#90 Explaining Data Analysis Results｜French Business Phrases
Izumi French Garden
#142 Celebrating the New Year｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi
The New Year is a time to exchange greetings with family, friends, and colleagues, to wish one another health and happiness, and to talk about goals for the year ahead. These kinds of exchanges are common in France as well.
French expressions for the New Year are generally simple, but by choosing what to emphasize and which words to add, your message can sound much more natural and distinctly French.
In this article, I explain useful French expressions for offering New Year’s greetings and talking about resolutions.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonne année ! Je te souhaite une excellente année pleine de bonheur.
（Happy New Year! I wish you a wonderful year filled with happiness.）
Merci beaucoup ! Bonne année à toi aussi, et surtout une bonne santé.
（Thank you very much! Happy New Year to you too, and above all, good health.）
Tu as pris des résolutions pour cette nouvelle année ?
（Have you made any resolutions for the New Year?）
Oui, j’aimerais voyager davantage et mieux équilibrer mon travail et ma vie personnelle.
（Yes, I would like to travel more and achieve a better balance between my work and personal life.）
C’est une excellente idée. J’espère que cette année t’apportera de belles opportunités.
（That’s an excellent idea. I hope this year brings you many great opportunities.）
Merci, je te le souhaite aussi !
（Thank you. I wish the same for you.）
1. Offering New Year’s Greetings
When greeting someone in French at the New Year, the following expression is the most basic and commonly used.
Example
- Bonne année !
（Happy New Year!）
Although it is very short, this expression alone sounds completely natural. It can be used with close friends as well as in moderately formal situations.
By adding one more phrase, your wishes sound warmer and more personal.
Example
- Je te souhaite une excellente année.
（I wish you a wonderful year.）
The verb “souhaiter” (to wish) is essential in French for occasions such as the New Year, birthdays, and celebrations.
2. Wishing Health and Happiness for the Year Ahead
In French New Year greetings, it is very common to include wishes for health and happiness.
Example
- Et surtout une bonne santé.
（And above all, good health.）
While the literal translation may sound slightly formal, in practice this expression is warm and natural, similar to “Take good care of yourself” or “Health comes first.”
Related Expressions
- Je te souhaite beaucoup de bonheur.
（I wish you a great deal of happiness.） - Que cette nouvelle année soit remplie de joie.
（May this new year be filled with joy.）
3. Talking About New Year’s Resolutions
A frequent topic of conversation at the New Year is one’s goals or resolutions for the coming year.
Example
- Tu as pris des résolutions pour cette nouvelle année ?
（Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?）
The word “résolution” means “resolution” or “determination” and is a standard term used during the New Year period.
Example
- J’aimerais voyager davantage.
（I would like to travel more.） - J’aimerais mieux équilibrer mon travail et ma vie personnelle.
（I would like to achieve a better balance between my work and personal life.）
The structure “j’aimerais + verb” expresses a wish or intention in a gentle, reserved way, making it especially suitable for talking about New Year’s goals.
4. Showing Empathy and Responding Positively
When someone shares their resolutions, it is natural to respond with understanding and encouragement.
Example
- C’est une excellente idée.
（That’s an excellent idea.） - J’espère que cette année t’apportera de belles opportunités.
（I hope this year brings you wonderful opportunities.）
Using the verb “apporter” (to bring) allows you to express positive wishes for the other person’s year in a hopeful and encouraging way.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Bonne année !
→ The most common New Year’s greeting. - Je te souhaite une excellente année.
→ A phrase used to wish someone well for the year ahead. - Et surtout une bonne santé.
→ A brief expression wishing good health for the year. - Tu as pris des résolutions pour cette nouvelle année ?
→ A question used to start a conversation about New Year’s resolutions. - J’aimerais + verb
→ A gentle way to express goals or hopes for the coming year.
