personne/pɛʁ.sɔn/
pronoun / noun · A2 · Frequency 227
pronouncommon
Meanings
no one, nobody
Used in negative sentences to indicate the absence of any person.
anyone
Used in interrogative or conditional sentences to indicate an unspecified person.
a person, someone
Used to refer to a specific or general person, often in affirmative sentences.
Examples
Personne ne connaît la réponse à cette question.
No one knows the answer to this question.
Je n'ai rencontré personne dans le couloir.
I did not meet anyone in the hallway.
Est-ce que personne peut m'aider à porter cette boîte ?
Can anyone help me carry this box?
Collocations
- personne ne sait la réponseno one knows the answer
- est-ce que personne vient ?is anyone coming?
- une personne gentillea kind person
Common mistakes
Je n'ai pas vu personne.
Je n'ai vu personne.
When personne means “no one,” personne is already negative, so standard French normally does not use pas with it.
Related words
antonymquelqu’unsomeone, somebody, anyone, anybody
Grammar note
The pronoun personne, when used as a negative pronoun, is typically used with ne and has no plural form.
nounfeminine
Meanings
person
Refers to an individual human being or person.
Examples
Chaque personne reçoit un badge à l'entrée.
Each person receives a badge at the entrance.
La personne responsable vérifiera les horaires demain.
The person in charge will check the schedules tomorrow.
Une personne de l'équipe répondra aux clients cet après-midi.
A person from the team will reply to the customers this afternoon.
Collocations
- personne importanteimportant person
Common mistakes
Cette persone est très sympathique.
Cette personne est très sympathique.
The spelling of personne contains two n’s; writing only one n is a common learner spelling error.
Related words
synonymindividuindividual, referring to a single entity in biological or sociological context.
nounfeminine
Meanings
person
Refers to an individual human being or person.
Examples
Les personnes attendent leur tour devant le guichet.
People are waiting their turn in front of the counter.
Plusieurs personnes ont proposé leur aide après l'accident.
Several people offered their help after the accident.
Certaines personnes préfèrent travailler tôt le matin.
Some people prefer to work early in the morning.
Collocations
- personne importanteimportant person
Common mistakes
Cette persone est très sympathique.
Cette personne est très sympathique.
The spelling of personne contains two n’s; writing only one n is a common learner spelling error.
Related words
synonymindividuindividual, referring to a single entity in biological or sociological context.