French Phrase
On va manger à l'heure du déjeuner.
Meaning
This phrase uses the 'futur proche' to indicate a planned action happening later in the day. The word 'on' is used informally to represent 'we', making the sentence feel natural and conversational. It specifically points to the time period typically reserved for the midday meal.
When to use
Use this phrase when making plans with friends or colleagues during the morning. It is perfect for setting a general timeframe for a group meal without necessarily picking a specific minute.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onvamangerà l'heure dudéjeuner
On (Pronoun)
In spoken French, 'on' is used instead of 'nous' to mean 'we', but it always takes the third-person singular verb form.
Futur Proche
The combination of 'aller' (va) and an infinitive (manger) creates the near future tense, used for imminent or certain plans.
🗨In Conversation
Tu veux faire quoi ce midi ?
What do you want to do this midday?
On va manger à l'heure du déjeuner.
We are going to eat at lunchtime.
✕Common Mistakes
On va manger à l'heure de déjeuner.
You must use 'du' because it is the contraction of 'de' and the definite article 'le' required by the noun 'déjeuner'.
Nous allons manger sur l'heure du déjeuner.
While 'sur' is sometimes used in English-influenced contexts, the correct preposition for time in French is 'à'.
↔Alternatives
On déjeune à midi.
We're having lunch at noon.
On va prendre le déjeuner ensemble.
We are going to have lunch together.
Cultural Tip
In France, lunch is a sacred time, usually occurring between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. It is common for schools and even some businesses to close for a full two hours to allow everyone to enjoy a proper sit-down meal.