You are going to learn everything you want to know about the basic French word "Allons-y". To be clear, this includes a full guide of what it is and how to use it in a casual conversation with an audio example. And because we want to help you on your learning journey, we also added some useful stuff like dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio, synonyms and more!
Translation : Let's go
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IPA : / alɔ̃-i /
French people are frequently using "Allons-y" when they are on the verge of going somewhere or starting something (typically: a group activity). It can be literally translated as "Let us go there" but it has the wider meaning of "Let's go".
It's composed of "Allons": the imperative "us" (Nous) version of "Aller" (To go) and the adverbial pronoun "y" which refers to the place you are going or what you are starting.
Because it's using imperative, this is an order. And because this is conjugated with "Us" (Nous) it implies that you are included into the order. If you are not included in the order, because you are not going or not taking part in the activity, use instead "Allez-y". (Same thing but conjugated with "you").
Also, you can't just use "Allons" without the "y" to say "Let's go". The word "Allons" alone is used in French, but not in this case.
Finally, if you don't want to give an order, the non-imperative versions would be "On y va / C'est parti". But be careful, these versions are more informal. Bonus: you can even use them as a question "On y va ? / C'est parti ?" (Let's go?).
You are waiting for your friends to enter the theater, and a group of people politely ask you if they can pass before you. You answer: "Bien sûr, allez-y" (Sure, go).
Your friends finally arrive, you want to be sure they are all ready, so you ask: "On y va?" (Let's go?)
They are all ready, then you can say: "Allons-y" (Let's go). Because this time you are included in it.
Also, if you want to be more precise about where you are going or what you are going to do, replace "y" by the place or activity. Ex: "Allons au cinéma." (Let's go to the theater.) or "Allons acheter les tickets." (Let's buy the tickets.)
If you want to use the slang versions, you have the choice between "Allez !" (Go!) and "C'est tipar" (Reversed version of "C'est parti").
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