nous allions

we were going to, we were going; that we go

→ nous

phrase Uncommon #20,809

we were going to Imperfect of aller used to talk about a planned or expected future action in the past. In suggestions, it can also mean “how about we...?”

FR: Nous allions partir quand il a appelé.

EN: We were going to leave when he called.

Je pensais que nous allions gagner.

I thought we were going to win.

J'ai pensé que nous allions nous écraser.

I thought we were going to crash.

Nous allions faire des tours en moto.

We were going to go for motorcycle rides.

— Y tu mamá también (2001)

Tout le monde pensait que nous allions perdre.

Everyone thought we were going to lose.

Je ne savais pas que nous allions dîner.

I didn't know we were going to have dinner.

— Rushmore (1998)

Je pensais que nous allions l'emporter.

I thought we were going to win.

Nous allions justement parler de la couverture de votre mariage.

We were just about to talk about your wedding cover.

— Crime 101 (2026)

Si nous allions demander conseil à ce cher évêque ?

Should we go and ask this dear bishop for advice?

Racontez-nous, c'est pas comme si nous allions rater le bus.

Tell us; it's not as though we're going to miss the bus.

— Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

Je pensais que nous allions mourir.

I thought we were going to die.

Nous allions souper.

We were going to have dinner.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

J'ai pensé que nous allions mourir.

I thought we were going to die.

Si nous allions faire un tour dans un endroit tranquille ?

Shall we go for a walk in a quiet place?

— Vacances à Venise (1955)

Il proposa que nous allions nager.

He suggested we go swimming.

Mon père a suggéré que nous allions camper.

My dad suggested we go camping.

Je savais que nous allions gagner.

I knew we were going to win.

Et je t'ai dit que nous allions patiner.

And I told you we were going skating.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Je pensais que nous allions sortir quelque part.

I thought we were going out somewhere.

phrase Rare #30,885

we were going; that we go This is the imperfect or subjunctive form of aller, depending on context. With si, “si nous allions…” commonly means “what if we went…?”

FR: Si nous allions voir un film ce soir ?

EN: What if we went to see a movie tonight?

Et si nous allions dans un restaurant japonais ce soir ?

How about we go to a Japanese restaurant tonight?

Si nous allions à nos affaires ?

Shall we get on with our business?

— La dolce vita (1960)

Si nous allions au cinéma ?

What if we went to the cinema?

Et si nous allions voir un film ce soir ?

How about we go see a movie tonight?

Je n'ai pas été informé d'où nous allions.