How to Say 'Why Don't We...?' in French: Polite Suggestions with On
Learn to make polite suggestions in French using 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' and 'Et si on... ?', and compare them with direct suggestions like 'Allons-y'.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Making a suggestion in French can be tricky: a direct command like 'Allons au cinéma' can sound pushy, while a softened question invites the other person to agree. In this lesson, you will learn the core pattern 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' (Why don't we...?) and its close cousin 'Et si on... ?' (How about we...?). Both use the pronoun 'on' to mean 'we' in everyday spoken French. You will also see how these compare with more direct forms, so you can choose the right level of politeness.
By the end, you can…
- make a polite suggestion using 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' with common verbs.
- use 'Et si on... ?' as a friendly alternative.
- recognise when a direct suggestion like 'Allons-y' is appropriate.
- respond positively or negatively to a suggestion.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Pourquoi on ne va pas au cinéma ?
Why don't we go to the cinema?
poor-KWAH o(n) nuh vah pah oh see-nay-MAH
Standard polite suggestion. Use 'on' for 'we' in conversation; it takes third-person singular verb forms.
Pourquoi on ne mange pas ensemble ?
Why don't we eat together?
poor-KWAH o(n) nuh mahnzh pah ahn-SAHM-bluh
Invite someone to share a meal. The 'ne... pas' wraps around the verb.
Et si on prenait un café ?
How about we have a coffee?
ay see o(n) pruh-NEH u(n) kah-FAY
Uses the imperfect tense 'prenait' to sound softer and more tentative. Very common in friendly suggestions.
On pourrait aller au parc, non ?
We could go to the park, couldn't we?
o(n) poo-REH ah-LAY oh park no(n)
The conditional 'pourrait' adds politeness. The tag 'non ?' invites agreement.
Allons-y !
Let's go!
ah-LO(n)-zee
Direct and energetic. Use with friends or when everyone already agrees. The imperative form is more forceful than a question.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Pourquoi on ne + [verb] + pas ?' — literally 'Why don't we + [verb]?' The verb stays in the third-person singular because 'on' grammatically behaves like 'il' or 'elle'. For example: 'Pourquoi on ne part pas maintenant ?' (Why don't we leave now?) or 'Pourquoi on n'achète pas des billets ?' (Why don't we buy tickets?). Note the contraction 'n' before a vowel: 'on n'achète'. For an even softer tone, use 'Et si on + [imperfect] ?' — 'Et si on partait maintenant ?' (How about we leave now?). The imperfect makes the suggestion feel less like a direct question and more like a shared idea.
When to use it
Use 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' when you want to propose something without sounding demanding. It works well with acquaintances, colleagues, or friends. 'Et si on... ?' is slightly more tentative and often used when you are not sure the other person will agree. Compare with direct suggestions: 'Allons au cinéma' (Let's go to the cinema) is an imperative and can sound bossy if the other person has not agreed. 'On va au cinéma' (We're going to the cinema) is a statement, not a suggestion. In casual speech, you can also drop 'ne': 'Pourquoi on va pas au cinéma ?' — common in spoken French but less formal.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Pourquoi on ne va pas au cinéma ce soir ?
Why don't we go to the cinema tonight?poor-KWAH o(n) nuh vah pah oh see-nay-MAH suh swahrBonne idée ! Et si on mangeait d'abord ?
Good idea! How about we eat first?bun ee-DAY ay see o(n) mahn-ZHAY dar-KORD'accord. On pourrait essayer le nouveau restaurant.
Okay. We could try the new restaurant.dah-KOR o(n) poo-REH ay-say-YAY luh noo-VOH res-toh-RAHNParfait ! Allons-y à 19 heures.
Perfect! Let's go at 7 p.m.par-FAY ah-LO(n)-zee ah di-zuh-NUF uhrA little context goes a long way
In France, 'on' is the standard pronoun for 'we' in everyday conversation, even though 'nous' is taught in grammar books. Using 'nous' in a suggestion like 'Pourquoi n'allons-nous pas... ?' sounds very formal or literary. In Quebec, 'on' is equally common, and you may hear 'On y va-tu ?' as a very informal suggestion, but stick to the patterns above for clear, polite French. Direct imperatives like 'Allons-y' are fine among friends but can seem abrupt with strangers or in professional settings.
One thing to watch for
Using 'nous' with the 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' pattern, as in 'Pourquoi nous n'allons pas... ?'
Try this instead: Keep the pronoun and verb consistent: use 'on' with third-person singular. Say 'Pourquoi on ne va pas... ?' or, if you want formal French, 'Pourquoi n'allons-nous pas... ?' But mixing 'nous' with 'on' is incorrect.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'Why don't we take the train?' using the polite pattern.
Show a sample answer
Pourquoi on ne prend pas le train ?
'On' takes the third-person singular 'prend'. The 'ne... pas' wraps around the verb. In casual speech, 'Pourquoi on prend pas le train ?' is also heard.
2Make a softer suggestion: 'How about we watch a film?'
Show a sample answer
Et si on regardait un film ?
Use 'Et si on' + imperfect 'regardait'. This is softer than 'Pourquoi on ne regarde pas un film ?' and invites agreement.
3Which is more direct: 'Allons au marché' or 'Pourquoi on ne va pas au marché ?' Explain.
Show a sample answer
'Allons au marché' is more direct because it is an imperative. 'Pourquoi on ne va pas au marché ?' is a polite question that leaves room for refusal.
Imperatives like 'Allons-y' are fine with friends but can sound pushy in formal contexts. The question form is safer for polite suggestions.
Use 'Pourquoi on ne... pas ?' or 'Et si on... ?' to suggest politely in French. Save direct imperatives like 'Allons-y' for when everyone already agrees.
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