Bonhomie
/ˌbɒn.əˈmiː/noun
Cheerful friendliness and easygoing good nature.
Did you know?The French source bonhomme can also mean “snowman” in bonhomme de neige, making the same compound link friendliness with a familiar winter figure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dewes- / *h₂em-
“Ancient roots associated with goodness and being human”
Classical Latin
Latin
bonus homo
“Good person or good man”
Medieval French
Old French
bonhomme
“Good-natured man; a fellow or simple person”
16th–17th Century
French
bonhomie
“Good nature, kind disposition”
18th Century
English
bonhomie
“A loanword for genial friendliness and warm sociability”
Modern English
English
bonhomie
“Cheerful friendliness and easygoing good nature”