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How to Say ‘We all use first names, even with management.’ in French

On se tutoie tous, même avec la direction.

on suh tu-TWAH too mehm ah-vek lah dee-rek-SYOHN

[on suh tu-TWAH too mehm ah-vek lah dee-rek-SYOHN]

🇫🇷 In France: Many French offices still use vous with bosses. So everyone using tu, even with managers, signals a relaxed, startup-style culture worth noting. Wait to be invited before using tu yourself.

Phrase Breakdown

On se tutoie tous,

on suh tu-TWAH too

We all use 'tu' with each other,

Pronounce the S in 'tous' ('toos'), then pause at the comma.

Example

On se tutoie tous ici.

We all use 'tu' here.

Words in this phrase

[on]

Used by a speaker to refer to themself and one or more other people considered together.

Example

On y va maintenant.

We are going now.

[suh]

each other / oneself

"Se" marks the reciprocal idea of helping one another.

Example

On se soutient beaucoup. Personne ne reste isolé.

We support each other a lot. No one is left isolated.

tutoie

[tu-TWAH]

use 'tu' (informal you)

From 'tutoyer': to address someone with the informal 'tu' instead of 'vous'.

Example

Je tutoie mes collègues.

I use 'tu' with my colleagues.

tous

[too]

All

Referring to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing.

Example

Ils sont tous partis.

They have all gone.

même avec la direction.

mehm ah-vek lah dee-rek-SYOHN

even with management.

Link 'même avec' smoothly. Your voice falls at the end of the statement.

Example

Je parle même avec la direction.

I even talk with management.

Words in this phrase

même

[mehm]

even

"Même" adds emphasis, like saying "even" or "actually even."

Example

Assez familiales même, selon plusieurs employés.

Quite family-like even, according to several employees.

avec

[ah-vek]

with

A preposition indicating accompaniment or association.

Example

Je suis avec elle.

I am with her.

[lah]

the

A definite article preceding a noun.

Example

La porte est ouverte.

The door is open.

direction

[dee-rek-SYOHN]

management

In a company, the leadership or senior managers.

Example

La direction a annoncé une réunion.

Management announced a meeting.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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