On se retrouve à la maison après le travail.

the house

Breakdown of On se retrouve à la maison après le travail.

• le travail: the work
• après: after
• à: at

Questions & Answers about On se retrouve à la maison après le travail.

What does on mean here—is it “we”?

Yes. In everyday French on often means “we.” It always takes third-person singular verbs (e.g., on se retrouve, not “on se retrouvons”). It sounds more casual than nous and is very common in speech.

Can I use nous instead of on?

Yes: Nous nous retrouvons à la maison après le travail. It’s a bit more formal or written. In conversation, on usually sounds more natural.

Why is there se—is this verb reflexive?

Here se retrouver is reciprocal: it means the people meet each other. It’s not the “find oneself” meaning in this context. Compare:

• Je retrouve Paul. = I’m meeting Paul. (transitive, no se)
• On se retrouve. = We’re meeting (each other). (reciprocal)

What’s the difference between se retrouver, se rencontrer, and retrouver quelqu’un?