How to Say “Merry Christmas” in French?

Ho, ho, ho, Christmas decorations are appearing in the streets of France, people are in a festive mood and Christmas shopping is in fully swing.
But how do you say merry Christmas in French?
That’s what this article will teach you!

Contents
1 Joyeux noël
2 Joyeuses fêtes/bonnes fêtes
3 Meilleurs voeux
4 Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes de fin d’année

Joyeux noël
Literally merry Christmas, Joyeux noël is the most common way to say merry Christmas in French.

You will find it on most cartes de voeux (greeting cards) and can use it with everyone.

Joyeuses fêtes/bonnes fêtes

French people often wish a merry Christmas and a happy new year at the same time and joyeuses fêtes (literally merry holidays) is the perfect
phrase for that.

You can also use it to wish happy holidays to people who don’t celebrate Christmas if you want to be more inclusive.

Meilleurs voeux
Meilleurs voeux is a true chameleon. While it means best wishes for most of the year, it turns into seasons greetings in December and early
January as people celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

Meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année (best wishes for the New Year)

Meilleurs voeux pour l’année 2018 (best wishes for the year 2018)

Meilleurs voeux de bonheur (best wishes of joy)

Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes de fin d’année

Literally “I wish you excellent end of year celebrations”.

This greeting is a more formal way to wish a merry Christmas and happy new year.

You could use it at work or with people you don’t know well.

Voilà, you now know how to wish a merry Christmas and happy new year in French.
Stay tuned for an article teaching you about French Christmas traditions next week!
Have you ever celebrated Christmas in France? What was it like?