Skip to content
ShadowLearn by engaging
French ShadowLanguages on ShadowMore from FrenchPodcast

A1 French Word Pair

Bon vs Bien: Two Ways to Say Good

bon vs bien

3:42 min video · 12 sentences · 2 key words

Transcript with English

Click a line to hear it, or loop it to shadow it.
  1. 0:07
  2. 0:19
  3. 0:37
  4. 0:49
  5. 1:02
  6. 1:14
  7. 1:25
  8. 1:35
  9. 1:46
  10. 1:56
  11. 2:08
  12. 2:16

About this lesson

Six everyday adult situations show when to use bon (an adjective describing a thing) and when to use bien (an adverb describing how something is done).

How to practise

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the À toi · Your turn pause.
  3. At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.

The difference: bon vs bien

  • bon good (describes a noun). Use with things: bon pain, bon livre.
  • bien well, fine. Use with verbs and feelings: parler bien.

Common mistake: Il parle bon français. ✗ · Il parle bien français. ✓ (Speaking is an action, so use bien, not bon.)

Which one fits?

Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.

  1. Cette soupe est ＿＿

    bonne / bien · Describing the taste of food

    Show the answer

    Cette soupe est bonne.

    This soup is good.

  2. Hugo cuisine très ＿＿

    bon / bien · How someone does an action

    Show the answer

    Hugo cuisine très bien.

    Hugo cooks very well.

  3. Le pain est ＿＿ ici.

    bon / bien · Describing a thing, the bread

    Show the answer

    Le pain est bon ici.

    The bread is good here.

  4. Léa parle ＿＿ français.

    bon / bien · How she speaks

    Show the answer

    Léa parle bien français.

    Léa speaks French well.

  5. ＿＿ courage pour ta journée !

    Bon / Bien · Fixed wish before a day

    Show the answer

    Bon courage pour ta journée !

    Good luck with your day!

  6. Je vais ＿＿ merci.

    bon / bien · Answering how are you

    Show the answer

    Je vais bien, merci.

    I'm fine, thank you.

  7. ＿＿ soirée, Léa !

    Bonne / Bien · Wishing someone a nice evening

    Show the answer

    Bonne soirée, Léa !

    Have a good evening, Léa!

  8. Tu dors ＿＿ la nuit ?

    bon / bien · Asking how someone sleeps

    Show the answer

    Tu dors bien la nuit ?

    Do you sleep well at night?

  9. C’est un ＿＿ livre.

    bon / bien · Noun follows an article

    Show the answer

    C’est un bon livre.

    It's a good book.

  10. Je suis ＿＿ assise ici.

    bon / bien · Feeling comfortable in a seat

    Show the answer

    Je suis bien assise ici.

    I am comfortably seated here.

  11. Ce n’est pas un ＿＿ hôtel.

    bon / bien · Judging a hotel as a thing

    Show the answer

    Ce n’est pas un bon hôtel.

    It's not a good hotel.

Key words

FrenchEnglishLevel
bongood (describes a noun)
bienwell, fine

New A1 lessons every week

Stories, listening quizzes and conversations at your level.

Subscribe on YouTube

More A1 lessons

All A1 lessons →