nous allions

we were going to, we were going

→ nous

phrase Uncommon #24,282

we were going to Often followed by an infinitive to describe something that was planned or expected to happen. In suggestions, it can mean “what if we…”

FR: Nous allions partir quand il a commencé à pleuvoir.

EN: We were going to leave when it started raining.

Mon père a suggéré que nous allions camper.

My dad suggested we go camping.

Il proposa que nous allions nager.

He suggested we go swimming.

Si nous allions faire un tour dans un endroit tranquille ?

Shall we go for a walk in a quiet place?

— Vacances à Venise (1955)

Nous allions justement parler de la couverture de votre mariage.

We were just about to talk about your wedding cover.

— Crime 101 (2026)

Nous allions souper.

We were going to have dinner.

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

Je pensais que nous allions l'emporter.

I thought 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)

Tout le monde pensait que nous allions perdre.

Everyone thought we were going to lose.

Si nous allions demander conseil à ce cher évêque ?

Should we go and ask this dear bishop for advice?

J'ai pensé que nous allions mourir.

I thought we were going to die.

Je pensais que nous allions sortir quelque part.

I thought we were going out somewhere.

Je pensais que nous allions gagner.

I thought we were going to win.

Je pensais que nous allions mourir.

I thought we were going to die.

Nous allions faire des tours en moto.

We were going to go for motorcycle rides.

— Y tu mamá también (2001)

J'ai pensé que nous allions nous écraser.

I thought we were going to crash.

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 savais que nous allions gagner.

I knew we were going to win.

Je ne savais pas que nous allions dîner.

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

— Rushmore (1998)

phrase Rare #37,505

we were going In a suggestion with “si,” it means “we went” in a phrase like “What if we went…?”

FR: Et si nous allions nous promener ?

EN: What if we went for a walk?

Si nous allions à nos affaires ?

Shall we get on with our business?

— La dolce vita (1960)

Je n'ai pas envie de travailler; et si nous allions plutôt au cinéma ?

I don't feel like working; how about we go to the movies instead?

Et si nous allions au cinéma ?

What if we went to the cinema?

Si nous allions au cinéma ?

What if we went to the cinema?

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

I wasn’t told where we were going.

Nous allions au même endroit.

We were going to the same place.

— Le Conformiste (1971)

Et si nous allions dans un restaurant japonais ce soir ?

How about we go to a Japanese restaurant tonight?

Et si nous allions à la réception ensemble ?

What if we went to the reception together?

Et si nous allions voir un film ce soir ?

How about we go see a movie tonight?