vous
/vu/
The French phrase for "you (plural)" is vous.
vous is the pronoun used when addressing more than one person.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, French distinguishes between the informal singular tu and the plural or formal vous. The pronoun vous is used both to address a group of people (plural) and to address a single person formally (polite singular).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec French, vous autres is often used in speech to make it clear that you mean more than one person.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using vous to mean 'you (plural)', the verb that follows must always be in the second-person plural conjugation.
How do you pronounce it?
/vu/
Did you know?
- If you were to use the plural 'you' in Russian, you would use the word вы, which shares an identical ancestral lineage with vous.
- The formal use of vous for a single person is known as 'vouvoiement', a term that does not exist in English.
Examples in context
- Vous parlez français.You speak French.
- Vous aimez la musique.You like music.
- Est-ce que vous êtes prêts ?Are you ready?
- Je vous remercie pour votre aide.I thank you for your help.
- Où allez-vous ce soir ?Where are you going tonight?
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are greeting their friends at a restaurant.
- HugoBonjour ! Vous êtes enfin là.Hello! You are finally here.
- LéaOui, désolée pour le retard.Yes, sorry for the delay.
- HugoCe n'est pas grave. Vous voulez boire quelque chose ?It's okay. Do you want something to drink?
- LéaOui, s'il vous plaît.Yes, please.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vous, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
