How do you say “The best of both worlds” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is le meilleur des deux mondes, which literally means “the best of the two worlds”. English speakers use the best of both worlds to mean this refers to a situation where a person can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time. Although originally influenced by the English idiom, this phrase is now thoroughly adopted and widely used across all registers in French. It is neutral, informal and common in everyday French.
Closest natural French
le meilleur des deux mondes
/lə mɛ.jœʁ de dø mɔ̃d/
- Literal meaning
- “the best of the two worlds”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
92 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
The French phrase 'le meilleur des deux mondes' is a near-perfect mirror of 'the best of both worlds'. While historically recognized as a calque of the English expression, it has seamlessly entered modern French parlance in both spoken and written registers. It conveys the exact same idea: combining the positive aspects of two distinct situations while avoiding their drawbacks.
Learners sometimes confuse this positive observation with the French proverb 'vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre' (the equivalent of wanting to have one's cake and eat it too). However, that proverb implies an impossible or selfish demand, whereas 'le meilleur des deux mondes' simply highlights an ideal compromise that has actually been achieved.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity5 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
tous les avantages sans les inconvénients
Literally: “all the advantages without the drawbacks”
A very natural descriptive phrasing used when explaining the practical benefits.
gagnant sur tous les tableaux
Literally: “winning on all boards”
Focuses on coming out ahead in every respect rather than balancing two distinct realities.
Don't translate it literally
vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
This means 'to have your cake and eat it too' and carries a negative connotation of greed or unrealistic expectations, unlike the positive sense of the English phrase.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.
In context
English
Working remotely from the countryside gives me the best of both worlds.
French
Faire du télétravail depuis la campagne m'offre le meilleur des deux mondes.
English
Hybrid cars offer the best of both worlds between electric and petrol.
French
Les voitures hybrides offrent le meilleur des deux mondes entre l'électrique et l'essence.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-11