French Phrase
On en parle en privé.
Meaning
Literally, 'We talk about it in private.' The sentence is used to suggest that a topic should be discussed confidentially, away from other ears.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to move a conversation to a more discreet setting—after a meeting, during a social gathering, or whenever the matter is sensitive and you don’t want others to overhear.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onenparleenprivé
On
Indefinite pronoun meaning 'we', 'one', or 'people in general'. It takes third‑person singular verb forms.
en (pronoun)
Pronoun that replaces a complement introduced by 'de' (e.g., 'de cela' → 'en'). Here it stands for the thing being discussed.
parle
Present‑tense, third‑person singular of the verb *parler* (to talk, to speak).
en (preposition)
Preposition meaning 'in' or 'in a ... manner' when followed by a noun, as in *en privé*.
privé
Adjective meaning 'private'. When used after *en*, it forms the adverbial phrase *en privé* = 'in private'.
🗨In Conversation
On en parle en privé ?
Shall we talk about it in private?
Oui, allons dans la salle de réunion.
Yes, let's go to the meeting room.
✕Common Mistakes
Nous en parle en privé.
Verb agreement is wrong; *nous* requires *parlons*, not *parle*.
On parle en privé.
Missing the pronoun *en* that replaces the thing being discussed.
On en parle privé.
The preposition *en* is required before *privé* to form the adverbial phrase *en privé*.
↔Alternatives
Nous en discuterons en privé.
We will discuss it in private.
Parlons‑en en privé.
Let’s talk about it in private.
On en parlera en privé.
We’ll talk about it privately.
Cultural Tip
In French professional and social settings, explicitly stating *en privé* signals respect for confidentiality and can help avoid gossip. It’s common to use *on* instead of *nous* for a more informal, inclusive tone, especially among colleagues or friends.