on vit
In French, on vit is used to say "we live".
The phrase is used to describe the act of being alive or the way people exist.
Which one should you use?
While on vit is used in conversation, nous vivons is the grammatically formal way to say "we live" used in writing or official speeches. On habite is an informal way to say "we live".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase on vit uses the pronoun on, which is the standard way to say "we" in informal or everyday spoken French.
Did you know?
- The pronoun on in on vit actually traces its roots back to the Latin word for 'human being', which is 'homo'.
- In French, there is a strict conceptual divide between on vit and on habite. While both translate to 'we live', vit refers to the experience of existence and habite refers to a physical address.
- If you use the formal nous vivons in a casual conversation instead of on vit, you might sound like a character from a 19th-century novel or an official performing a speech.
Examples in context
- On vit en société.We live in society.This sentence is useful for illustrating how to use on vit when discussing social existence.Tatoeba #12728151 by menaud, translation #12728150 by menaud
- Nous habitons à Paris.We live in Paris.
- Nous habitons dans une petite maison.We live in a small house.
- Nous résidons à Montréal.We reside in Montreal.
- Nous résidons dans un beau quartier.We live in a beautiful neighborhood.
- On habite à Lyon.We live in Lyon.
- On habite dans un appartement en centre-ville.We live in a downtown apartment.
- Nous vivons à Marseille.We live in Marseille.
- Nous vivons une expérience incroyable.We are living an incredible experience.
- Nous vivons chez notre grand-mère.We live at our grandmother's.
- On habite dans notre nouvelle maison.We live in our new house.
- On vit seulement pour le plaisir.We live only for pleasure.
- On vit dans un monde complexe.We live in a complex world.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are discussing the philosophy of life.
- LéaOn vit pour les petits moments, non ?We live for the small moments, don't we?
- NathanOui, c'est ce qui compte.Yes, that is what matters.
- LéaTu as raison, Nathan.You are right, Nathan.
- NathanOn vit mieux ainsi.We live better this way.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries on, vit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
