bonsoir

American  

[bawn-swar] / bɔ̃ˈswar /

interjection

French.

1. good evening; good night.

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Usage

What does bonsoir mean? Bonsoir means good evening or good night. Bonsoir is borrowed directly from French, in which it means the same thing. Like many other expressions that have been borrowed from French (such as the more well-known bonjour, meaning “good day,” “good morning,” or simply “hello”), bonsoir is typically used in English to be a bit fancy or sound sophisticated. Example: Bonsoir, bon ami—until we meet again!

Example Sentences

Mr. Washburn took charge of the now very sleepy Delsarte, who declaimed a sepulchral bonsoir and disappeared, his redingote waving in the air.

From In the Courts of Memory, 1858 1875; from Contemporary Letters by Hegermann-Lindencrone, L. de (Lillie de)

"I have the honour to wish madame a bonsoir," said he, but the lady was still sulky and vouchsafed no answer.

From Crowded Out! and Other Sketches by Harrison, S. Frances (Susie Frances)

The "bonsoir, mon ami," of the first was frank and kind as usual, but I was immediately struck with a change in his manner.

From A Residence in France With an Excursion Up the Rhine, and a Second Visit to Switzerland by Cooper, James Fenimore

I saw him out to the gate and there was a brave ring in his "bonsoir, mon vieux," as he swung off in the dusk of the starlit road.

From A Village of Vagabonds by Smith, F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley)

I thought, ‘I will creep out at dead of night, when everyone’s asleep, and once on my petite bicyclette, bonsoir la compagnie.’

From The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol by Ball, Alec