on/ɔ̃/
pronoun / prop.n. · A2/B1 · Frequency 34
pronouncommon
Meanings
one, people, you, someone (an unspecified individual)
Used as an indefinite pronoun referring to an unspecified person, common in both spoken and written language.
we (informal usage)
Used informally to mean ‘we’, including the speaker and possibly the listener or a group including the speaker.
Examples
On a laissé un message à l'accueil, mais personne ne l'a encore récupéré.
Someone left a message at reception, but no one has collected it yet.
On ne sait jamais ce qui peut arriver pendant un long voyage.
One never knows what may happen during a long journey.
Collocations
- on dit souvent quepeople often say
- on va au cinémawe go to the cinema
- on a été surpris par la nouvelleone was surprised by the news
Common mistakes
On sommes partis tôt.
On est partis tôt.
When on means “we,” the verb still takes third-person singular agreement, so use on est, not on sommes.
Related words
synonymquelqu'unsomeone
- synonymnouswe
synonymles genspeople
Grammar note
The pronoun on, when used as an indefinite subject, can express generality (equivalent to English one), colloquial first-person plural (equivalent to we), and substitute for the subject in passive constructions.
prop.n.common
Meanings
A French pronoun used as an indefinite subject, equivalent to English 'one', 'we', or 'people'
Used as an indefinite subject pronoun in both spoken and written French to refer to unspecified people or groups.
a village in Luxembourg, Belgium
Proper noun referring to a village in the Luxembourg province of Belgium.
Examples
On dit souvent que la patience est une vertu essentielle dans la vie.
People often say that patience is an essential virtue in life.
En France, on utilise souvent le pronom 'on' pour parler de manière générale.
In France, the pronoun 'on' is often used to speak generally.
On est un petit village situé dans la province de Luxembourg en Belgique.
On is a small village located in the Luxembourg province of Belgium.
Collocations
- On pense que c'est vraiPeople think that it is true
- On est allé à On en BelgiqueWe went to the village On in Belgium