What does nous mean in French?

Both we and us, depending on where it sits. In front of the verb as the subject it's we (nous partons); in front of the verb as an object it's us (il nous voit); after a preposition it's also us (avec nous). The word itself never changes.

Why does nous appear twice in nous nous levons?

The first nous is the subject and the second is the reflexive pronoun that se lever requires. In the past you get three words in a row, nous nous sommes levés, because the auxiliary of a pronominal verb is être.

Is vous singular or plural?

It can be either. As a plural it addresses several people; as a polite singular it addresses one person you're not on tu terms with. The verb is plural in both cases, but adjectives and participles stay singular when only one person is meant.

Do people still use nous as a subject?

In writing and in formal speech, yes, constantly. In casual conversation, on has largely taken over: on y va rather than nous y allons. Nous is still the only possibility as an object, after a preposition, and in the emphatic nous, on… pattern.

When does the past participle agree with nous?

Only when nous is a direct object: il nous a invités takes an s. With an indirect object there is no agreement, so elle nous a téléphoné stays bare. The test is whether the verb takes à before a person, as parler and téléphoner do.

French grammar · Beginner

Nous and Vous in French: One Form Doing Five Jobs

Written by Camille Laurent, Lead French Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Nous means we and us; vous means you in the plural and you in the polite singular. Each is a single invariable form that serves as subject, direct object, indirect object, reflexive pronoun and stressed pronoun, which makes them the two easiest pronouns in French to spell and the two easiest to misplace.

Nous vous attendons : venez nous voir quand vous voulez.

We're waiting for you: come and see us whenever you like.

What it is

Where the third person forces you to choose between le, lui and eux, the first and second person plural have nothing to choose. Nous is we, us, to us, ourselves and each other; vous is you, to you, yourselves and one another. The word never changes shape, so the only question is where in the sentence it goes.

Nous nous écrivons souvent, et vous nous répondez toujours. — We write to each other often, and you always reply to us.

How to spot it

Work out the role from the position. In front of the verb and before the auxiliary, it's an object or a reflexive. After a preposition or standing alone, it's stressed. First word of the clause with a matching verb ending, it's the subject.

Nous partons demain. — We're leaving tomorrow. (subject)
Il nous a vus. — He saw us. (direct object)
Elle nous parle. — She's talking to us. (indirect object)
Venez avec nous. — Come with us. (after a preposition)

Because the form never changes, a sentence can easily contain the same word twice in two different roles: nous nous préparons, we're getting ready. Both are needed.

Nous and Vous Quick Reference

Every slot nous and vous can fill

Role	Nous	Vous	Example
Subject	nous	vous	Nous arrivons — we're arriving
Direct object	nous	vous	Il nous voit — he sees us
Indirect object	nous	vous	Il nous écrit — he writes to us
Reflexive	nous	vous	Nous nous levons — we get up
Reciprocal	nous	vous	Vous vous aidez — you help each other
After a preposition	nous	vous	pour nous — for us
Emphatic	nous	vous	Nous, on préfère — we'd rather
With -mêmes	nous-mêmes	vous-mêmes	faites-le vous-mêmes — do it yourselves

Common Nous and Vous Examples in French

The same two words in each of their roles:

As Subjects

Nous habitons près du parc.: We live near the park.
Vous avez de la chance.: You're lucky.
Nous ne savions pas.: We didn't know.
Vous arrivez à quelle heure ?: What time are you arriving?

As a subject, nous is the written and formal choice; in conversation on takes over almost entirely, though nous survives everywhere else.

As Objects

Ils nous ont invités.: They invited us.
Je vous remercie.: Thank you.
Elle nous a tout expliqué.: She explained everything to us.
On vous rappelle demain.: We'll call you back tomorrow.

The direct and indirect roles look identical, so the participle only agrees when the pronoun is a direct object: ils nous ont invités agrees, elle nous a parlé does not.

As Reflexives and Reciprocals

Nous nous levons à six heures.: We get up at six.
Vous vous êtes trompés de jour.: You got the day wrong.
Nous nous téléphonons chaque dimanche.: We call each other every Sunday.
Vous vous connaissez depuis longtemps ?: Have you known each other long?

The same construction covers ourselves and each other. Context usually decides, and l'un l'autre can be added when you need to be explicit.

In Stressed Positions

C'est pour vous.: This is for you.
Entre nous, je n'y crois pas.: Between you and me, I don't believe it.
Chez nous, on fête Noël le 24.: At our place, we celebrate Christmas on the 24th.
Nous aussi, nous avons hésité.: We hesitated too.

This is where the invariability really pays off: no separate stressed form has to be learned, unlike moi, toi, lui and eux.

How Nous and Vous Are Positioned

The word never changes, so everything you need to get right is about placement and agreement.

As an Object, It Goes Before the Verb

Like all French object pronouns, nous and vous come in front of the conjugated verb, and in a compound tense in front of the auxiliary rather than the participle.

Ils nous ont prévenus à la dernière minute.

They warned us at the last minute.

nous + auxiliary + participle.

The Reflexive Pronoun Repeats the Subject

With a pronominal verb, the subject and the reflexive pronoun are the same word, so it appears twice in a row. Dropping one of them is the commonest error in this area.

Nous nous sommes perdus dans le vieux quartier.

We got lost in the old quarter.

nous nous sommes, vous vous êtes.

Direct Objects Trigger Participle Agreement

When nous or vous is the direct object of a verb in a compound tense, the past participle agrees with it, which is the one place the invisible role becomes visible in writing.

Elle nous a vus, mais elle ne nous a rien dit.

She saw us, but she didn't tell us anything.

Direct → agreement, indirect → none.

A Positive Command Puts It After the Verb

In an affirmative imperative the pronoun follows the verb with a hyphen. Because the form doesn't change, the only difference from the statement is the position.

Attendez-nous ! Ne nous laissez pas.

Wait for us! Don't leave us.

Attendez-nous → ne nous attendez pas.

Formal Vous Keeps Singular Agreement

When vous addresses one person, the verb is plural but adjectives and participles stay singular. This is the one asymmetry in an otherwise regular pair.

Vous êtes déjà inscrite, madame ?

Are you already registered, madam?

One person → singular adjective.

Common Mistakes with Nous and Vous

Incorrect: Nous levons à sept heures. — We get up at seven.

Correct: Nous nous levons à sept heures. — We get up at seven.

Se lever is a pronominal verb, so it needs a reflexive pronoun as well as a subject. With nous both words are identical, which makes the second one easy to leave out by accident.

Incorrect: Il a nous téléphoné. — He called us.

Correct: Il nous a téléphoné. — He called us.

The object pronoun goes before the auxiliary, not between the auxiliary and the participle. Nothing separates avoir from its participle except a short adverb like déjà or bien.

Incorrect: Elle nous a parlés hier. — She spoke to us yesterday.

Correct: Elle nous a parlé hier. — She spoke to us yesterday.

Parler à takes an indirect object, and indirect objects never trigger participle agreement. Compare elle nous a vus, where nous is a direct object and the s is required.

Incorrect: Vous êtes gentils, monsieur. — You're very kind, sir.

Correct: Vous êtes gentil, monsieur. — You're very kind, sir.

A polite vous addressed to one person keeps singular agreement on adjectives and participles. Only the verb takes the plural form.

The Constructions Worth Practising

Three places where the doubled or stressed form of nous and vous does something distinctive.

When the word appears twice

A pronominal verb needs the subject and the reflexive pronoun, and both are nous or vous. In a compound tense the auxiliary is être, so three words stack up in a row.

Nous nous préparons.: We're getting ready.
Vous vous souvenez de lui ?: Do you remember him?
Nous nous sommes bien amusés.: We had a great time.
Vous vous êtes déjà rencontrés ?: Have you two met before?

In a negative command the reflexive keeps its place in front of the verb, as in ne vous inquiétez pas. In a positive one it moves behind it: dépêchez-vous.

Emphasis, groups and -mêmes

Stressed nous and vous open a clause for contrast, combine with tous and toutes for the whole group, and take -mêmes for ourselves and yourselves.

Nous, on n'a rien dit.: We didn't say anything.
Vous êtes tous invités.: You're all invited.
Nous l'avons construit nous-mêmes.: We built it ourselves.
Faites-le vous-mêmes.: Do it yourselves.

Note the plural s on nous-mêmes and vous-mêmes. When vous addresses one person, it's vous-même with no s.

The fixed phrases built on vous and nous

Several everyday formulas contain these pronouns and are used exactly as they are, with no variation.

S'il vous plaît.: Please.
Je vous en prie.: You're welcome. / Please do.
À nous deux, on va y arriver.: Between the two of us, we'll manage it.
Nous y voilà.: Here we are.

S'il vous plaît has an informal twin, s'il te plaît, and choosing the wrong one gives away the register faster than almost anything else.

Nous and Vous FAQs

What does nous mean in French?: Both we and us, depending on where it sits. In front of the verb as the subject it's we (nous partons); in front of the verb as an object it's us (il nous voit); after a preposition it's also us (avec nous). The word itself never changes.
Why does nous appear twice in nous nous levons?: The first nous is the subject and the second is the reflexive pronoun that se lever requires. In the past you get three words in a row, nous nous sommes levés, because the auxiliary of a pronominal verb is être.
Is vous singular or plural?: It can be either. As a plural it addresses several people; as a polite singular it addresses one person you're not on tu terms with. The verb is plural in both cases, but adjectives and participles stay singular when only one person is meant.
Do people still use nous as a subject?: In writing and in formal speech, yes, constantly. In casual conversation, on has largely taken over: on y va rather than nous y allons. Nous is still the only possibility as an object, after a preposition, and in the emphatic nous, on… pattern.
When does the past participle agree with nous?: Only when nous is a direct object: il nous a invités takes an s. With an indirect object there is no agreement, so elle nous a téléphoné stays bare. The test is whether the verb takes à before a person, as parler and téléphoner do.