French Phrase
On t'appellera quand ce sera prêt.
Meaning
Literally, "We/one will call you when it is ready." It is a polite way to tell someone that they will receive a phone call or notification once a task, order, or preparation is completed.
When to use
Use this sentence after a customer places an order, when a service is being prepared, or any situation where you need to reassure someone that you’ll contact them as soon as something is finished.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ont'appelleraquandceseraprêt
Impersonal "on"
"On" is used like "we" or "they" in informal French and often replaces "nous" in spoken language.
Object pronoun before the verb
The clitic pronoun "t'" (te) is placed before the future verb "appellera".
Future simple
Both "appellera" (from appeler) and "sera" (from être) are in the future simple, indicating a future action.
Adjective agreement
"Prêt" stays masculine singular because it refers to a masculine noun (e.g., le plat, le service).
🗨In Conversation
J'ai commandé le gâteau au chocolat.
I ordered the chocolate cake.
On t'appellera quand ce sera prêt.
We'll call you when it's ready.
✕Common Mistakes
On t'appellera quand ce sera prête.
The adjective must agree with the implied masculine noun (le plat, le service). Use "prêt" not "prête".
On te appellera quand ce sera prêt.
When the verb starts with a vowel, the pronoun contracts to "t'"; writing "te" before "appellera" is incorrect.
On t'appellera quand ce est prêt.
Do not use the present tense "est" here; the future "sera" matches the future action of calling.
↔Alternatives
Nous te téléphonerons quand ce sera prêt.
We will phone you when it's ready.
On te contactera dès que ce sera prêt.
We'll contact you as soon as it's ready.
Je t'appellerai dès que ce sera prêt.
I'll call you as soon as it's ready.
Cultural Tip
In everyday French, "on" replaces "nous" in most spoken contexts, especially when giving instructions or making promises. The future simple is preferred over "aller + infinitive" for scheduled events, giving the sentence a slightly more formal tone. Remember that "prêt" must match the gender of the noun it describes; if you were referring to a feminine object, you would say "prête" (e.g., "la soupe sera prête").