French word

on

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔ̃/

Meaning

  • pronounwe

Example

On y va ?

Shall we go?

Illustration for on (we)

More examples

On commence.

We start.

Core concept

A grammatical spotlight on people in general or on a group that includes the speaker.

Common phrases

  • on y va

    Let's go

  • on commence

    We start

Similar words

nous: A pronoun meaning we, including the speaker and others; it takes a plural verb.
tout le monde: An expression meaning everyone or all people; it takes a singular verb.

Definition in French

S'emploie familièrement pour remplacer nous ; il désigne souvent le groupe incluant le locuteur et se conjugue à la troisième personne du singulier.

Word origin

French on developed from Old French om and ultimately Latin homo, meaning 'person', before becoming an indefinite pronoun.

Usage tips

  • Even when on means 'we', its verb stays in the third-person singular, as in on est and on va.

Other meanings

  • everyonepronoun

Word lists with this word