Bonjour à tous,
French has many ways to say "great". A lot of students use "très bon" (very good), but "bon" in French is really a basic adjective, it means "good"... so it's a bit weak, just like "very good" or "great" would be in English.
If you can use a synonym, it will really make your French sound much more eloquent. Here are some suggestions.
I will first give you a sentence using "great" (très bon when applicable) then, a synonym, so you can see how much better it would sound.
I will list "typical" examples where these words would be
used.
Agréable - Nice, pleasant...
Nous avons passé une très bonne soirée - we had a very good evening.
Nous avons passé une soirée très agréable - we had a very pleasant evening.
This is a very good synonym for "bon" since "agréable" has pretty much the same strength as "bon".
Chouette - Cool, pleasant, friendly, nice...
This is common slang. It has the same masculine and feminine.
Cette fille est très sympathique - this girl is very nice, is great.
Cette fille est très chouette - this girl is awesome.
Watch out! When speaking about a woman or a girl, saying "bonne" used to mean 'kind' ("gentille" in French). Nowadays, in modern French, it means 'hot'
in a sexual manner.
Elle est bonne = she's hot, but it sounds worse in French than in English... So stay away from it!
Below, I will list adjectives that are already at the highest degree of their meaning. So you cannot use very (très) with them - you could use really (vraiment) which is extremely popular - and a bit overused if you ask me - lately.
Excellent - Excellent
Ce repas était vraiment très bon - this meal was really very good.
Ce repas était vraiment excellent - this meal was really excellent.
Formidable - Wonderful
Nous avons vu un très bon spectacle - we saw a very good show.
Nous avons vu un spectacle formidable - we saw a wonderful show.
Watch
out with this word which is not used exactly as in English.
Extraordinaire / exceptionnel - Exceptional
Nous avons bu un très bon vin - we drank a very good wine.
Nous avons bu un vin extraordinaire/ exceptionnel - we drank an exceptional wine.
In English, extraordinary doesn't necessarily mean great. It can also mean just 'out of the ordinary". In French, we would say "hors de l'ordinaire" or more frequently "très différent" for that meaning.
Fantastique - Amazing
Nous avons visité des endroits très beaux - we visited very pretty places.
Nous avons visité des endroits fantastiques - we visited amazing places.
Merveilleux - Marvellous
Ce massage était vraiment très bon - this massage was really great.
Ce massage était vraiment merveilleux - this massage was really marvellous.
Remarquable - remarkable
Son travail est très bon - his/her work is great.
Son travail est remarquable - his/her work is remarkable.
Génial - Brilliant
Il a eu une très bonne idée - he had a great idea.
Il a eu une idée géniale - he had a brilliant idea.
Super -
Terrific
Mes vacances étaient très bonnes - my vacation was great.
Mes vacances étaient super - my vacation was terrific.
I didn't translate with 'super' which is kind of old-fashioned in English. "Super" is very used in French. And it's invariable - it doesn't change with number and gender.
Note that "les vacances" is plural feminine in French.
Top Cool - Really Cool
Je kiffe trop cette meuf - elle est top cool.
I dig this girl - she's really awesome.
LOL. "Kiffer" and "meuf" are
French slang - so use with caution.
Voilà, this should give you enough choice next time "très bon" comes to mind.
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À bientôt
!
