French Phrase
On se cale une réunion pour parler de ton salaire.
Meaning
Literally, "We’ll set up a meeting to talk about your salary." The sentence is informal and uses the colloquial verb "se caler" to mean "to arrange". It conveys a friendly, collegial tone while addressing a potentially sensitive topic.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are coordinating a salary discussion with a colleague you know well, or in a relaxed office environment. In more formal contexts, replace "on" with "nous" and "se cale" with "organise" or "planifie".
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onsecaleuneréunionpourparlerdetonsalaire.
On (impersonal pronoun)
In spoken French, "on" often replaces "nous" and means "we" or "one" in a casual way.
se caler (pronominal verb)
"Se caler" is colloquial for "to schedule" or "to set up" a meeting; it is reflexive and used mainly in informal contexts.
une réunion (noun)
A feminine noun meaning "a meeting"; the article "une" signals an indefinite meeting.
pour + infinitive (purpose)
The construction "pour parler" expresses the purpose of the meeting – "to talk".
ton salaire (possessive + noun)
"Ton" is the informal singular possessive adjective; use "votre" in a formal or professional setting.
🗨In Conversation
On se cale une réunion pour parler de ton salaire ?
Shall we set up a meeting to talk about your salary?
Oui, ça me va. Disons mardi à 14h ?
Yes, that works for me. How about Tuesday at 2 p.m.?
✕Common Mistakes
On se cale une réunion pour parler de votre salaire.
"Se cale" is informal; using it in a formal email can sound too casual.
On se cale une réunion pour parler de ton salaire.
When speaking to a superior or in a formal context, use "votre salaire" instead of "ton salaire".
On se cale une réunion pour parler de ton salaire.
"On" is colloquial; replace with "Nous" for a more professional tone.
↔Alternatives
On organise une réunion pour discuter de ton salaire.
We'll organize a meeting to discuss your salary.
Nous planifions une réunion afin de parler de ton salaire.
We are planning a meeting in order to talk about your salary.
Je propose qu’on se rencontre pour aborder la question de ton salaire.
I suggest we meet to address the issue of your salary.
Cultural Tip
Salary talks are often considered private in French workplaces. While the phrase is perfectly understandable, using the informal "on" and "se cale" signals a comfortable relationship. In a more hierarchical or formal setting, switch to "nous" and use "votre salaire" to keep the tone respectful. Also, be aware that French labor law requires transparency about salary ranges, so such meetings are common during performance reviews.