How to Say Good Luck in French: 15 Natural Phrases (With IPA)

The most common way to say good luck in French is Bonne chance (/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/). For stage performances and auditions, though, French speakers often use Merde ! (/mɛʁd/), a traditional theatre wish that does not translate literally but functions like “break a leg.”

French is spoken across multiple continents, and the Francophone world counts hundreds of millions of speakers, according to the OIF’s reporting on global French usage. That wide reach means you will hear the same core wishes everywhere, but the “most natural” choice changes with context, formality, and even superstition.

If you are also building your everyday basics, pair this with how to say hello in French and how to say goodbye in French so you can open and close conversations smoothly.

The two phrases you should learn first

If you only memorize two, make them these.

Bonne chance

Bonne chance (/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/) is the default “good luck,” and it fits most situations: exams, travel, job interviews, sports, and big days in general.

It is direct, so in formal contexts it often sounds better inside a full sentence: Je vous souhaite bonne chance (/ʒə vu swɛt bɔn ʃɑ̃s/).

Bon courage

Bon courage (/bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ/) is not “luck” so much as “strength,” “hang in there,” or “you’ve got this.” It is one of the most French-sounding ways to support someone, especially when effort matters more than chance.

You will hear it for exams, long workdays, bureaucracy, medical appointments, and anything stressful or tiring.

15 ways to say good luck in French (by situation)

Below are natural options, with what they signal socially.

For exams, interviews, and big “life admin” moments

Bonne chance pour ton examen (/bɔn ʃɑ̃s puʁ tɔ̃n ɛɡ.za.mɛ̃/) is clear and friendly. For a job interview, swap the noun: pour ton entretien (/puʁ tɔ̃n ɑ̃.tʁə.tjɛ̃/).

J’espère que ça va bien se passer (/ʒɛs.pɛʁ kə sa va bjɛ̃ sə pa.se/) is softer and supportive, especially in text messages when you do not want to sound too blunt.

For ongoing effort (work, health, stress)

Bon courage works perfectly here, and it is common to add a small personal line after it. That extra sentence is often what makes the message feel human rather than formulaic.

If you want to sound more “rooting for you,” use Je croise les doigts pour toi (/ʒə kʁwaz le dwa puʁ twa/).

For theatre, dance, auditions, and performances

Merde ! (/mɛʁd/) is the classic. It is a set phrase in the performing arts, and it is used right before someone goes on stage.

Outside that context, it can easily be heard as an insult or a swear, so treat it like a costume you only wear in the right room. If you want a safer alternative for a musician or speaker, Bonne chance or Je croise les doigts is usually better.

If you want more context on how strong words land socially, see our guide to French swear words. It helps you understand register, not just vocabulary.

For sports and hype moments

Allez ! (/a.le/) is a cheer: “come on,” “go,” “let’s go.” It is not exactly “good luck,” but it is what you actually shout.

Vas-y ! (/va.zi/) means “go for it,” and it is common between friends before a challenge.

For formal writing (emails, messages to a client, school)

In formal French, it is often better to write a complete wish rather than a two-word exclamation. Two reliable options:

• Je vous souhaite bonne chance (/ʒə vu swɛt bɔn ʃɑ̃s/)
• Je vous souhaite plein de réussite (/ʒə vu swɛt plɛ̃ də ʁe.y.sit/)

The noun réussite (/ʁe.y.sit/) is “success,” and it sounds more professional than “chance” in many settings.

Pronunciation that matters (with IPA you can trust)

French spelling hides a lot, so here are the key sound points that change how natural you sound.

chance

chance is /ʃɑ̃s/. The final e is not pronounced, and the vowel is nasal /ɑ̃/.

If you pronounce it like an English “chance,” it will still be understood, but it will sound strongly foreign.

courage

courage is /kuʁaʒ/. The final ge gives the /ʒ/ sound, like the “s” in “measure.”

This is why Bon courage ends with a soft /ʒ/, not a hard “g.”

réussite

réussite is /ʁe.y.sit/. The /y/ is the French “u” sound, lips rounded, tongue forward.

If you replace /y/ with /u/, it will sound off but still understandable.

doigts

doigts is /dwa/. The written g and ts are silent here, and you get a single syllable.

That is why Je croise les doigts flows quickly in real speech.

What French “good luck” reveals about culture

French wishes often highlight effort, endurance, and social tact more than pure optimism. That is why Bon courage is so frequent, and why performance culture keeps a superstition-friendly ritual like Merde !

This lines up with how pragmatics researchers describe speech acts: you are not only sending information, you are managing relationship and face needs. In Pragmatics, Stephen C. Levinson treats everyday formulas as structured social actions, not just “phrases,” which helps explain why the “wrong” wish can feel awkward even if the words are correct.

If you want a deeper lens on how fixed expressions carry culture, Alain Rey’s work on French lexicography and idioms is a useful reference point. Dictionaries and usage notes, like those you can consult via CNRTL, show how “chance,” “courage,” and “réussite” cluster into different registers and contexts.

Common mistakes English speakers make (and what to say instead)

Using Merde outside theatre

If your friend has an exam, Merde ! can sound aggressive or shocking. Use Bonne chance or Bon courage instead.

If you are unsure whether the person is in a performance context, choose Je croise les doigts. It is supportive and safe.

Sounding too abrupt in formal contexts

A two-word wish can feel clipped in an email to a professor, recruiter, or client. French formal style often prefers a full sentence.

Try Je vous souhaite bonne chance or Je vous souhaite une pleine réussite (/ʒə vu swɛt yn plɛn ʁe.y.sit/).

Over-translating “I wish you luck”

English “I wish you luck” is normal, but in French it can sound stiff if you translate it too literally and too often. Use it when you mean it, but do not force it into every message.

In many cases, Bon courage is the more idiomatic emotional support.

Mini scripts you can copy (texts you would actually send)

Short, realistic templates help you stop overthinking.

Exam text to a friend

Bon courage pour demain, je croise les doigts !
IPA highlights: /bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ puʁ də.mɛ̃ ʒə kʁwaz le dwa/

Interview message (neutral)

Bonne chance pour ton entretien, tu vas assurer.
Key idea: add one encouraging clause so it feels personal.

Formal email line

Je vous souhaite bonne chance pour la suite de la procédure.
This is a clean, professional sentence that does not overpromise.

Before going on stage

Merde !
Keep it short, that is the point.

Learning these phrases faster with real dialogue

The hardest part is not memorizing Bonne chance, it is recognizing when French speakers choose Bon courage, or how quickly On croise les doigts collapses in real speech.

That is why short clips help: you hear the phrase inside a real emotional moment, with timing, facial expression, and the exact level of intensity. If you are building your French through video, you can also practice “bookending” conversations with hello in French and goodbye in French, then add supportive wishes like these in the middle.

For romantic contexts, you might also like how to say I love you in French, because encouragement and affection often use the same tone choices: casual vs polite vs formal.

Quick recap

Bonne chance (/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/) is your all-purpose “good luck.” Bon courage (/bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ/) is often even more natural when the person needs strength, not luck.

Use Merde ! (/mɛʁd/) for performances only, and switch to full sentences like Je vous souhaite plein de réussite (/ʒə vu swɛt plɛ̃ də ʁe.y.sit/) when you need a formal tone.

If you want to keep improving with real speech, browse the Wordy blog and practice phrases in short scenes where you can hear the rhythm and register clearly.