mais on

but we

→ mais

phrase Very common #1,611

but we Mais means “but,” while on commonly means “we” in everyday French, though it can also mean “one” or “people” depending on context.

FR: Mais on doit partir maintenant.

EN: But we have to leave now.

D'autres pays le font, mais on le ferait encore mieux.

Other countries do it, but we’d do it even better.

— Black Panther (2018)

Mais on ne vit pas dans ce monde.

But we don't live in that world.

Et Ty Cobb voulait jouer mais on détestait ce fumier.

And Ty Cobb wanted to play, but we hated that bastard.

— Jusqu'au bout du rêve (1989)

C'est dur à croire mais on se moquait bien de Jules Verne, non ?

It's hard to believe, but we really did make fun of Jules Verne, didn't we?

— Ouvre les yeux (1997)

Mais on le savait déjà.

But we already knew that.

— Il est de retour (2015)

Mais on a un problème, petit.

But we have a problem, kid.

— Mirage (2018)

Le seul truc possible, c'était veilleur de nuit, mais on se serait plus vus.

The only option was working as a night watchman, but we wouldn’t have seen each other as much.

— Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine (1981)

Mais on ne sait rien.

But we know nothing.

— [REC] (2007)

Mais on n'a pas eu de chance.

But we weren’t lucky.

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Y a pas grand-chose mais on se débrouillera.

There isn't much, but we'll manage.

— Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine (1981)

Mais on court un risque.

But we are taking a risk.

— La Nuit américaine (1973)

Mais on n'oublie jamais son nom.

But you never forget his name.

— Le Patient anglais (1996)

On ne dormait plus ensemble, mais on était très complices.

We no longer slept together, but we were very close.

— Anatomie d'une chute (2023)

Mais on serait totalement à découvert, et à la merci du serpent.

But we would be completely exposed, and at the mercy of the snake.

— Anaconda (2025)

Mais on irait tous dans la même direction.

But we would all be going in the same direction.

— La Haine (1995)

On a regardé par la fenêtre, mais on n'a rien vu.

We looked out the window, but we didn’t see anything.

C'est ce qu'on pensait faire, mais on hésite.

That's what we were thinking of doing, but we're hesitating.

— Volver (2006)

On essaie de remettre en état, mais on manque de tout.

We're trying to get things back in working order, but we're lacking everything.

— Une grande fille (2019)

Mais on n'était pas prêts.

But we weren't ready.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Mais on a besoin de toi ici, John.

But we need you here, John.

— Plus fort que moi (2025)

Mais on prévient pas la hiérarchie ?

But don’t we notify management?

— The Rip (2026)

On a à nouveau essayé de liquider le politicien, mais on n'y est pas arrivé.

They tried to assassinate the politician again, but they didn’t succeed.

Mais on va finir notre histoire ce soir convenablement.

But we'll finish our story properly tonight.

— Douleur et gloire (2019)

Alors on se marie mais on garde sa copine à portée de mains !

So, you're getting married, but keeping your girlfriend close at hand!

— De tout cœur (1998)

Mais on n'y a jamais trouvé un seul voleur.

But they never found a single thief there.

— Bacurau (2019)

On savait qu'il y avait une source aux Romarins, mais on n'a rien dit.

We knew there was a spring at Les Romarins, but we didn't say anything.

— Manon des sources (1986)

Mais on n'a pas pu y aller ensemble.

But we couldn't go there together.

— Lady Vengeance (2005)

Mais on est libre jusqu'à l'appel.

But we're free until the call.

— La Bande à Baader (2008)

On voulait une maison mais on adorait ces immeubles.

We wanted a house but we loved these buildings.

C'était très convaincant, mais on ne pouvait être sûrs.

It was very convincing, but we couldn't be sure.

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Mais on n'en sait rien.

But we don't know anything about it.

Mais on vous l'enverra chaque mois.

But we’ll send it to you every month.

— Parasite (2019)

Je dis pas qu'il soit mauvais, mais on sent que c'est du poisson.

I'm not saying it's bad, but you can tell it's fish.

— Les Diaboliques (1955)

C'était super, mais on n'était pas une grande famille, comme vous.

It was great, but we weren't a big family like you.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Mais on n'a rien fait.

But we did nothing.

Mais on enregistre de lourdes pertes chaque fois qu'on y envoie nos forces.

But we suffer heavy losses every time we send our forces there.

— Avatar : La Voie de l'eau (2022)

Notre système électoral aussi, mais on vote quand même.

Our electoral system is the same, but we still vote.

— Séquences et conséquences (2000)

J'allais réussir mais on m'en a empêché une nouvelle fois.

I was about to succeed, but once again, they prevented me from doing so.

— The Garden of Sinners, film 5 : Spirale contradictoire (2008)

Mais on n'y apprendra rien.

But we won’t learn anything there.

— Article 15 (2019)

On vit une époque trouble, mais on mène une vie paisible.

We live in troubled times, but we lead a peaceful life.

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

Il me parle souvent, mais on n'a jamais eu de vraie discussion, face à face.

He talks to me often, but we’ve never had a real face-to-face conversation.

— 28 Ans plus tard : Le Temple des morts (2026)

Mais on ne peut pas.

But we can't.

— Princesse Mononoké (1997)

Mais on comprend, non ?

But we understand, right?

— [REC] (2007)

Mais on n’a pas de pièces.

But we don't have any change.

— Troupe d'Élite (2007)

Seulement la traînée en ligne droite, mais on calcule tout à partir de ça.

Only the straight-line drag, but we calculate everything from that.

— F1® Le Film (2025)

On n'est pas très proches, mais on ne s'entend pas mal.

We’re not very close, but we don’t get along badly.

— Audition (2000)

Mais on lui a donné une chance.

But he was given a chance.

— Le Loup de Wall Street (2013)