French subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous

French subject pronouns are je (I), tu (you informal), il (he/it), elle (she/it), on (we/one/people), nous (we), vous (you formal or plural), ils (they masculine or mixed), and elles (they feminine). You use them before a conjugated verb: je parle, tu viens, nous sommes.

Pronoun Meaning Example
je / j' I Je parle français.I speak French.
tu you, informal singular Tu es prêt ?Are you ready?
il he / it Il est ici.He/it is here.
elle she / it Elle arrive.She/it is arriving.
on we / one / people On va au café.We’re going to the cafe.
nous we Nous sommes prêts.We are ready.
vous you formal or plural Vous parlez anglais ?Do you speak English?
ils / elles they Ils arrivent.They are arriving.

Je becomes j’ before a vowel

Before a vowel sound or silent h, je becomes j’.

J’aime Paris. J’habite ici.
I like Paris. I live here.

This is an elision for sound. The meaning is still “I”.

Tu vs vous

Both tu and vous can mean “you”. Use tu with one person in informal situations. Use vous with someone you address formally, or with more than one person.

Tu viens ce soir ?
Are you coming tonight? (one person, informal)

Vous venez ce soir ?
Are you coming tonight? (formal or plural)

For more detail, see tu vs vous.

On vs nous

Both on and nous can mean “we”. In everyday spoken French, on is very common and takes the same verb form as il/elle: on parle, on va, on est. Nous is more formal or emphatic and takes the nous verb form.

On est prêts. / Nous sommes prêts.
We are ready.

See on vs nous for the register difference.

Ils vs elles

Use elles only for a group that is entirely feminine. Use ils for a masculine group or any mixed group.

Marie et Claire arrivent. Elles arrivent.
Marie and Claire are arriving. They are arriving.

Marie et Paul arrivent. Ils arrivent.
Marie and Paul are arriving. They are arriving.

Common mistakes

Using vous for every “you”

Vous is safe in formal situations, but tu is normal with friends, family and children.

Tu es mon ami.
You are my friend.

Forgetting j’ before a vowel

Use j' before a vowel sound.

Je aime → J’aime
I like / I love

Using elles for a mixed group

Any mixed group takes ils.

Marie et Paul, elles arrivent. → Marie et Paul, ils arrivent.
Marie and Paul are arriving.

Subject pronouns are the entry point to French conjugation: the verb form follows the subject. Fluera practices them in tiny sentences like je suis, tu vas and on parle, so the pronoun and verb form connect early. Try it when you practice French.

Practice

Question 1 of 10

I speak French:

Frequently asked questions

What are the French subject pronouns?
The main subject pronouns are je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils and elles.
What is the difference between tu and vous?
Tu is informal singular "you". Vous is formal singular "you" or plural "you". Use vous when addressing more than one person.
What does on mean in French?
On can mean "we", "one" or "people". In everyday speech, it is the common way to say "we": on va ("we're going").
When do you use ils vs elles?
Use elles only for an all-feminine group. Use ils for a masculine group or any mixed group.