French Phrase
On peut en discuter un peu plus ?
Meaning
This polite question asks if the listener is willing to continue a discussion about a particular topic, adding a nuance of wanting a bit more depth. The use of "en" refers back to something previously mentioned, and "un peu plus" softens the request, making it less demanding.
When to use
Use this phrase in meetings, study groups, or casual conversations when you feel the current discussion hasn't covered everything you need. It works well both in formal settings (e.g., a work presentation) and informal ones (e.g., chatting with a friend about a movie).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onpeutendiscuterunpeuplus?
On (impersonal subject)
"On" is used like "we" or "one" in English and is the most common way to make a statement or question without specifying a subject.
Peut (present of pouvoir)
The verb "pouvoir" expresses ability or permission; in questions it often translates to "can" or "may".
En (pronoun)
"En" replaces a phrase introduced by "de" and refers back to something already mentioned, e.g., "de ce sujet".
Discuter (verb)
"Discuter" means to discuss, implying a back‑and‑forth exchange rather than a monologue.
Un peu plus (adverbial phrase)
"Un peu" softens the request, meaning "a little"; combined with "plus" it means "a little more".
🗨In Conversation
Je ne suis pas sûr d'avoir bien compris le point sur la stratégie marketing.
I'm not sure I fully understood the point about the marketing strategy.
On peut en discuter un peu plus ?
Can we discuss it a little more?
✕Common Mistakes
On peut en parler un peu plus ?
While understandable, "parler" changes the nuance; "discuter" implies a two‑way exchange, which is more appropriate for a deeper discussion.
On peut discuter un peu plus ?
Missing the pronoun "en" loses the reference to the previously mentioned topic.
On peut en discuter plus ?
"Un" is needed before "peu" to convey the idea of "a little"; without it, the phrase sounds abrupt.
↔Alternatives
Peut‑on en parler davantage ?
Can we talk about it further?
On pourrait approfondir ce sujet ?
Could we go deeper into this subject?
Est‑ce qu’on peut en discuter un peu plus longtemps ?
Could we discuss it a bit longer?
Cultural Tip
In French, using "on" as an impersonal subject is very common and sounds natural in both spoken and written language. Adding "un peu" makes the request sound courteous rather than demanding. In formal contexts, you might replace "on" with "nous" for extra politeness, e.g., "Nous pouvons en discuter un peu plus ?"