par le bonheur

You usually place it at the beginning of a sentence to set the stage. It acts as an adverbial phrase to describe the circumstances of an event. You can use it to explain how you found your keys or met a friend. It sounds a bit more sophisticated than your average daily slang. It adds a touch of grace to your storytelling.

Use it when you want to emphasize a positive coincidence. It works beautifully when sharing a story about a near-miss or a lucky break. Use it when talking to friends about your day. It is also great for written notes or emails to add a bit of flair. Imagine you found the last croissant at the bakery—that is a par le bonheur moment!

Avoid using it in very casual, gritty street slang. It might sound a bit too 'fancypants' for a rowdy football match. Do not use it for serious, heavy, or tragic situations. It is strictly for positive, lighthearted, or fortunate outcomes. Also, do not confuse it with avec bonheur, which describes doing something with joy.

French speakers love a bit of drama and elegance in their speech. The word bonheur comes from bon (good) and heur (luck/omen). Historically, it was all about the stars aligning in your favor. Today, it reflects the French appreciation for the small, beautiful coincidences of life. It feels very 'Amélie Poulain'—finding magic in the mundane.

The most common alternative is par chance, which is more direct. You might also hear par un heureux hasard for 'by a happy coincidence.' If you want to be very formal, you could say par fortune. However, par le bonheur remains a sweet, slightly old-fashioned middle ground.