Bon Vivant
/ˌbɒn viːˈvɒ̃/noun
A person who enjoys a sociable, luxurious, and pleasure-seeking lifestyle.
Did you know?The phrase comes from French bon vivant, literally describing someone who “lives well,” especially through fine food, drink, company, and pleasure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeyh₃-
“To live; the reconstructed ancestral root behind later words for life and living.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vīvere
“To live; to be alive.”
Classical Latin
Latin
bonus
“Good, favorable, or morally excellent—the ancestor of French bon.”
Old French
Old French
vivant
“Living or alive, from Latin vīvēns, the present participle of vīvere.”
19th Century
French
bon vivant
“Literally “good liver,” referring to a person who enjoys life’s pleasures, particularly food, drink, and society.”
Modern English
English
bon vivant
“A sophisticated pleasure-seeker or someone devoted to luxurious living and convivial company.”