Etymology

From Old French bienvenue; literally bien ‎(“well”) +‎ venue ‎(“come, coming”); compare also bienvenu (without the -e). Presumably a calque of an Old Frankish term, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwumô ‎(“a welcome guest or arrival”), from which many modern Germanic forms descend, as English welcome.

Since “you’re welcome” is recent, due to influence from English; English “you’re welcome” dates from early 20th century, French usage correspondingly later.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bjɛ̃v.ny/