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How to Say ‘Shall we do the cheek kiss?’ in French

On se fait la bise ?

ohn suh feh lah beez

[ohn suh feh lah beez]

🇫🇷 In France: Among friends of friends, the cheek kiss is the default greeting in France, and asking first is a friendly way to handle it if you're unsure. The number of kisses varies by region, usually two; let the other person lead.

Phrase Breakdown

On se fait

ohn suh feh

Shall we do

'On' means 'we' in casual speech. 'Se faire' means doing something to each other.

Example

On se fait un café ?

Shall we grab a coffee?

Words in this phrase

[ohn]

we / people

"On" often means "we" in spoken French, though literally it can mean "one" or "people."

Example

On se soutient dans cette entreprise quand il y a beaucoup de travail.

We support each other in this company when there is a lot of work.

[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.

fait

[feh]

makes

To create or construct by combining or shaping resources.

Example

Elle fait du café.

She makes coffee.

la bise ?

lah beez

the cheek kiss?

'La bise' is the French greeting kiss on the cheeks. The 's' sounds like 'z'.

Example

Je te fais la bise.

I'll give you a kiss on the cheek.

Words in this phrase

[lah]

the

A definite article preceding a noun.

Example

La porte est ouverte.

The door is open.

bise

[beez]

kiss on the cheek

The customary French greeting of cheek kisses.

Example

On se fait la bise ?

Shall we kiss on the cheek?

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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