bonhomme richard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Historical
Quick answer
What does “bonhomme richard” mean?
The name of an 18th-century French/American warship, famously commanded by John Paul Jones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of an 18th-century French/American warship, famously commanded by John Paul Jones.
Used as a historical reference to the ship; sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a valiant but ultimately doomed endeavor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; both treat it as a historical term. Slight variation in pronunciation (see IPA).
Connotations
Shared connotations of naval history, revolutionary war, and heroism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties; marginally higher in US due to its role in founding US naval history.
Grammar
How to Use “bonhomme richard” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + (verb in past tense)the + [Proper Noun] + was/lost/sankVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, naval, and American Revolutionary War studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in naval history and maritime archaeology contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bonhomme richard”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonhomme richard”
- Misspelling as 'Bon Homme Richard' (as two words).
- Incorrect pronunciation placing stress on 'homme' or 'Rich'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a bonhomme richard').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the name of a ship, not a phrase with a direct English meaning. 'Bonhomme Richard' was the French translation of 'Poor Richard', referencing Benjamin Franklin's 'Poor Richard's Almanack'.
No, it is a borrowed French proper noun used in English historical contexts to refer to a specific ship.
In British English: /ˌbɒn.əm ˈɹɪ.ʃɑːd/. In American English: /ˌbɑn.əm ˈɹɪ.ʃɚd/. The 'h' in 'bonhomme' is silent.
Almost exclusively when discussing 18th-century naval history, particularly the American Revolution or the career of John Paul Jones. It is not used in general conversation.
The name of an 18th-century French/American warship, famously commanded by John Paul Jones.
Bonhomme richard is usually formal / historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Bonhomme" sounds like 'bon homme' (good man) in French; Richard was the ship's name. Think: 'The good man Richard's ship.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A SYMBOL OF TENACITY: The ship is a metaphor for a determined struggle against overwhelming odds, famously encapsulated in John Paul Jones's reply, "I have not yet begun to fight!"
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Bonhomme Richard' primarily known as?