bonheur

happiness, good fortune

noun boh-NUR Less Common

Usage Note

Bonheur conveys both lasting happiness and a stroke of luck (par bonheur, fortunately). It is distinct from joie (joy, a more immediate feeling) and chance (luck). The phrase faire le bonheur de quelqu'un means 'to make someone happy'. Its opposite is malheur (misfortune, unhappiness), built with the prefix mal-.

Examples

"Le bonheur se trouve dans les petites choses."

Natural Translation

Happiness is found in the small things.

Literal Translation

The-happiness oneself-finds in the small things

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