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How to Say ‘We try.’ in French

On essaie.

ohn eh-say

[ohn eh-say]

💬 Usage Tip: French often uses [on] where English would say "we." In everyday speech, [on essaie] sounds more natural than [nous essayons] in many conversations.

Phrase Breakdown

On

[ohn]

we / one / people

Common informal subject pronoun; here it often means 'we'.

Example

On essaie de manger plus sainement cette année.

We are trying to eat more healthily this year.

essaie

[eh-say]

try / are trying

Verb from 'essayer' meaning to make an effort.

Example

On essaie de rester positifs malgré le stress.

We are trying to stay positive despite the stress.

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