bienvenue

French

Etymology

Literally, “well come”, from Old French bienvenue; 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

  (file)

Noun

bienvenue f (plural bienvenues)

1. welcome

   Mesdames et messieurs, je vous souhaite la bienvenue.

   Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you welcome.

Derived terms

• bienvenue au club
• prime de bienvenue

Interjection

bienvenue

1. welcome!

   Bienvenue à Paris! ― Welcome to Paris!

   Bienvenue dans la maison. ― Welcome to the house.

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 [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.