ebl et Bonne Ann\u00e9e<\/strong> !<\/em> \u2014 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<\/p>\n

Bonne ann\u00e9e et bonne sant\u00e9 \u2014 <\/em>Happy New Year and good health<\/h3>\n

Bonne ann\u00e9e et bonne sant\u00e9\u00a0<\/em>is one of the most common holiday greetings.<\/p>\n

Wishing good health during the holiday season is only natural.<\/p>\n

Either way, it’s a lovely phrase that both observes the happiness of the holiday season and wishes a pleasant and happy New Year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00c7a me fait plaisir de te voir ! Bonne ann\u00e9e et bonne sant\u00e9<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 I am so happy to see you! Happy New Year and I wish you good health.<\/p>\n

Meilleurs souhaits pour le Nouvel An \u2014 <\/em>Best wishes for the New Year<\/h3>\n

If you’re ready to leave behind the word v\u0153ux<\/em> for a spell, souhaits<\/em>\u00a0means the same thing\u2014wishes<\/strong>\u2014and can communicate something very similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cette ann\u00e9e a \u00e9t\u00e9 difficile, meilleurs souhaits pour le Nouvel An<\/strong>. <\/em>\u2014 This year was hard, best wishes for the New Year.<\/p>\n

Je vous souhaite d’excellentes f\u00eates, et une bonne ann\u00e9e \u2014 <\/em>I wish you an excellent holiday and a Happy New Year<\/h3>\n

Another way to wish someone happy holidays<\/strong> is to tell them you’re doing so. Je vous souhaite<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(I wish you) will communicate just that.<\/p>\n

Je vous souhaite d’excellentes f\u00eates <\/strong>et une\u00a0ann\u00e9e prosp\u00e8re. <\/em>\u2014 I wish you an excellent holiday and a prosperous year.<\/p>\n

Que l’ann\u00e9e vous procure\u2026<\/span> \u2014 <\/em>That the year may bring you …<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you’d like to be a little more specific<\/strong> in what kind of happiness you wish upon someone in the New Year.<\/p>\n

Here’s a phrase that does just that.<\/p>\n

Que l’ann\u00e9e vous procure… <\/em>goes beyond the usual Meilleurs v\u0153ux<\/em>\u00a0and outlines the positivity you’re wishing into someone’s life for the upcoming year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

J’esp\u00e8re que l’ann\u00e9e vous procure<\/strong> bonheur, sant\u00e9 et prosp\u00e9rit\u00e9.<\/em> \u2014 I hope that the year brings you happiness, health and prosperity.<\/p>\n

Que cette ann\u00e9e soit la meilleure !<\/em> \u2014 <\/i>May this year be the best!<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you want to wish your friend or loved one a great year, try using this phrase!<\/p>\n

Remember that this structure requires the subjunctive<\/a> form.<\/p>\n

Bonne ann\u00e9e ! Que cette ann\u00e9e soit la meilleure pour vous et vos proches !<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Happy New Year! May this year be the best for you and your loved ones!<\/p>\n

Joyeuse F\u00eate des Rois \u2014 <\/em>Happy Three Kings Day<\/h3>\n

This is how you wish someone a happy Three Kings Day<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joyeuse F\u00eate des Rois ! <\/em><\/strong>Passez une excellente journ\u00e9e avec vos proches !<\/em> <\/em>\u2014 Happy Three Kings Day! Have a great day with your loved ones!<\/p>\n

Essential French Christmas Vocabulary<\/h2>\n

\"a-couple-with-their-son-putting-decorations-on-a-Christmas-tree-smiling\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Le P\u00e8re No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>Santa Claus\/Father Christmas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le sapin de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>The Christmas tree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les boules de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>The baubles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les guirlandes de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>The tinsel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Une \u00e9toile<\/em><\/td>A star<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un ange<\/em><\/td>An angel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un chant de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>A Christmas carol<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Une chaussette de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>A Christmas stocking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un cadeaux de No\u00ebl\/Les \u00e9trennes<\/em><\/td>A Christmas present\/The Christmas presents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le repas de No\u00ebl<\/em><\/td>The Christmas dinner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

If you’d like to learn more French Christmas vocabulary, check out this post<\/a>!<\/p>\n

One of the best ways to commit French Christmas phrases and vocabulary to memory is to see how they’re actually used in context! You can watch movies, listen to music, or read books in French that are Christmas-themed to see how these phrases come up.<\/p>\n

Another great option is to try an immersive language learning program like FluentU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

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