Updated December 22, 2025 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The French Word of the Day is bon appétit, meaning “enjoy your meal”. It’s the quintessential expression that all French learners and travelers should know. But when do French speakers actually use it? How do you pronounce it in French? I was surprised to learn two excellent alternatives to bon appétit which I learned when I lived with a French host family in 1991-92. Keep reading — you’ll love Marie’s audio clips today!
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
✅ Related Words & Expressions
✅ Related lessons
Subscribe to the French Word of the Day
📘 Bon appétit meaning
Bon appétit is a common French expression that translates literally to “good appetite” and means “enjoy your meal.” It’s said just before someone starts eating, either to invite them to begin or to wish them enjoyment of their food. It’s also a widely used loanword in English, especially in restaurant and food contexts. In everyday French, it’s polite and commonly heard at home, with friends, and in restaurants. You may also hear alternatives such as bonne dégustation, which sounds slightly more refined, or the shortened, informal bon ap’ in casual conversation.
🎧 Bon appétit pronunciation in French
The pronunciation of bon appétit is /bɔ̃‿na.pe.ti/ (IPA), roughly pronounced “bon ah-peh-TEE.” Here are some pronunciation tips so you can pronounce it better:
➔ Nasal vowel in bon: bon is nasal /ɔ̃ /. The n is not pronounced. It should not sound like bun or bonn.
➔ Liaison between bon and appétit: The final n sound links to the following vowel, so it flows as bon-na-pe-ti.
➔ Clear stress on the last syllable: The emphasis naturally falls on -ti in appétit.
➔ Final t is silent: The t in appétit is not pronounced.
📝 Bon appétit examples & usages
Heureux de vous avoir à notre restaurant, bon appétit !
Happy to have you at our restaurant. Enjoy your meal!
Je suis certain que tu vas adorer ce repas ! Bon appétit !
I’m sure you’ll love this meal. Bon appetit!
Je suis ravi de vous présenter quelques specialités de la région. Bonne dégustation !
I’m delighted to show you some specialities from the region. Enjoy!
Bon ap, mes amis!
Dig in, my friends!
If you’ve found these sentences useful, you’ll definitely enjoy my lesson explaining how to order meals in restaurants.
👉 See also: How to order meals in French »
❓ Want to feel more confident in French?
🎯 À Moi Paris — This is my top recommendation for online French courses, and it pairs wonderfully with my daily lessons. Camille Chevalier teaches with engaging audio stories that she records at three speeds. Her specialty is helping students with pronunciation and bridging the gap between textbook French and real spoken French as you hear it on the streets of Paris.
👉 Explore À Moi Paris »
👉 Read my review »
🎧 French Verb Drills — Having trouble with French verb conjugations? Camille’s audio drills break everything down step by step so you can finally lock in the patterns and speak with confidence.
If you purchase the courses, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
🔗 Related words and expressions
- bonne dégustation — enjoy your tasting
- bon ap’ — informal short form of bon appétit
- se régaler — to really enjoy a meal
- avoir bon appétit — to have a good appetite
- commander un repas — to order a meal
- le serveur/la serveuse — waiter/waitress
- le repas — meal
- le dîner — dinner
- le déjeuner — lunch
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner!
👉 French food vocabulary »
👉 French restaurant phrases »
👉 Commander — to order (examples) »
👉 Commander — to order (conjugation chart) »
👉 Rassasié — Full, satisfied »
👉 Repas — meal »
👉 French table manners »
🚀 Continue learning French online on FrenchLearner!
👉 French Word of the Day »
👉 French Vocabulary lists »
👉 French for beginners guide »
👉 French song lyrics hub »
👉 French conjugations hub »
Bon Appétit — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What does “bon appétit” mean?
“Bon appétit” means “enjoy your meal”. It’s a French expression said just before eating, either to invite someone to begin or to wish them enjoyment of their food.
Is bon appétit French?
Yes. “Bon appétit” is a French expression that literally means “good appetite”. It originally comes from French, but it’s also widely used as a loanword in English, especially in food and restaurant contexts.
Who says “bon appétit”?
In French, “bon appétit” is commonly said by hosts, family members, friends, or restaurant staff just before a meal begins. It’s used in everyday situations, though it isn’t said every single time people eat.
Can I use “bon appétit” in English?
Yes. “Bon appétit” is commonly used in English, especially when serving food or talking about meals. In English, it’s often used politely or playfully to mean “enjoy your meal”.
