bonhomie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “bonhomie” mean?
A pleasant, genial, and affable disposition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pleasant, genial, and affable disposition; cheerful friendliness.
An atmosphere or spirit of good-natured, easy-going, and often boisterous conviviality among a group of people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major grammatical or spelling differences. The word is equally applicable and understood in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a slightly sophisticated or literary flavour. It is not a casual, everyday term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both UK and US English, appearing more in written prose, journalism, and formal descriptions than in speech.
Grammar
How to Use “bonhomie” in a Sentence
[Subject] exudes bonhomie.There was an air/atmosphere of bonhomie [adverbial phrase].His bonhomie was [adjective/noun phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bonhomie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe the positive, friendly atmosphere of a corporate event or a manager's approachable leadership style.
Academic
Rare. Might appear in literary criticism or social anthropology texts discussing group dynamics.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. More likely in descriptive writing or sophisticated discussion.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bonhomie”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonhomie”
- Mispronunciation (e.g., /bɒnˈhəʊmi/).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has many bonhomies'). It is non-count.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily positive, describing genuine warmth. However, it can be used critically with modifiers like 'false', 'forced', or 'practised' to imply insincerity.
It is quite formal and literary. Using it in casual chat might sound unusual or pretentious. Simpler words like 'friendliness' are more common.
It comes from the French word 'bonhomie', meaning 'good nature', which itself derives from 'bonhomme' ('good fellow'). It entered English in the 18th century.
It is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot have 'a bonhomie' or 'bonhomies'. You speak of 'an air of bonhomie' or 'his bonhomie'.
A pleasant, genial, and affable disposition.
Bonhomie is usually formal/literary in register.
Bonhomie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒnəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːnəˈmiː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An air/atmosphere of bonhomie”
- “To mask something with a veneer of bonhomie”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'bon' (French for 'good') and 'homme' (French for 'man'). A 'good man' creates an atmosphere of 'bonhomie'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL WARMTH IS PHYSICAL WARMTH (He exuded bonhomie).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'bonhomie' CORRECTLY?