How to Say Happy New Year in French

Erica Stephen December 24, 2021 | 11:48

Do you know how to say "Happy new year" in different languages, especially in French? We will show you the way to say Happy new year in French and some best French wishes.

"Happy New Year" in French. Photo: The French American Cutural Foundation.

The French really know how to celebrate New Year's. Indeed, New Year's in France is not just a day, or a day and an evening, but an entire season. Saying "Happy New Year" in French involves knowing basic New Year's greetings as well as learning French New Year's greetings related to the season, according to ThoughtCo.

Typical French New Year's Greeting

In English, you say "Happy New Year." But the French generally don't say "new" when wishing someone a great year. Instead, in French, you say only "happy year," as in:

Bonne année > Happy New Year

The French usually follow this expression with a phrase that literally translates as "have a good health," as in:

Bonne santé > Good health to you.

To really understand how to send New Year's greetings, it's helpful to learn that in France, citizens celebrate the New Year's (or holiday) season for more than a month.

Few Quotes in French with Translation

Confusing matters even more, it's customary to wait to send out your good wishes for a French happy (new) year until the end of January. These examples show what you might write on greeting cards to your French friends wishing them a happy new year, as said by Quotessquare.

1. En vous souhaitant un fabuleux 2021 pleine de grandes réalisations et les expériences.

(Wishing you a fabulous 2021 with full of great achievements and experiences.)

2. Mes voeux pour vous , bon début pour Jan , Amour pour Février, la paix pour mars , pas de soucis pour Avril , Divertissement pour mai , Joy pour Juin à Novembre, Bonheur pour décembre , ont une chance merveilleuse et 2021.

(My wishes for you, Great start for Jan, Love for Feb, Peace for march, No worries for April, Fun for May, Joy for June to Nov, Happiness for Dec, Have a lucky and wonderful 2021.)

3. Toute la famille se joint à moi pour vous souhaiter une joyeuse année 2019: que la santé, l'amour et la réussite vous accompagnent dans tous vos projets.

(The whole family joins me in wishing you a joyful year in 2019: Let health, love, and success be with you in all your projects.)

4. Une année se termine, une autre la remplace: voici une merveilleuse occasion de vous adresser tous mes vœux de bonheur et de réussite.

(A year ends, another one replaces it: Here is a marvelous occasion to send you all my wishes for happiness and success.)

5. Je te souhaite une très bonne année 2019, pleine de projets, de rencontres et de belles surprises.

(I wish you a very happy 2019, full of projects, encounters, and beautiful surprises.)

6. Tous nos vœux pour cette nouvelle année, ils portent en eux l'expression d'une sincère affection.

(All our wishes for this new year. They carry the expression of my deepest friendship.)

7. Nous vous envoyons tous nos meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année et vous embrassons bien fort.

(Sending you all our kisses for the new year.)

8. Que te souhaiter de mieux que la santé dans ta vie, la prospérité dans ton travail et beaucoup d'amour tout au long de cette nouvelle année.

(What best could we wish you more than health in your life, prosperity in work, and lots of love throughout the New Year?)

Celebrating the new year is something that pretty much everyone does no matter where they are from or what religion they have. Because of this it’s a great idea to learn exactly how to wish someone a “happy new year” in French as you never know who you might run into during that time of year, according to French planations.