French Phrase
On est de vieux amis.
Meaning
The sentence means 'We are old friends.' It emphasizes a long‑standing relationship, using the informal 'on' to convey a friendly, conversational tone.
When to use
Use this phrase when recalling a shared history with someone you’ve known for many years, especially in casual conversation or when introducing a story about your friendship.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestdevieuxamis
On as informal 'we'
In spoken French, 'on' often replaces 'nous' and means 'we' in a casual context.
Est (être) present
The verb 'être' conjugated in the third person singular matches 'on' and means 'is/are'.
De before plural adjective
When a plural noun is preceded by an adjective, 'de' replaces the usual article 'des'.
Vieux agreement
'Vieux' stays unchanged before a masculine plural noun like 'amis'.
🗨In Conversation
On est de vieux amis, n'est‑ce pas ?
We’re old friends, aren’t we?
Oui, on se connaît depuis l'enfance.
Yes, we’ve known each other since childhood.
✕Common Mistakes
On est des vieux amis.
After an adjective before a plural noun, use 'de' instead of 'des'.
On est de vieuxes amis.
'Vieux' does not change for masculine plural nouns; only feminine forms change.
Nous sommes de vieux amis.
While correct, using 'nous' sounds formal; 'on' is preferred in casual speech.
↔Alternatives
Nous sommes de vieux amis.
We are old friends.
On est de vieux copains.
We’re old pals.
Nous sommes de vieux camarades.
We are long‑time companions.
Cultural Tip
In everyday French, 'on' replaces 'nous' far more often than in English, giving the sentence a relaxed, natural feel. The construction 'de vieux…' signals a deep, long‑lasting bond, and native speakers often pair it with nostalgic anecdotes.