Are you hesitating between “on” and “nous” in French? This confusion is very common among French language learners. Although both pronouns can mean “we” in English, they aren’t used in the same contexts.
What is the pronoun “on” in French?
Origin and definition
The pronoun “on” comes from Latin “homo” (meaning “man” in the general sense). Grammatically, it’s an indefinite personal pronoun of the 3rd person singular. Despite being conjugated in the singular, it can represent a group of people.
The different meanings of “on”
The pronoun “on” is very versatile in French and can represent:
- “We” (informal) – Most common usage in everyday conversation
- “On va manger au restaurant ce soir.” → We’re going to eat at a restaurant tonight.
- “People” (general) – To talk about habits or generalities
- “En France, on mange vers 20h.” → In France, people eat around 8pm.
- “Someone” (indefinite) – For an unidentified person
- “On a frappé à la porte.” → Someone knocked at the door.
- “Tu/vous (you)” (instructions) – In directions or explanations
- “Comment on fait pour s’inscrire ?” → How do you register?
When to use “nous” instead of “on”?
In formal contexts
“Nous” is preferred in formal situations such as:
- Les discours officiels / Official speeches
- Les entretiens d’embauche / Job interviews
- Les présentations professionnelles / Professional presentations
- Les communications avec des supérieurs hiérarchiques / Communications with hierarchical superiors
In writing
In formal written communication, “nous” remains the standard:
- Lettres officielles / Official letters
- Emails professionnels / Professional emails
- Rapports / Reports
- Travaux académiques / Academic works
- Articles de presse / Press articles
To emphasize the group
“Nous” can be used to emphasize collective identity:
- “Nous, les Français, adorons le fromage.” → “We, the French, love cheese.”
- “C’est nous qui avons réalisé ce projet.” → “It’s us who completed this project.”
Practical comparison with examples
| Situation | Avec “on” (informel) | Avec “nous” (formel) |
|---|---|---|
| Projets / Projects | On va faire un gâteau | Nous allons préparer un gâteau |
| We’re going to make a cake | We are going to prepare a cake | |
| Opinions / Opinions | On pense que c’est une bonne idée | Nous pensons que c’est une proposition intéressante |
| We think it’s a good idea | We believe it is an interesting proposition | |
| Actions passées / Past actions | On a visité le musée hier | Nous avons visité le musée hier |
| We visited the museum yesterday | We visited the museum yesterday | |
| Questions / Questions | On part à quelle heure ? | À quelle heure partons-nous ? |
| What time are we leaving? | At what time are we departing? |
Same sentence, different register:
🗣️ Conversation between friends:
“On a décidé de déménager à Lyon l’année prochaine.”
→ “We’ve decided to move to Lyon next year.”
✍️ Professional email:
“Nous avons décidé de transférer notre siège social à Lyon l’année prochaine.”
→ “We have decided to transfer our headquarters to Lyon next year.”
Idiomatic expressions with “on”
These common expressions almost always use “on” and rarely “nous“:
- “On y va !” → “Let’s go!”
- “On verra bien.” → “We’ll see.”
- “Comment on dit… ?” → “How do you say…?”
- “On se calme !” → “Let’s calm down!”
- “On se retrouve à 18h.” → “Let’s meet at 6pm.”
Important points to remember
Conjugation with “on”
Even if “on” represents several people, the verb is always conjugated in the 3rd person singular:
- ✓ “On mange au restaurant.” → “We’re eating at the restaurant.”
- ✗ “On mangons au restaurant.” → Incorrect!
Agreement of adjectives
When “on” replaces “nous“, adjectives and past participles generally agree in the plural:
- “On est partis en vacances.” → “We went on vacation.”
- “On est contents de vous voir.” → “We are happy to see you.”
Pronunciation and liaisons
The liaison is mandatory between “on” and a verb beginning with a vowel:
- “on‿a” (prononcé “ona”) → “we have”
- “on‿est” (prononcé “onè”) → “we are”
- “on‿arrive” (prononcé “onariv”) → “we’re coming”
Practical exercises
Transform these sentences with “nous” using “on” for a more conversational style:
- Nous allons au cinéma ce soir. / We are going to the cinema tonight.
- Nous sommes fatigués après cette longue journée. / We are tired after this long day.
- Nous avons mangé dans ce restaurant la semaine dernière. / We ate at this restaurant last week.
- Nous aimerions vous inviter à dîner. / We would like to invite you to dinner.
- À quelle heure partons-nous demain ? / What time are we leaving tomorrow?
<details> <summary>Voir les réponses / See the answers</summary>
- On va au cinéma ce soir. / We’re going to the cinema tonight.
- On est fatigués après cette longue journée. / We’re tired after this long day.
- On a mangé dans ce restaurant la semaine dernière. / We ate at this restaurant last week.
- On aimerait vous inviter à dîner. / We’d like to invite you to dinner.
- On part à quelle heure demain ? / What time are we leaving tomorrow?
</details>
Summary: when to choose “on” or “nous”?
- Choisissez “on” pour : / Choose “on” for:
- Les conversations quotidiennes / Everyday conversations
- La communication informelle / Informal communication
- L’expression orale authentique / Authentic spoken expression
- Les messages à des amis ou proches / Messages to friends or family
- Privilégiez “nous” pour : / Favor “nous” for:
- L’écrit formel / Formal writing
- Les situations professionnelles / Professional situations
- Les présentations officielles / Official presentations
- Insister sur l’identité du groupe / Emphasizing group identity
Mastering the difference between “on” and “nous” will allow you to express yourself more naturally in French and adapt your language according to the context. It’s an important step to speaking like a native!
Do you have questions about using “on” and “nous”? Share your examples or difficulties in the comments below!
