French Phrase
On est quatre.
Meaning
Literally, "We are four," this phrase tells someone how many people are in a group that includes the speaker. It is the most common way to answer the question "Combien êtes‑vous?" (How many are you?).
When to use
Use it when you want to state the size of your party, for example at a restaurant, when booking tickets, or simply answering a friend's curiosity about how many friends are coming.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestquatre
On (impersonal pronoun)
In spoken French, "on" often replaces "nous" (we) and is used for informal statements about a group that includes the speaker.
Est (être, 3rd person singular)
The verb "être" conjugated as "est" matches the singular pronoun "on"; it means "is/are" in English.
Quatre (cardinal number)
A simple cardinal number used as a predicate to indicate the quantity of people.
🗨In Conversation
Combien êtes‑vous ?
How many are you?
On est quatre.
We are four.
✕Common Mistakes
On sont quatre.
The verb must agree with the singular pronoun "on"; use "est" not "sont".
Nous est quatre.
"Nous" requires the verb form "sommes".
On est quatre personnes.
Adding "personnes" is redundant; "quatre" already conveys the quantity.
↔Alternatives
Nous sommes quatre.
We are four.
Il y a quatre personnes.
There are four people.
Nous formons un groupe de quatre.
We make up a group of four.
Cultural Tip
In France, when a server asks "Combien êtes‑vous?" they are usually confirming the number of seats needed for a reservation. Answering with "On est quatre" is informal but perfectly acceptable in most everyday contexts. In very formal settings you might prefer "Nous sommes quatre."