Phrase guide

bonheur du jour

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK, plural, singular: /bɒˌnɜː d(j)uː ˈʒʊə/
  • US, plural, singular: /bəˌnɝ d(j)u ˈʒʊɹ/
  • US: /bəˌnɝ də ˈʒʊɹ/
  • rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ)

1

noun

Meaning 1

An 18th- and 19th-century lady's portable writing desk with a raised back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Topics: furniture, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French bonheur-du-jour (literally “daytime delight”), conjectured to be from its sudden rise in popularity.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: bonheur-du-jour — lady's writing desk
  • Italian: bonheur-du-jour — lady's writing desk
  • Italian: scrivania — lady's writing desk