▶️2️⃣

How to Say ‘We start the second one’ in French

On commence la deuxième

on koh-MAHNSS lah duh-ZYEM

[on koh-MAHNSS lah duh-ZYEM]

💬 Usage Tip: On literally means "one", but in everyday speech it's the normal way to say "we". It takes the same verb form as il: on commence, on passe.

Phrase Breakdown

On commence

on koh-MAHNSS

We start

'On' often means 'we' in spoken French. Say 'on ko-mans'.

Example

On commence à neuf heures.

We start at nine.

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.

commence

[koh-MAHNSS]

starts

Form of 'commencer', to begin.

Example

Le film commence bientôt.

The film starts soon.

la deuxième

lah duh-ZYEM

the second (one)

Ordinal number. 'Partie' is understood, so it is feminine. Say 'duh-zyèm'.

Example

C'est la deuxième fois.

It's the second time.

Words in this phrase

[lah]

the

A definite article preceding a noun.

Example

La porte est ouverte.

The door is open.

deuxième

[duh-ZYEM]

second

Ordinal number meaning number two in a sequence.

Example

C'est la deuxième maison.

It's the second house.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer