French Phrase
On attend des averses.
Meaning
The sentence means “We are expecting showers” or “Rain showers are forecast.” It is a neutral way to talk about upcoming rain, often used in weather reports or casual conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone that rain showers are likely later in the day, such as during a weather forecast, a planning conversation, or when deciding whether to bring an umbrella.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onattenddesaverses
On (impersonal pronoun)
In everyday French, "on" replaces "nous" and is used like "we" or "one" in English.
Attendre (present tense)
The verb "attendre" means "to expect" or "to wait for"; here it is conjugated in the third‑person singular present.
Des (partitive article)
"Des" is the plural partitive article, used when talking about an indefinite amount of something.
Averses (noun, feminine plural)
Averses are brief, often sudden rain showers; the word is feminine and plural, so adjectives would agree accordingly.
🗨In Conversation
Quel temps prévoit‑on pour cet après‑midi ?
What’s the weather forecast for this afternoon?
On attend des averses, alors prends ton parapluie.
We’re expecting showers, so take your umbrella.
✕Common Mistakes
Nous attendons des averses.
While grammatically correct, native speakers rarely use "nous" in casual speech; "on" sounds more natural.
On attends des averses.
"Attends" is the second‑person singular form; the subject "on" requires the third‑person singular "attend".
On attend les averses.
Using "les averses" would imply specific, known showers; "des" keeps it indefinite, which fits a forecast.
↔Alternatives
Il y aura des averses.
There will be showers.
Nous prévoyons des averses.
We are forecasting showers.
Des averses sont attendues.
Showers are expected.
Cultural Tip
In French, "on" is the go‑to pronoun for informal speech, even when the speaker means "we." Weather talk is a common ice‑breaker in France; mentioning "averses" signals a brief, often sudden rain rather than a prolonged downpour. When speaking to older generations, you may hear the more formal "nous attendons des averses," but "on attend" sounds natural in everyday conversation.