French Phrase
On doit aller faire les courses.
Meaning
The sentence means “We have to go do the shopping.” It conveys an obligation (must) and the activity of running errands for groceries or other purchases. The use of “on” makes it a neutral, informal way to refer to a group, often equivalent to “we” in everyday French.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone (or a group) that it’s necessary to go out and buy groceries, household items, or any other supplies. It’s common in casual conversation among friends, family, or roommates planning a shopping trip.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ondoitallerfairelescourses
On as informal “we”
“On” is a neutral pronoun used in spoken French to mean “we.” It takes third‑person singular verb forms.
Obligation with devoir
The verb “devoir” expresses necessity or obligation. Conjugated here in present tense: “doit.”
Future near with aller + infinitive
Combining “aller” with another infinitive (faire) indicates a near‑future action, similar to “going to” in English.
Faire les courses
The idiomatic expression “faire les courses” means to shop for groceries or supplies.
🗨In Conversation
On doit aller faire les courses ce soir.
We have to go do the shopping tonight.
D’accord, je passe à la boulangerie avant.
Alright, I’ll stop by the bakery first.
✕Common Mistakes
Doit aller faire les courses.
Avoid omitting the subject pronoun “On”; French requires a subject before the verb.
On doit aller faire les cours.
“Cours” means classes or lessons; the correct word for shopping is “courses.”
Il faut aller faire les courses.
When using “Il faut,” the infinitive “aller” is optional: “Il faut faire les courses.”
↔Alternatives
Il faut aller faire les courses.
We need to go do the shopping.
Nous devons faire les courses.
We must do the shopping.
On doit faire les courses.
We have to do the shopping.
Cultural Tip
In France, “les courses” usually refer to grocery shopping, but the phrase can also cover errands like buying household supplies. When speaking with older generations, you might prefer the more formal “Il faut” or “Nous devons” instead of the informal “On doit.” Also, note that French speakers often combine the verb “aller” with an infinitive to express a near‑future plan (e.g., “Je vais faire les courses”).