Today we’ll learn how to say “merry Christmas” in French: Joyeux Noël (literally joyous Christmas). We’ll also discover some great phrases for “seasons greetings” as well as several more advanced ways to say happy holidays.
Joyeux Noël
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas in French
Best wishes or meilleurs vœux is a nice phrase and equates to “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings”.
Meilleurs vœux
Best wishes!
If you’re writing a letter or are in a more formal setting, “Tous mes meilleurs vœux de Noël !” is a nice option when wishing someone Merry Christmas. It means “all my best wishes for Christmas.”
Tous mes meilleurs vœux de Noël !
All my best wishes for Christmas!
Bonnes fêtes is another common holiday greeting and means “happy holidays”.
Bonnes fêtes / Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année !
Happy holidays! / Happy holidays for the end of the year!
Advanced holiday greetings
If you’re looking for a way to wish “happy holidays” in a more formal setting, this is a good option: Je vous souhaite de très joyeuses fêtes.
Je vous souhaite de très joyeuses fêtes.
Lit: I wish you very happy holidays.
For this sentence, proche means both the adjective “close” as “emotionally close” and the noun “loved ones”.
Joyeuses fêtes de Noël à vous et à vos proches !
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Je te souhaite de passer un merveilleux Noël plein de joie et de magie.
I hope you have a marvelous Christmas filled with joy and magic.
Pour ce Noël, je te souhaite paix, amour et plein de bonheur.
For this Christmas, I wish you peace, love, and lots of happiness.
Related lessons:
- Sapin de Noël – Christmas tree
- Père Noël – Santa Claus
- Petit Papa Noël – Little Father Christmas (song)
- Noël Blanc – White Christmas
- Douce nuit, sainte nuit – Silent Night
- Vive le vent – Jingle Bells
- French Christmas vocabulary
- Top 10 French Christmas Songs
- French Christmas movies
- French Christmas traditions
- Ce n’est qu’un au revoir -Auld Lang Syne
References:
Word of the Day lessons | Posts by Calli Zarpas
