bienvenue

French

Etymology

From Old French bienvenue; literally bien (“well”) +‎ venue (“come, coming”); compare also bienvenu (without the -e). Presumably a calque of an Old Frankish term, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwumô (“a welcome guest or arrival”), from which many modern Germanic forms descend, as English welcome.

Its use in the sense “you’re welcome” is recent and found only in Canada, due to influence from English; English “you’re welcome” dates from early 20th century, French Canadian usage correspondingly later.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bjɛ̃.v(ə).ny/

• audio

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Noun

bienvenue f (plural bienvenues)

1. welcome

Interjection

bienvenue

1. welcome!

   Bienvenue à Paris!

   Welcome to Paris!

2. (Quebec) you're welcome (as an answer to thank you)

   Merci pour le party!

   Bienvenue.

   Thanks for the party!

   You're welcome.

Adjective

bienvenue

1. feminine singular of bienvenu

Further reading

• “bienvenue” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).