bonheur

Bonheur is a French noun meaning happiness or good fortune. It refers to a state of well-being, contentment, or fortunate circumstances. The term derives from Old French bon, with the suffix -heur forming abstract nouns that denote a state or condition.

In French, bonheur is used in everyday and figurative speech, such as avoir du bonheur, faire son bonheur, bonheur familial, and bonheurs et malheurs. It also appears in political discourse through the phrase bonheur national brut, a concept that emphasizes well-being as a policy goal alongside or instead of traditional economic indicators.

In philosophy and psychology, bonheur is studied as a form of happiness. Philosophers discuss eudaimonia, or flourishing, as a fuller sense of well-being beyond momentary pleasure, while psychologists distinguish hedonic happiness (positive affect) from life satisfaction. The French usage often blends these senses, reflecting both affective and evaluative dimensions of well-being.

Culturally, the word appears in literature and cinema as a motif or title, illustrating a long-standing interest in the pursuit and meaning of happiness across periods and forms. The concept of bonheur thus encompasses personal feeling, social conditions, and philosophical inquiry into what it means to live well.