Ah, 'come on'! It's one of those incredibly versatile English phrases we use for everything from urging someone on to expressing impatience or even frustration. But how do you capture all those different shades of meaning in French? It's not a one-size-fits-all translation! French offers a rich tapestry of expressions to convey 'come on' depending on the context, your emotion, and the situation. Ready to sound more natural and expressive? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'come on' in French and master these essential phrases!

The versatile and common 'come on' – Allez !

Allez ! is the second-person plural imperative form of the verb aller (to go). It's a highly versatile exclamation.

Its most direct translations are 'Go!' or 'Come on!', but its meaning is highly dependent on context and intonation.

One of its most common uses is to encourage or cheer someone on, similar to 'Go for it!' or 'You can do it!' in English, especially in sports or when motivating someone.

It can also express urgency or impatience, urging someone to hurry up or get moving. Think 'Come on, let's go!' when you're running late.

Less obviously, Allez ! can signify agreement or even resignation, like 'Alright, fine' or 'Oh well' when conceding a point or moving on from a situation.

Remember that Allez ! is the 'vous' form, used for multiple people or when addressing one person formally. For a singular, informal 'go!', you'd use Va ! (from tu vas).

You'll often hear it in common phrases like Allez-y ! (Go ahead! / Go for it!) or Allez hop ! (Let's go! / There you go! – often used to motivate or signal a quick action).

The true meaning of Allez ! is heavily conveyed through intonation and facial expressions. A sharp, upward tone might be encouragement, while a drawn-out, downward tone could be resignation.

This short, powerful word is incredibly versatile and fundamental to everyday French conversation, reflecting a wide range of emotions and intentions.

💡 * Allez ! On va être en retard ! (Come on! We're going to be late!)

Allez les Bleus ! (Go, France team! - a common cheer in sports)

Allez, je te laisse faire. (Alright, I'll let you do it. / Go on, you do it.)

Allez-y, ne vous gênez pas. (Go ahead, don't be shy.)

Allez hop, au lit ! (Alright, off to bed!)

The literal 'come on' (to urge someone to approach or join) – Viens ! / Venez !

The literal “come on” (to urge someone to approach or join) – Viens ! / Venez !

When you want to literally tell someone to “come” or “come on” in French, the most direct way is to use the imperative forms of the verb venir (to come): Viens ! and Venez !.

You'll use Viens ! when speaking to one person informally (e.g., a friend, family member, or child). It's the equivalent of saying “Come here!” or “Come on!” to someone you address with tu.

For formal situations, or when addressing more than one person, you'll use Venez !. This aligns with the vous form, making it suitable for strangers, elders, or a group of people.

The primary function of Viens ! and Venez ! is to urge someone to approach the speaker, join an activity, or move to a specific location. It's a direct invitation for physical presence or participation.

While polite, these commands carry a sense of directness and often a gentle urgency, especially if you're trying to get someone's attention or quick movement. It's less about general encouragement and more about a specific call to action.

It's important to note that Viens ! / Venez ! specifically mean “come” in the sense of approaching or joining. They are not used for general encouragement like “come on, let's go!” (which would often be Allez !) or “come on, you can do it!” (which has other expressions).

💡 * Viens manger ! (Come eat!)

Venez, la réunion va commencer. (Come, the meeting is about to start.)

Viens ici, s'il te plaît. (Come here, please.)

Mes amis, venez nous rejoindre ! (My friends, come join us!)

Viens voir ça ! (Come see this!)

The 'come on, let's go' (to urge departure or starting an activity) – On y va !

When you want to express 'Let's go!' or 'Here we go!' in French, especially to urge departure or to initiate an activity, the most common and versatile phrase you'll hear is On y va !

This simple yet powerful phrase is used to signal a collective action, inviting one or more people to move forward, either physically or by starting something new.

While a literal translation might be 'One goes there,' On y va ! is an idiomatic expression that doesn't directly translate word-for-word. Instead, it captures the essence of 'Let's go,' 'Shall we go,' or 'Are we going?'

Its primary use is to prompt departure. Imagine you're ready to leave a place, and you say to your friends, 'On y va ?' (Shall we go?) or 'Allez, on y va !' (Come on, let's go!).

Beyond leaving, On y va ! is also perfect for initiating an activity. Whether you're about to start a game, begin cooking, or dive into a project, you can use it to rally everyone: 'On y va pour le dîner !' (Let's get started on dinner!)

The phrase consists of On (an impersonal pronoun, often meaning 'we' in informal contexts), y (a pronoun referring to a place or situation, 'there' or 'to it'), and va (the third-person singular conjugation of aller, 'to go'). Together, they form this ubiquitous expression.

On y va ! is highly informal and extremely common in everyday French conversation. It's a versatile phrase you'll hear constantly, making it essential for sounding natural.

💡 * On y va ? Il est tard. (Shall we go? It's late.)

Allez, on y va pour la randonnée ! (Come on, let's go for the hike!)

T'es prêt ? On y va ! (Are you ready? Here we go!)

On y va, je t'attends ! (Let's go, I'm waiting for you!)

Pour le dessert, on y va ? (For dessert, shall we start/go for it?)

The 'come on, go for it' (to encourage action or proceeding) – Vas-y ! / Allez-y !

The phrases Vas-y ! and Allez-y ! are indispensable in French for urging someone to go ahead, do it, come on, or proceed. They are versatile expressions of encouragement and permission.

Vas-y ! is the informal version, used when speaking to one person you know well (using tu). Allez-y ! is the formal version, used when speaking to multiple people or one person formally (using vous).

These phrases are used in various contexts: to tell someone to start an activity, to give permission to proceed, or to simply say 'go for it!' when someone hesitates. They convey a sense of 'don't hold back' or 'you have my approval'.

💡 * Vas-y, dis-moi tout ! (Go on, tell me everything!)* Tu peux commencer, vas-y ! (You can start, go ahead!)* Allez-y, n'hésitez pas ! (Go on, don't hesitate!)* Vas-y, ne t'inquiète pas ! (Go for it, don't worry!)* Passe devant, allez-y ! (Go ahead, proceed!)

The 'come on, hurry up' (to urge speed) – Dépêche-toi ! / Dépêchez-vous !

The 'come on, hurry up' (to urge speed) – Dépêche-toi ! / Dépêchez-vous !

The phrases Dépêche-toi ! and Dépêchez-vous ! are essential French imperatives used to urge someone to hurry up or speed up an action.

These are reflexive verb forms, where Dépêche-toi ! is the informal singular (addressing 'tu'), and Dépêchez-vous ! is the formal singular or plural (addressing 'vous').

They convey a direct command, often implying a sense of urgency or impatience. While common, using them too frequently or aggressively can sound impolite.

You'll hear these phrases in everyday situations: when someone is running late, when you need something done quickly, or simply to encourage faster action.

Remember to choose the correct form (-toi or -vous) based on your relationship with the person or people you're speaking to, maintaining politeness where appropriate.

💡 * Dépêche-toi, on va être en retard ! (Hurry up, we're going to be late!)

Dépêchez-vous, le magasin ferme dans cinq minutes. (Hurry up, the store closes in five minutes.)

Allez, dépêche-toi un peu ! (Come on, hurry up a bit!)

Est-ce que vous pouvez vous dépêcher s'il vous plaît ? (Could you please hurry up?)

The 'come on, no way' (to express disbelief or protest) – Mais non !

The expression Mais non ! is a quintessential French phrase used to convey a range of emotions, primarily disbelief, protest, or disagreement. It's the French equivalent of saying "come on!", "no way!", "of course not!", or "that's not true!"

Literally translating to "But no!", Mais non ! is a versatile interjection. Its core function is to negate or reject a previous statement, idea, or assumption. It's a common way to express a polite but firm "no" or to correct a misunderstanding.

One of its most frequent uses is to express disbelief or surprise. If someone tells you something unexpected or seemingly impossible, a sharp Mais non ! can convey your astonishment, much like "No way!" or "You're kidding!" in English.

Beyond disbelief, Mais non ! also serves as a mild to strong protest or disagreement. If someone suggests an idea you don't like, or accuses you of something untrue, you can use it to object or deny. For example, "Are you tired? Mais non !" to assert you're not.

The nuance of Mais non ! heavily depends on the tone. It can be lighthearted and playful when correcting a friend, or more emphatic and serious when expressing genuine disagreement or indignation. Pay attention to context and intonation to grasp its full meaning.

💡 * Tu es fatigué ? Mais non, pas du tout ! (Are you tired? No way, not at all!)

Il a vraiment fait ça ? Mais non, c'est impossible ! (He really did that? No way, that's impossible!)

On va sortir sous la pluie ? Mais non, attendons que ça s'arrête ! (We're going out in the rain? Come on, let's wait for it to stop!)

Tu crois que je n'y arriverai pas ? Mais non, bien sûr que si ! (You think I won't succeed? Of course not, yes I will!)

The 'come on, seriously' (to express exasperation or disbelief) – Franchement !

The 'come on, seriously' (to express exasperation or disbelief) – Franchement !

Franchement ! is a versatile French interjection commonly used to express exasperation, disbelief, or a strong sense of 'seriously?' or 'honestly?' It can also mean 'frankly' when giving an honest opinion.

Depending on the context and intonation, Franchement ! can convey anything from mild surprise to intense annoyance. It's often equivalent to saying 'Come on!' or 'Are you serious?!' in English, highlighting a speaker's strong reaction to a situation or statement.

💡 * Franchement, tu ne vas pas faire ça ? (Seriously, you're not going to do that?)

Franchement, je n'y crois pas ! (Honestly, I don't believe it!)

Franchement, c'est absurde ! (Come on, that's absurd!)

Franchement, tu exagères. (Seriously, you're exaggerating.)

Franchement, quelle idée ! (Honestly, what an idea!)

The 'come on, be serious' (to urge seriousness or reality) – Sérieusement !

The phrase Sérieusement ! is a versatile French interjection, often used to express disbelief, demand seriousness, or urge someone to face reality. It's the equivalent of saying "Seriously!" or "Come on, be serious!" in English.

At its core, Sérieusement ! is used to question the truthfulness or feasibility of a statement or situation. It can convey surprise, exasperation, or a genuine request for a straightforward, non-joking answer. It's derived from the adjective sérieux (serious).

Depending on the tone and context, Sérieusement ! can range from a lighthearted nudge to a firm demand. You might use it when someone tells an unbelievable story, proposes an absurd idea, or is simply not taking something important seriously enough.

💡 * Sérieusement, tu crois vraiment que c'est une bonne idée ? (Seriously, do you really think that's a good idea?)

Oh, sérieusement ! Arrête de plaisanter, on n'a pas le temps. (Oh, seriously! Stop joking, we don't have time.)

Tu vas vraiment déménager en Alaska ? Sérieusement ? (You're really going to move to Alaska? Seriously?)

Sérieusement, quelle est la vérité sur cette histoire ? (Seriously, what's the truth about this story?)

The 'come on, make an effort' (to encourage trying harder) – Fais un effort ! / Faites un effort !

The French expression Fais un effort ! (or Faites un effort ! in the formal/plural) directly translates to "Make an effort!" or "Do an effort!" and is commonly used to encourage someone to try harder, put in more work, or simply make a greater attempt at something.

Just like many French commands, the phrase changes depending on who you're speaking to. Fais un effort ! uses the tu form of the verb faire (to do/make), and is used when speaking to a single person you know well (a friend, family member, child). Faites un effort ! uses the vous form, which is used for formal situations, addressing multiple people, or someone you don't know well.

This versatile phrase can be used in various situations, from gently nudging someone to complete a task ("Come on, make an effort to finish your homework!") to a more emphatic plea for greater dedication ("You need to make an effort if you want to succeed!"). It implies that the person is not currently trying hard enough and needs to expend more energy or focus.

Beyond the imperative, the verb phrase faire des efforts means "to make efforts" in a general sense. For example, Il fait beaucoup d'efforts pour apprendre le français (He makes a lot of effort to learn French) describes ongoing or habitual effort. This shows the continuous action of trying hard, rather than a direct command.

💡 *Allez, fais un effort pour finir tes devoirs. (Come on, make an effort to finish your homework.)
*Si tu veux réussir cet examen, il faut faire un effort. (If you want to pass this exam, you need to make an effort.)
*Faites un effort, s'il vous plaît, pour comprendre les instructions. (Please make an effort to understand the instructions.)
*Mes parents ont fait beaucoup d'efforts pour que je puisse étudier. (My parents made a lot of efforts so that I could study.)
*Ne lâche rien, fais un dernier effort ! (Don't give up, make one last effort!)

Are there other ways to say 'come on' in French?

Our list features the most common and versatile ways to say 'come on' in French. However, French, like any language, is rich with expressions, including regionalisms, slang, and idiomatic phrases that convey similar sentiments.

To explore further, you could search online for 'autres expressions pour encourager en français' or 'slang for come on in French' to find less common or more specific usages.

When you encounter new expressions, pay attention to their context. Not all phrases for 'come on' are interchangeable; some might be more informal, urgent, or specific to certain situations. Always verify their meaning and appropriate use.

The best way to discover these nuances is through immersion. Listen carefully to native speakers in films, series, podcasts, or conversations. You'll naturally pick up on how different phrases are used in various social contexts.

For a deeper dive into French idiomatic expressions and their nuances, reputable dictionaries like Larousse or online resources like WordReference can be invaluable. Look up entries related to encouragement, urging, or impatience.

Mastering these expressions adds flavor and authenticity to your French. As the French proverb goes, 'Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.' (Little by little, the bird builds its nest.) Keep practicing, and you'll soon be using 'come on' like a native!

9 ways to say "come on" in French