The agreement of “good holidays” poses no theoretical problem: the noun holidays is a lexical plural, the adjective agrees in gender and number, end of story. The real difficulty lies elsewhere, in the choice between “de” and “des” before the preceding adjective, and in the growing gap between written norms and oral usage.
“De bonnes vacances” or “des bonnes vacances”: the rule of the indefinite article before a preceding adjective
Normative grammar is categorical: when an adjective is placed before the noun, the plural indefinite article “des” is reduced to “de”. Thus, we write “I wish you good holidays”, just as we write “de grands arbres” or “de vieux amis”.
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This rule, defended by the Académie française and taken up by major contemporary grammars, notably in Grevisse and Goosse (Le Bon Usage, 16th ed., 2023), remains the reference for any careful writing. It is systematically applied in professional correspondence, institutional greetings, and brand communication.
To properly understand the rule between good or good holidays, one must distinguish two levels of analysis: the agreement of the adjective (always in the feminine plural) and the choice of the determiner (“de” in formal register, “des” in common register).
Written norm versus oral usage: what linguistic corpora say
The form “des bonnes vacances” is gaining ground in oral corpora and on social media. The Office québécois de la langue française noted this trend in a 2021 report dedicated to the variation “des” versus “de” before an adjective. The form with “des” is described there as acceptable in familiar oral contexts.
We observe the same phenomenon in metropolitan France. In informal messages, SMS, and social media posts, “des bonnes vacances” has become the majority form in oral usage. The reduction to “de” sometimes sounds hypercorrect in a relaxed context.
This gap between norm and usage does not mean that “des bonnes vacances” is incorrect in itself. It means that the language register dictates the choice of the determiner, not grammar alone.
What remains a mistake in all registers
Descriptive grammar books, including the most tolerant of sociolinguistic variation, are unanimous on one point. As Jean-Marie Klinkenberg emphasizes in his Grammaire descriptive du français contemporain (De Boeck, 2019), the form “bonne vacances” with the adjective in the singular and the noun in the plural is not recognized by any norm. It is a pure agreement error, not a question of register.
The confusion arises from oral usage, where the liaison does not always allow for distinguishing “bonne” from “bonnes”. In writing, no hesitation is allowed: the “s” is mandatory.
Agreement of the adjective with “vacances”: the precise grammatical mechanism
The noun “vacances” belongs to the category of pluralia tantum: it is only used in the plural in its common meaning (period of leave). The singular “vacance” exists, but it refers to an unfilled position or a state of emptiness, not a leave.
The qualifying adjective in apposition agrees with the noun it determines. “Vacances” being feminine plural, the adjective takes the corresponding markers:
- Good holidays (feminine plural of “bon”)
- Excellent holidays (same agreement logic)
- Pleasant holidays (the adjective is epicene, only the “s” of the plural is added)
This mechanism applies to all expressions of wishes constructed on the same model: “joyeuses fêtes”, “meilleurs vœux”, “belles fêtes”. The adjective never remains in the masculine singular before a feminine plural noun.
Which register to adopt according to the context: recommendations for brands and writers
We recommend deciding based on the channel and the recipient, not on personal preference.
Formal and institutional communication
In a professional email, a press release, a corporate greeting card, or a brand message, the only recommended form remains “de bonnes vacances”. The use of “des” before the preceding adjective will be perceived as a relaxation by part of the readership, which undermines the credibility of the message.
Informal communication and social media
On an Instagram post, an SMS, or a Slack message between colleagues, “des bonnes vacances” does not shock anyone. Forcing the “de” in a relaxed context can even create an unwanted distance with the audience.
The decision criterion is simple:
- If the message will be reread, archived, or represents an institution, use “de bonnes vacances”
- If the message is ephemeral and conversational, “des bonnes vacances” is suitable
- In all cases, “bonnes” takes an “s”, without exception
Case of French learners
For a learner, we recommend first teaching the normative form (“de bonnes vacances”). A speaker who masters the rule can choose to bypass it in familiar contexts. The reverse, starting from relaxed usage, makes it more difficult to acquire the written norm.
The variants “bonne vacance” and “bon vacances”: why they persist online
A quick search shows that “bonne vacance” in the singular and “bon vacances” without agreement frequently appear in queries. These forms do not fall under regional usage or a legitimate variant. They result from three factors:
- The confusion between the singular “vacance” (vacant position) and the plural “vacances” (leave)
- The lack of auditory perception of the final “s” in oral usage
- The autocorrection of phone keyboards, which sometimes defaults to the singular
No grammar, descriptive or normative, validates these forms. They constitute agreement errors in all registers, including the most familiar. A writer or a brand using them would immediately lose credibility.
The distinction to remember is summed up in one sentence: the choice between “de” and “des” depends on the register, but the agreement in feminine plural (“bonnes”) and the use of the plural (“vacances”) are not negotiable. Mastering this nuance is what separates approximate writing from precise writing.