Bon vivant, from French for 'good liver,' describes a sociable person with cultivated and refined tastes, especially for food and drink, who lives well.
Bon vivant, dal francese "buon vivente", descrive una persona socievole con gusti raffinati, in particolare per cibo e bevande, che vive bene.
| Word | bon vivant |
|---|---|
| Date | December 2, 2019 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | bahn-vee-VAHNT |
| Etymology | Fans of fine French wine and cuisine won't be surprised to hear that the French language gave us a number of words for those who enjoy good living and good eating. Gourmet, gourmand, and gastronome come from French, as does bon vivant. In the late 17th century, English-speakers borrowed this French phrase, which literally means "good liver." No, we don't mean liver, as in the organ. We mean liver, as in "one who lives (in a specified way)"—in this case, "one who lives well." |
| Examples | "The Major was somewhat of a bon vivant, and his wine was excellent." — Sir Walter Scott, Waverley, 1814 "The Swiss-born chef and bon vivant saw life through rose-colored beer glasses, preferring to keep negativity at bay by drinking, eating, laughing, loving and yodeling." — Mike Hale, The Monterey (California) County Herald, 4 Sept. 2019 |
| Definition | : a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
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