Essential French Expression

Meaning really?, I see Literally oh good Register informal Pronunciation [ah bo(n)] IPA [a bɔ̃]

Usage notes: This is a useful French expression. Ah bon. If you haven’t heard it already, you soon will. Ah bon ? And then you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Ah bon !

Ah bon is an interjection / filler used to ask for confirmation or even just to acknowledge what was just said. Despite the word bon, it does not have any sort of positive connotation.

Par exemple…

– J’ai décidé de faire le tour du monde.

– Ah bon ? – I’ve decided to take a trip around the world.

– Really? – Je n’ai pas payé la facture d’électricité en novembre.

– Ah bon. – I didn’t pay the electric bill in November.

– I see.

Somewhat synonymous

c’est vrai ? – really?

– really? d’accord – OK

– OK je vois – I see

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