French Phrase
On a des devoirs ?
Meaning
A casual way to ask whether there is homework assigned for the day. It’s the kind of question you’d hear among classmates right after a lesson or before leaving school.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings with peers, such as in the hallway, during a break, or in a group chat. It’s not appropriate for formal contexts like speaking to a teacher; there you’d say "Est‑ce que nous avons des devoirs ?".
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onadesdevoirs?
On (pronoun)
The indefinite pronoun "on" can mean "we" in informal spoken French, especially among peers.
a (avoir)
Third‑person singular present of the verb "avoir" (to have).
des (indefinite article)
Plural indefinite article meaning "some"; used before a plural noun when the exact quantity is unknown.
devoirs (noun)
Plural of "devoir", meaning "homework" or "assignments".
Question intonation
In spoken French, a rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes/no question; the written form can also use "Est‑ce que" or inversion.
🗨In Conversation
On a des devoirs ?
Do we have homework?
Oui, le prof a donné un exercice de maths à faire pour demain.
Yes, the teacher gave a math exercise to do for tomorrow.
✕Common Mistakes
On a les devoirs ?
"Les" is a definite article; with "avoir" you need the indefinite "des" when you don’t refer to a specific set of homework.
On ont des devoirs ?
When using "on" as a plural subject, the verb stays in third‑person singular (a), not "ont".
On a des devoir ?
The noun must be plural because "des" is plural; "devoir" (singular) would be incorrect here.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce qu’on a des devoirs ?
Do we have homework?
On a des devoirs à faire ?
Do we have homework to do?
Y a‑t‑il des devoirs ?
Are there any homework assignments?
Cultural Tip
In French schools, homework is a routine part of daily life, and students often check with each other right after class. Using "on" makes the question sound relaxed and friendly. If you need to sound more formal—e.g., when asking a teacher—switch to "Est‑ce que nous avons des devoirs ?" or "Avez‑vous des devoirs ?".