on se voit là-bas
The English phrase "see you there" is translated into French as on se voit là-bas.
on se voit là-bas is used to confirm that you will meet someone at a specific location.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, on se voit là-bas means "one sees oneself there" or "we see each other there".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
on se voit là-bas is an informal way to say "see you there". In more formal situations, you might use the expression Au plaisir de vous y retrouver, which means "Looking forward to meeting you there".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the pronoun on is used as an informal way to mean "we" or "one". Although the verb voit is in the present tense, it is commonly used to express a future intention, similar to "we'll see each other there".
Did you know?
- The pronoun on is a descendant of the Latin word homō meaning 'human being'. This is why it shares the same root as the word homme for 'man'.
- The term là-bas literally combines 'there' (là) and 'down' (bas). It is used for any location further away, regardless of whether the destination is physically lower.
- Although on se voit là-bas is useful, a French speaker might replace là-bas with y in many contexts. This tiny syllable y acts like a pointer to the location without needing to name it.
Examples in context
- On se voit là-bas à huit heures.See you there at eight o'clock.
- Parfait, on se voit là-bas.Perfect, see you there.
- On se voit là-bas devant le cinéma.See you there in front of the cinema.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are planning to meet at a cafe.
- LéaJe vais au café tout de suite.I am going to the cafe right now.
- HugoD'accord, on se voit là-bas ?Okay, see you there?
- LéaOui, on se voit là-bas, Hugo.Yes, see you there, Hugo.
- HugoÀ tout à l'heure, Léa.See you soon, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries là-bas, on, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
