on se retrouve
The French phrase for "we meet again" is on se retrouve.
on se retrouve is used when two or more people see each other again after some time. While it can express the fact that a reunion is happening, it is also frequently used to mean "we will meet again" or "we'll catch up later" when making plans for the future.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of on (one/we), se (oneself) and retrouve (find again/meet again), literally translating to "one finds oneself again".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the pronoun on is used to mean "we" in a standard or informal way, which is a common alternative to the more formal nous nous retrouvons.
Did you know?
- The pronoun on shares a linguistic history with the English word 'man' as used in phrases like 'man cannot live by bread alone'. Both languages adapted a word for 'person' to represent an indefinite subject.
- While on se retrouve describes a reunion, the verb retrouver is also used when you find a lost object, such as your keys.
- The phrase on se retrouve can be used as a vague social gesture to end a conversation without actually committing to a specific time to meet.
Examples in context
- Madame Dupont, quel plaisir de nous retrouver aujourd'hui.Mrs. Dupont, what a pleasure to meet again today.
- Monsieur Martin, nous nous voyons à nouveau lors de cette réunion importante.Mr. Martin, we meet again during this important meeting.
- Chère amie, il semble que nos chemins se croisent encore. Quelle joie de te revoir.Dear friend, it seems our paths cross again. What a joy to see you again.
- Stéphane, ça fait plaisir de te revoir ! On se raconte tout depuis la dernière fois ?Stéphane, it's nice to see you again! Shall we catch up on everything since the last time?
- Sophie, quelle surprise de te revoir ici ! Comment ça va depuis la dernière fois ?Sophie, what a surprise to see you here! How have you been since the last time?
- On se retrouve enfin !We finally meet again!
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo bump into each other at a train station.
- LéaHugo ! On se retrouve par hasard !Hugo! We meet again by chance!
- HugoLéa ! Quelle surprise de te voir.Léa! What a surprise to see you.
- LéaTu vas où comme ça ?Where are you going?
- HugoJe pars en vacances pour une semaine.I am going on vacation for a week.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries on, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
