French Conversation · Level 11
89 words
French word
vous
Pronunciation
IPA/vu/
Meaning
- pronounyou
Example
Est-ce que vous êtes prêts ?
Are you ready?
More examples
Je viens chez vous cet après-midi.
I am coming to your place this afternoon.
Core concept
A speaker addresses several people together, or one person with formal distance.
Common phrases
chez vous
at your place
à vous
your turn
et vous ?
and you?
Similar words
tu: An informal singular form of address for someone familiar.
on: A colloquial pronoun for people in general or a group including the speaker.
nous: A first-person plural pronoun for a group that includes the speaker.
toi: A stressed singular form used after prepositions or for direct address.
Definition in French
Sert principalement à s'adresser à plusieurs personnes et peut aussi être employé pour montrer du respect envers une seule personne.
Word origin
French vous continues Latin vos, the second-person plural pronoun, and later acquired a singular respectful use through historical politeness conventions.
Usage tips
- As a subject, vous takes second-person plural verb forms even when it addresses one person respectfully.