Nous mettons en place une solution.

Here, mettre en place is an idiomatic expression meaning to set up, to put in place, or to implement.

So Nous mettons en place une solution means something like:

• We are setting up a solution
• We are putting a solution in place
• We are implementing a solution

It does not usually mean physically placing an object somewhere in this kind of sentence. It is often used for plans, systems, procedures, or solutions.

Mettons is the present tense, nous form of the verb mettre (to put).

The present-tense conjugation is:

• je mets
• tu mets
• il/elle/on met
• nous mettons
• vous mettez
• ils/elles mettent

So nous mettons means we put or we are putting.

This is just the normal conjugation pattern for mettre in the present tense.

Because it comes from the verb mettre, which already has a double t in its stem.

You can think of the nous form as:

• mett-
  • -ons = mettons

The double t is part of the verb’s spelling pattern. Many learners notice that the pronunciation is still simple, but the spelling keeps both ts.

It can mean either, depending on context.

French present tense often covers both:

• We put
• We are putting

So Nous mettons en place une solution could mean:

• We are currently setting up a solution
• We set up a solution as a general statement
• We’re implementing a solution

If you need to emphasize an action in progress, French often still just uses the normal present tense.

In normal French, you usually do need the subject pronoun.

So:

• Nous mettons en place une solution = normal statement

Without nous, Mettons en place une solution would usually sound like a command:

• Let’s put a solution in place

So the pronoun helps show that this is a statement, not a suggestion or instruction.

Une solution means a solution, so it introduces one solution, not a specific already-identified one.

• une solution = a solution
• la solution = the solution

So:

• Nous mettons en place une solution = we are putting a solution in place
• Nous mettons en place la solution = we are putting the solution in place

Using une suggests it is one possible solution, or that it has not been specifically identified before.

It can be both, but in sentences like this it is very often figurative.

Examples:

• mettre en place un système = set up a system
• mettre en place une stratégie = put a strategy in place
• mettre en place une procédure = establish a procedure

So in your sentence, it most likely means implementing or setting up a solution, not physically placing something somewhere.

Yes. Mettre en place is a fixed expression.

You should learn it as a whole chunk:

• mettre en place = to set up / to implement

Trying to translate each word separately can be misleading:

• mettre = to put
• en place literally relates to being in place

But together, the phrase has a broader meaning: to establish something so it is ready and functioning.

Yes, very often in everyday spoken French.

Instead of:

• Nous mettons en place une solution

people often say:

• On met en place une solution

In modern spoken French, on often means we.

The difference is mostly about register:

• nous = more formal, more written, more careful speech
• on = very common in conversation

A simple pronunciation guide would be:

Noo meh-ton ahn plahs ewn soh-loo-syon

A more accurate IPA version is roughly:

/nu mɛ.tɔ̃ ɑ̃ plas yn sɔ.ly.sjɔ̃/

A few pronunciation points:

• nous sounds like noo
• mettons has a nasal ending, roughly meh-ton with a nasal on
• en is nasal too
• une is pronounced with the French u sound, which English does not have exactly
• solution ends with -syon

Yes. In formal or business English, common translations are:

• to implement
• to put in place
• to set up
• to establish

So depending on context, Nous mettons en place une solution could also be translated as:

• We are implementing a solution
• We are putting a solution in place
• We are setting up a solution

Implement is often the most natural choice in professional contexts.

Yes, very often.

Une solution in French usually means a way to solve a problem, just like a solution in English.

So this sentence would naturally fit contexts like:

• fixing a technical issue
• solving a business problem
• introducing a new process
• responding to a customer need

So solution here works much like its English equivalent.