on nous a

we were …

→ on
phrase Common #8,413
we were … Part of a past-tense construction with a following past participle; on often means “they” or “someone,” and nous means “us.”
FR: On nous a invités à dîner.
EN: We were invited to dinner.

On nous a beaucoup parlé de toi.

We've heard a lot about you.

— Le Tambour (1979)

On nous a signalé la présence de stupéfiants.

We have been informed of the presence of narcotics.

— The Rip (2026)

On nous a mis nos seins ensemble, tu le sais mieux que personne.

They put our breasts together, you know that better than anyone.

— Tout sur ma mère (1999)

On nous a enfermés.

We were locked up.

— Tesis (1996)

On nous a prévenus.

We were warned.

On nous a demandé de ne pas faire ça.

We were asked not to do that.

On nous a contactés.

They contacted us.

— Star Trek, le film (1979)

On nous a tous laissés seuls !

They left us all alone!

— La Main de Dieu (2021)

On nous a prévenues.

We were warned.

On nous a beaucoup parlé de vous.

We've heard a lot about you.

On nous a octroyé le privilège de pouvoir pêcher dans cette baie.

We were granted the privilege of being able to fish in this bay.

On nous a trompés.

We were deceived.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

On nous a dit que la théorie ne servait à rien.

We were told that theory was useless.

— Tesis (1996)

On nous a tous dit de faire de même.

We were all told to do the same.

— L'Agent secret (2025)

On nous a traité d'irresponsables, de terroristes.

They called us irresponsible, terrorists.

— The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)

On était d'accord, mais on nous a trompés.

We agreed, but we were deceived.

On nous a pas prévenus.

They didn't warn us.

— Taxi (1998)

On nous a dit de ne pas laisser les filles partir.

We were told not to let the girls leave.

— Sacrifices of War (2011)

On nous a demandé de faire ça.

We were asked to do this.

Et au milieu de notre chère vieille ville on nous a offert une poste polonaise !

And right in the middle of our dear old town, we were given a Polish post office!

— Le Tambour (1979)

Finalement, on nous a pris la maison et nos proches nous rejettent.

In the end, they took our house and our relatives are rejecting us.

— Lady Vengeance (2005)

C'était une amourette, on nous a vite rattrapés.

It was just a fling; we were soon caught.

— Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

On nous a promenés.

We were led on.

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Vous ne savez pas comment on nous a attirés là-bas.

You have no idea how we were lured there.

— L'Accusé (2017)

On nous a obligés à apporter du matériel.

We were forced to bring our own equipment.

— Aquarius (2016)

Toutes ces années, toutes ces saloperies qu'on nous a faites.

All these years, all the shit they've put us through.

— Bugonia (2025)

Ça ira, on a encore celle qu'on nous a donnée.

It’ll be fine, we still have the one they gave us.

— Ponyo sur la falaise (2008)

On nous a tiré dessus.

We were shot at.

Dès la naissance on nous a appris, que la vie est une course.

From birth, we were taught that life is a race.

— 3 Idiots (2009)

La dernière fois aussi, on nous a dit que ce n'était qu'une grippe.

Last time too, we were told it was just the flu.

— Mon voisin Totoro (1988)

On nous a dit qu'il y avait un conflit d'emploi du temps.

We were told there was a scheduling conflict.

— Tár (2022)

Deuzio, on nous a parlé de vous comme du meilleur scientifique de l'univers.

Secondly, we’ve heard you’re the greatest scientist in the universe.

— Les Aventures de Bill et Ted (1991)

On nous a appris un tas de mensonges.

We were taught a lot of lies.

— Article 15 (2019)

On nous a appelés.

We were called.

On nous a évacués.

We were evacuated.

— Une grande fille (2019)

Arrête, on nous a peut-être vus !

Stop, we might have been seen!

— Jean de Florette (1986)

On nous a attaqués.

We were attacked.

— Black Panther (2018)

On nous a envoyés sauver la Comté.

We were sent to save the Shire.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Le Retour du roi (2003)

Qu'est-ce donc que ce territoire autonome qu'on nous a généreusement octroyé ?

So what exactly is this autonomous territory they’ve so generously granted us?

— Le Tambour (1979)

On nous a appris que Newton a découvert la loi de la gravité.

We were taught that Newton discovered the law of gravity.

On nous a informés que deux hommes ont été embauchés.

We were informed that two men have been hired.

— L'Agent secret (2025)

On nous a signalé des coups de feu.

We received reports of gunshots.

On nous a parlé de toi.

We've heard about you.

— King of Comedy (1999)