Learning how to say “well done” in French is useful when you want to praise someone for a job well done. French is a beautiful language with many ways to express congratulations, and knowing these can help you communicate more effectively in different situations. Whether you’re talking to a friend who just finished a difficult project or cheering someone on after a sporting achievement, knowing how to say “well done” can make your praise feel more meaningful.
In addition to “well done,” it’s also helpful to know how to say “well” and “get well soon” in French. These phrases can be used in everyday conversations, especially when someone is recovering from an illness or when you want to show support. Understanding these common expressions can make it easier to connect with French speakers and show that you care about their well-being.
Ways to say “Well Done” in French
When you want to praise someone in French, there are several ways to say “well done.” These expressions vary depending on the situation, but they all show appreciation for someone’s effort or achievement. Below, you’ll find some of the most common ways to say “well done” in French, along with their meanings, pronunciation, and examples.
1. Bravo
Pronunciation: [brah-voh]
Meaning: This is the most common way to say “well done” or “good job” in French. It is used to congratulate someone on an achievement.
In a Sentence:
- Bravo pour ton travail, tu as vraiment bien réussi! (Well done on your work, you really succeeded!)
- Bravo! Tu as gagné la course! (Well done! You won the race!)
2. Félicitations
Pronunciation: [fay-lee-see-ta-syon]
Meaning: This translates to “congratulations.” It is a bit more formal than “bravo” and can be used for major achievements or celebrations.
In a Sentence:
- Félicitations pour ta promotion au travail! (Congratulations on your promotion at work!)
- Félicitations, tu as bien fait! (Congratulations, you did well!)
3. Chapeau
Pronunciation: [sha-poh]
Meaning: Literally means “hat” and is used to say “hats off” to someone, meaning “well done” or “I admire you.”
In a Sentence:
- Chapeau! C’était un spectacle incroyable! (Hats off! It was an amazing show!)
- Chapeau pour ta performance! (Well done on your performance!)
4. Bien joué
Pronunciation: [byan zhway]
Meaning: This means “well played” and is often used in the context of sports or games. It can also be used more generally to compliment someone’s actions.
In a Sentence:
- Bien joué, tu as marqué un super but! (Well played, you scored a great goal!)
- Bien joué, tu as bien réussi ton examen! (Well done, you did well on your exam!)
5. Bon travail
Pronunciation: [bohn tra-vah-yuh]
Meaning: This means “good job” or “good work.” It’s a straightforward way to praise someone’s effort or work.
In a Sentence:
- Bon travail, tu as fait un excellent boulot! (Good job, you did an excellent job!)
- Bon travail! Tu as bien fait ça! (Good work! You did that well!)
6. Tu as assuré
Pronunciation: [too ah ah-syu-ray]
Meaning: This phrase translates to “you nailed it” or “you rocked it.” It’s an informal, friendly way to show admiration.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as assuré pendant la présentation! (You nailed it during the presentation!)
- Tu as assuré au match, félicitations! (You rocked the game, congratulations!)
7. C’est parfait
Pronunciation: [say par-fay]
Meaning: This means “it’s perfect” and can be used to praise someone when they’ve done something perfectly.
In a Sentence:
- C’est parfait, tu as fait un travail remarquable! (It’s perfect, you did an outstanding job!)
- C’est parfait, tu as tout compris! (It’s perfect, you understood everything!)
8. Top
Pronunciation: [tohp]
Meaning: This is a very casual way of saying “great” or “excellent.” It’s often used among friends or in informal settings.
In a Sentence:
- Top! Tu as bien géré cette situation! (Great! You handled that situation well!)
- Top! Ce film était vraiment génial! (Awesome! That movie was really great!)
9. Excellent
Pronunciation: [ek-seh-lahnt]
Meaning: This is the same as the English word “excellent” and is used to show that something was done very well.
In a Sentence:
- Excellent! Tu as réussi haut la main! (Excellent! You passed with flying colors!)
- C’est un excellent travail! (That’s excellent work!)
10. Super
Pronunciation: [soo-pair]
Meaning: This is another casual way of saying “great” or “super.” It’s commonly used to show approval or enthusiasm.
In a Sentence:
- Super! Tu as bien travaillé! (Great! You worked well!)
- Super, ta présentation était parfaite! (Super, your presentation was perfect!)
11. Bien fait
Pronunciation: [byan fay]
Meaning: This is a simple way to say “well done” and is used when someone has done something in a good way.
In a Sentence:
- Bien fait! Tu as bien organisé l’événement! (Well done! You organized the event well!)
- Bien fait, tu as bien compris! (Well done, you understood it well!)
12. C’est génial
Pronunciation: [say jay-nee-al]
Meaning: This means “it’s awesome” or “it’s fantastic.” It’s a very positive expression used to praise something or someone.
In a Sentence:
- C’est génial! Tu as fait un travail incroyable! (That’s awesome! You did an incredible job!)
- C’est génial, ton projet est super! (It’s fantastic, your project is great!)
13. Trop fort
Pronunciation: [troh for]
Meaning: This is an informal way of saying “too strong” or “amazing.” It’s used to describe something really impressive.
In a Sentence:
- Trop fort! Tu as battu tout le monde! (Amazing! You beat everyone!)
- Trop fort, ton idée est géniale! (Amazing, your idea is great!)
14. Impressionnant
Pronunciation: [im-preh-syon-nahnt]
Meaning: This means “impressive” and can be used to describe something that has left a strong positive impact.
In a Sentence:
- Impressionnant! Tu as écrit un livre entier! (Impressive! You wrote a whole book!)
- Impressionnant, comment tu as organisé tout ça! (Impressive, how you organized all of this!)
15. Incroyable
Pronunciation: [in-kro-yah-bluh]
Meaning: This means “incredible” and is often used to show admiration for something that was done extraordinarily well.
In a Sentence:
- Incroyable! Tu as trouvé la solution en un rien de temps! (Incredible! You found the solution in no time!)
- Incroyable, tu as réussi à tout faire! (Incredible, you managed to do everything!)
16. Parfaitement bien
Pronunciation: [par-fayt-mohn byan]
Meaning: This means “perfectly done” and is used when someone’s work is flawless.
In a Sentence:
- Parfaitement bien! Tu as bien respecté les consignes! (Perfectly done! You followed the instructions well!)
- Parfaitement bien, ton rapport est complet! (Perfectly done, your report is complete!)
17. Bien joué à toi
Pronunciation: [byan zhway ah twah]
Meaning: This is a personal way to say “well done” to someone. It’s like saying “well played” to an individual.
In a Sentence:
- Bien joué à toi, tu as géré ça parfaitement! (Well done to you, you handled that perfectly!)
- Bien joué à toi, tu as bien fait ta présentation! (Well done to you, you did well in your presentation!)
18. Tu as fait un super boulot
Pronunciation: [too ah fay uh soo-pair boo-loh]
Meaning: This means “You did a great job.” It’s an informal way to compliment someone on their work.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as fait un super boulot, ton travail est impressionnant! (You did a great job, your work is impressive!)
- Tu as fait un super boulot sur ce projet! (You did a great job on this project!)
19. C’est top niveau
Pronunciation: [say tohp nee-voh]
Meaning: This means “It’s top level” and is used to express admiration for something that’s excellent or high quality.
In a Sentence:
- C’est top niveau, tu as vraiment assuré! (It’s top level, you really nailed it!)
- C’est top niveau, tu as fait un travail exceptionnel! (It’s top level, you did an exceptional job!)
20. Tu as bien bossé
Pronunciation: [too ah byan boh-say]
Meaning: This means “You worked well” and is commonly used informally to praise someone’s hard work.
In a Sentence:
- Tu as bien bossé sur ce dossier, félicitations! (You worked well on this file, congratulations!)
- Tu as bien bossé, ton projet est parfait! (You worked well, your project is perfect!)
21. C’est du bon travail
Pronunciation: [say dyoo bon tra-vah-yuh]
Meaning: This means “It’s good work” and is used to acknowledge someone’s effort or skill.
In a Sentence:
- C’est du bon travail, tu as réussi à tout organiser! (It’s good work, you managed to organize everything!)
- C’est du bon travail, tu as fait un travail soigné! (It’s good work, you did a neat job!)
22. Quel travail!
Pronunciation: [kel tra-vah-yuh]
Meaning: This translates to “What work!” and is used to express admiration for someone’s effort or the quality of their work.
In a Sentence:
- Quel travail! Tu as fait des progrès impressionnants! (What work! You’ve made impressive progress!)
- Quel travail! Ton rapport est vraiment bien fait! (What work! Your report is really well done!)
23. Bravo à toi
Pronunciation: [brah-voh ah twah]
Meaning: This is another way to say “Well done to you,” and it can be used to give personal praise.
In a Sentence:
- Bravo à toi! Tu as fait un excellent travail! (Well done to you! You did an excellent job!)
- Bravo à toi, ta présentation était incroyable! (Well done to you, your presentation was incredible!)
24. Excellente performance
Pronunciation: [ek-seh-lahnt per-for-mahns]
Meaning: This means “Excellent performance” and is often used to praise someone’s actions, particularly in a competitive or challenging situation.
In a Sentence:
- Excellente performance lors de ta présentation! (Excellent performance during your presentation!)
- Excellente performance, tu as surpassé tes objectifs! (Excellent performance, you exceeded your goals!)
25. Félicitations bien méritées
Pronunciation: [fay-lee-see-ta-syon byan meh-ree-tay]
Meaning: This means “Congratulations well deserved” and is used to congratulate someone who truly earned it.
In a Sentence:
- Félicitations bien méritées, tu as travaillé dur! (Congratulations well deserved, you worked hard!)
- Félicitations bien méritées pour ta réussite! (Congratulations well deserved for your success!)
26. Tout est parfait
Pronunciation: [too eh par-fay]
Meaning: This means “Everything is perfect” and is used to show that someone has done something flawlessly.
In a Sentence:
- Tout est parfait, tu as bien organisé l’événement! (Everything is perfect, you organized the event well!)
- Tout est parfait, ton travail est impeccable! (Everything is perfect, your work is flawless!)
27. T’es au top
Pronunciation: [tay oh tohp]
Meaning: This is an informal phrase meaning “You’re on top” or “You’re great.” It’s used to praise someone for doing an outstanding job.
In a Sentence:
- T’es au top! Tu as fait un super boulot! (You’re on top! You did a great job!)
- T’es au top aujourd’hui, tout est parfait! (You’re great today, everything is perfect!)
28. Chapeau bas
Pronunciation: [sha-poh bah]
Meaning: This is another way of saying “Hats off” to someone, often used to show admiration or respect for their achievements.
In a Sentence:
- Chapeau bas, tu as remporté la compétition! (Hats off, you won the competition!)
- Chapeau bas pour ton courage et ta détermination! (Hats off for your courage and determination!)
29. C’est une réussite totale
Pronunciation: [say oon ray-oo-seet toe-tahl]
Meaning: This means “It’s a total success” and is used to praise something that has been completely successful.
In a Sentence:
- C’est une réussite totale, tout s’est bien passé! (It’s a total success, everything went well!)
- C’est une réussite totale, félicitations! (It’s a total success, congratulations!)
30. T’as géré
Pronunciation: [tah zhay-ray]
Meaning: This informal phrase means “You handled it” or “You did great” and is used to praise someone for managing a situation well.
In a Sentence:
- T’as géré! Ce projet était parfait! (You handled it! This project was perfect!)
- T’as géré cette situation, bien joué! (You handled that situation, well done!)
31. Une performance impressionnante
Pronunciation: [ewn per-for-mahns am-pre-syon-nahnt]
Meaning: This means “an impressive performance” and is used to express admiration for someone’s actions or skills.
In a Sentence:
- Une performance impressionnante, tu as tout donné! (An impressive performance, you gave it your all!)
- Une performance impressionnante à la compétition! (An impressive performance at the competition!)
Other Ways to Say “Well Done” in French
Here’s a table with other useful ways to say “well done” in French, including pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences. These alternatives will help you express appreciation in different contexts.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Bien joué | [byan zhway] | Well played, good job (informal) | Bien joué! Tu as vraiment bien joué au match. (Well played! You played really well in the game.) |
| C’est super | [say soo-pair] | It’s great, it’s awesome | C’est super! Tu as fait un excellent travail. (It’s great! You did excellent work.) |
| Bien fait | [byan fay] | Well done, good job | Bien fait, ton travail est impeccable! (Well done, your work is flawless!) |
| Tu as bien géré | [too ah byan zhay-ray] | You handled it well | Tu as bien géré cette situation! (You handled this situation well!) |
| C’est génial | [say jay-nee-al] | It’s fantastic, it’s awesome | C’est génial, ta performance était incroyable! (It’s fantastic, your performance was amazing!) |
| Tu as réussi | [too ah ray-oo-see] | You succeeded | Tu as réussi haut la main! (You succeeded with flying colors!) |
| C’est parfait | [say par-fay] | It’s perfect | C’est parfait! Ton projet est vraiment bien réalisé. (It’s perfect! Your project is really well done.) |
| Félicitations, bien méritées | [fay-lee-see-ta-syon byan meh-ree-tay] | Congratulations, well deserved | Félicitations bien méritées, tu as fait un travail remarquable! (Congratulations, well deserved, you did an outstanding job!) |
| C’est du bon travail | [say dyoo bon tra-vah-yuh] | It’s good work | C’est du bon travail, tu as bien organisé ce projet! (It’s good work, you organized this project well!) |
| Top niveau | [tohp nee-voh] | Top level, excellent | C’est du top niveau, tu as super bien fait! (It’s top level, you did it really well!) |
| Chapeau à toi | [sha-poh ah twah] | Hats off to you | Chapeau à toi! Tu as très bien fait! (Hats off to you! You did really well!) |
| C’est impressionnant | [say am-pre-syon-nahnt] | It’s impressive, remarkable | C’est impressionnant, ton travail est excellent! (It’s impressive, your work is excellent!) |
| T’es au top | [tay oh tohp] | You’re on top, you’re great | T’es au top aujourd’hui, ton travail est parfait! (You’re on top today, your work is perfect!) |
Response to “Well Done” in French
When someone congratulates you in French or praises your work, it’s important to know how to respond. Whether you want to simply thank them or add something extra to show appreciation, here are some common responses you can use in different situations.
1. Merci
Pronunciation: [mehr-see]
Meaning: “Thank you.” This is the most basic and common way to respond when someone says “well done.”
In a Sentence:
- Merci pour tes félicitations! (Thank you for your congratulations!)
- Merci, j’ai mis beaucoup de travail dans ce projet. (Thank you, I put a lot of work into this project.)
2. Merci beaucoup
Pronunciation: [mehr-see boh-koo]
Meaning: “Thank you very much.” This is a more polite or enthusiastic way of thanking someone.
In a Sentence:
- Merci beaucoup, c’est gentil de ta part! (Thank you very much, that’s kind of you!)
- Merci beaucoup, cela me fait plaisir! (Thank you very much, it makes me happy!)
3. C’est gentil, merci
Pronunciation: [say zhan-tee mehr-see]
Meaning: “That’s kind, thank you.” This is used when you want to express appreciation for someone’s kind words.
In a Sentence:
- C’est gentil, merci pour ta reconnaissance. (That’s kind, thank you for your recognition.)
- C’est gentil de ta part, merci beaucoup! (That’s kind of you, thank you very much!)
4. Je suis content(e) que tu aimes
Pronunciation: [zhuh swee kon-tahn(t) kuh too em]
Meaning: “I’m happy that you like it.” This response shows gratitude and expresses that you are pleased the person appreciated your work.
In a Sentence:
- Je suis content que tu aimes mon travail! (I’m happy that you like my work!)
- Je suis contente que tu aimes la présentation! (I’m glad that you liked the presentation!)
5. Je suis ravi(e) que tu apprécies
Pronunciation: [zhuh swee rah-vee kuh too ap-ray-shee]
Meaning: “I’m delighted that you appreciate it.” This response shows both gratitude and joy for the praise.
In a Sentence:
- Je suis ravi que tu apprécies mon effort. (I’m delighted that you appreciate my effort.)
- Je suis ravie que tu apprécies mon idée! (I’m glad that you like my idea!)
6. Ça me fait plaisir
Pronunciation: [sah muh fay pleh-zeer]
Meaning: “It makes me happy” or “It’s a pleasure.” This is a warm and humble way to show that you are happy to have received praise.
In a Sentence:
- Ça me fait plaisir, merci pour tes compliments! (It makes me happy, thank you for your compliments!)
- Ça me fait plaisir que tu aimes mon travail. (I’m happy that you like my work.)
7. Tout le mérite revient à mon équipe
Pronunciation: [too luh meh-reet ruh-vee-ahn ah mon eh-keep]
Meaning: “All the credit goes to my team.” This response is useful when you want to share the credit with others.
In a Sentence:
- Tout le mérite revient à mon équipe, on a travaillé ensemble. (All the credit goes to my team, we worked together.)
- C’est grâce à mon équipe que tout s’est bien passé. (It’s thanks to my team that everything went well.)
8. Ce n’est rien, merci
Pronunciation: [suh nay ree-ahn mehr-see]
Meaning: “It’s nothing, thank you.” This is a modest response when you want to downplay the praise.
In a Sentence:
- Ce n’est rien, merci à toi! (It’s nothing, thank you to you!)
- Ce n’est rien, j’ai juste fait mon travail. (It’s nothing, I just did my job.)
9. Je fais de mon mieux
Pronunciation: [zhuh fay duh mon myuh]
Meaning: “I do my best.” This shows that while you’re thankful, you also emphasize that you always try to do your best.
In a Sentence:
- Je fais de mon mieux pour m’améliorer. (I do my best to improve.)
- Je fais de mon mieux pour rendre mon travail impeccable. (I do my best to make my work flawless.)
10. C’est un travail d’équipe
Pronunciation: [say uhn tra-vah-yuh deh-keep]
Meaning: “It’s a team effort.” This is another response you can use when you want to share the credit.
In a Sentence:
- C’est un travail d’équipe, je n’aurais pas pu le faire tout seul. (It’s a team effort, I couldn’t have done it alone.)
- C’est un travail d’équipe, nous avons tous contribué. (It’s a team effort, we all contributed.)
11. J’apprécie vraiment tes encouragements
Pronunciation: [zhah-pray-see v-ray-mohn tayz ahn-koh-rah-zhuh]
Meaning: “I really appreciate your encouragement.” This response expresses deep gratitude for the praise.
In a Sentence:
- J’apprécie vraiment tes encouragements, cela me motive! (I really appreciate your encouragement, it motivates me!)
- J’apprécie vraiment tes mots gentils. (I truly appreciate your kind words.)
12. Tu me donnes envie de continuer
Pronunciation: [too muh don ahn-vee duh kon-tee-nu-ay]
Meaning: “You make me want to continue.” This is a great response when the praise motivates you to keep going.
In a Sentence:
- Tu me donnes envie de continuer à travailler dur! (You make me want to continue working hard!)
- Merci, tu me donnes envie de donner le meilleur de moi-même! (Thank you, you make me want to give my best!)
13. On fait tous de notre mieux
Pronunciation: [on fay toos duh noh-truh myuh]
Meaning: “We all do our best.” This is a humble response, acknowledging the group effort or your personal dedication.
In a Sentence:
- On fait tous de notre mieux, c’est l’essentiel! (We all do our best, that’s what matters!)
- On fait tous de notre mieux pour réussir. (We all do our best to succeed.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Well Done” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to practice the ways to say “Well Done” in French. Try to complete each sentence using the appropriate expression from the list of ways to say “well done” in French. After that, I’ll provide the answers.
Fill in the blanks (in French):
- ______! Tu as fait un super travail sur ce projet.
- ______! C’est incroyable comme tu as bien joué pendant le match.
- ______! Tu as vraiment bien organisé l’événement.
- ______! Tu as surmonté toutes les difficultés avec succès.
- ______ pour ton excellent travail!
- ______! Ce rapport est parfaitement rédigé.
- ______! Tu as fait des progrès impressionnants en si peu de temps.
- ______! Tu as battu ton propre record.
- ______! Tu as vraiment bien travaillé sur ce projet.
- ______! La présentation était très claire et bien préparée.
- ______! Tu as bien géré la situation difficile.
- ______! Tout le travail est impeccable.
Answers:
- Bravo! Tu as fait un super travail sur ce projet.
(Well done! You did a great job on this project.) - Bien joué! C’est incroyable comme tu as bien joué pendant le match.
(Well played! It’s amazing how well you played during the match.) - Félicitations! Tu as vraiment bien organisé l’événement.
(Congratulations! You really organized the event well.) - Chapeau! Tu as surmonté toutes les difficultés avec succès.
(Hats off! You overcame all the difficulties successfully.) - Bon travail pour ton excellent travail!
(Good job for your excellent work!) - C’est parfait! Ce rapport est parfaitement rédigé.
(It’s perfect! This report is perfectly written.) - Bien joué! Tu as fait des progrès impressionnants en si peu de temps.
(Well played! You made impressive progress in such a short time.) - Top! Tu as battu ton propre record.
(Awesome! You beat your own record.) - Bravo! Tu as vraiment bien travaillé sur ce projet.
(Well done! You worked really well on this project.) - C’est génial! La présentation était très claire et bien préparée.
(It’s fantastic! The presentation was very clear and well-prepared.) - Tu as assuré! Tu as bien géré la situation difficile.
(You nailed it! You handled the difficult situation well.) - Impressionnant! Tout le travail est impeccable.
(Impressive! All the work is flawless.)
Conclusion
Knowing how to say “well done” in French is a valuable skill for expressing praise and encouragement. Whether you’re congratulating a friend, acknowledging someone’s hard work, or cheering them on after an achievement, these phrases can help you communicate appreciation effectively. The different ways to say “well done” in French, from “Bravo!” to “Félicitations,” allow you to choose the right words for any situation, whether formal or informal.
In addition to the common expressions for “well done,” learning how to say “well” and “get well soon” in French further enriches your ability to connect with others. With practice, you can confidently use these phrases to show support, praise, and recognition, making your conversations with French speakers even more meaningful. Keep practicing, and you’ll find that speaking French becomes more enjoyable and rewarding with every new phrase you master!