Bouônjour, Jèrriais!Say hello to Jersey's own language

Welcome to Jersey! You’ll hear English spoken everywhere you go, but listen closely and you may also hear or see a few words that sound distinctly different. These are remnants of Jèrriais, Jersey’s traditional language.

What is Jèrriais?

Jèrriais (sometimes called Jersey French or Jersey Norman) is the traditional language of Jersey. It developed from the Norman French spoken by settlers who came to the Island following the Norman Conquest, and over centuries it evolved into its own distinctive Island language.

For generations, Jèrriais was part of everyday life in Jersey, particularly in rural communities. It was used in homes, farms, shops and local communities, and was passed down through families.

But as English became increasingly dominant during the 20th century, the number of people speaking Jèrriais declined significantly. Today, it is no longer widely spoken as an everyday language, although there are still people who speak it and a strong effort to preserve, teach and celebrate it.

You might spot Jèrriais words on signs or come across them in Jersey’s place names and traditions. Even if you don't become fluent during your visit, learning a few words is a lovely way to connect with the Island and its heritage.

So, fancy giving it a go?

Bouônjour – Hello

A useful one to start with!

Bouônjour is the Jèrriais way of saying hello or good day. Try it when you're saying hello to someone during your travels around the Island.

Comment qu'tu'es? – How are you?

A friendly way to check in with someone.

After your bouônjour, why not follow it up with comment qu'tu'es?

You’re already sounding like a local.

Où'est qu'est la p'tite maîson? – Where is the toilet?

A handy phrase to know!

“Où'est qu'est la p'tite maîson?” literally means “Where is the little house?”, but translates to “Where is the toilet?”

This harks back to when the toilet would have been in a small outhouse away from the main building. Don’t worry - if you need the loo at the Shack, ours are inside the restaurant!

Bouôn – Good

Pronounced roughly like “boon”, bouôn means good.

So if you've had a particularly good lunch at the Shack, you could say:

“Bouôn!”

We'll take that as a compliment.

Bouôn appétit – Enjoy your meal

A useful phrase for any food lover.

You'll find plenty of reasons to use it in Jersey… Especially when there's a plate of seafood in front of you.

Mèrcie bein des fais – Thank you

Good manners go a long way wherever you are.

Mèrcie bein des fais means “thank you” and is a lovely one to have in your Jèrriais toolkit.

À bétôt – See you soon

A useful phrase when you're heading off, but planning to come back.

And if you've enjoyed your time at the Shack, à bétôt is exactly what we'd like to hear.

À la s'maine tchi veint – See you next week

Planning another visit?

À la s'maine tchi veint means “see you next week”.

Perfect for anyone who's already decided that one trip to Jersey isn't enough!

Bouôn annivèrsaithe – Happy birthday

Celebrating a birthday in Jersey?

Wish someone a bouôn annivèrsaithe — happy birthday — and raise a glass to another year.

Bouonne santé! – Cheers!

Literally relating to good health, bouonne santé! is a traditional Jerriais way to raise a glass.

Perfect for a drink overlooking St Brelade's Bay.

La mé – The sea

Jersey is an island, so you're going to hear a lot about the sea.

La mé means “the sea” in Jerriais.

Spend a day at St Brelade's Bay and you'll understand why the sea has always been such an important part of Island life.

L'ieau – Water

L'ieau means water.

You'll find plenty of it around Jersey, although quite how much covers the beach depends very much on the tide.

Crabbe – Crab

One of our favourites.

Crabbe is the Jèrriais word for crab, so now you know what to call one of Jersey's most famous seafood ingredients.

And if all this talk of Jèrriais has made you hungry, there's only one thing left to say:

Bouôn appétit!