Expressions for making and reacting to suggestions

Useful expressions when proposing ideas — and how to accept or reject them naturally:

On + Verb  (informal, most common)

"On le rend au magasin ?"

“Shall we take it back to the store?”


ça te dit / ça vous dit  (friendly, casual)

"Ça vous dit, un verre pour fêter ça ?" /fete/

“How about a drink to celebrate?”


"Une soirée entre potes, ça te dit ?" /pɔt/

“How about a night out with friends?”


Et / Alors  (make or revive a suggestion)

"Et Florence, mon amour ?" 💕 /flɔʀɑ̃s/

“What about Florence?”


"Alors, un film ce soir ?"

“So, a movie tonight?”


À ta place / Si j'étais toi(vous)  (make or revive a suggestion)

"À ta place, je le ferais."

“If I were you, I'd do it.”


"Si j’étais toi, je partirais tout de suite."

“If I were you, I'd leave right away.”


Et si + Verb (imparfait)  (casual)

"Et si tu faisais une pause ?"

“How about taking a break?”


On pourrait + Verb (infinitive)  (soft, polite suggestion)

"On pourrait manger chinois ?"

“We could eat Chinese?” - soft, polite suggestion.


Tu devrais + Verb (infinitive)  (polite suggestion)

"Tu devrais essayer."

“You should try.”


Tu dois + Verb (infinitive)  (duty, necessity, or strong insistence)

"Tu dois venir demain."

“You have to come tomorrow.”


"Tu dois pas te laisser faire."

“You must not let it happen.”


"Tu dois être sûre."

“You have to be sure.”


Peut-être  (softens the suggestion)

"Peut-être que tu devrais partir."

“Maybe you should leave.”


"Tu devrais peut-être aller le voir."

“Maybe you should go see him.”


"Tu pourrais peut-être l’appeler."

“Maybe you could call him.”


Pourquoi + ... + pas  (casual, friendly idea)

"Pourquoi tu l’appelles pas ?"

“Why don't you call him?”


Imperative  (Present imperative - nous - slightly more formal than "On" but very common)

"Regardons un film."

“Let's watch a movie.”


"Parlons français."

“Let's speak expression.”


"Le fais pas."

“Don't do it.”


"Allons à l’essentiel." /esɑ̃sjɛl/

“Let's get to the point.”


(Il) faut + Verb (infinitive)  (a suggestion, a mild insistence or an instruction)

"Il faut aller te coucher, tu es crevé(e)."

“You should go to bed, you're exhausted.”


"Faut laisser tomber."

“You have to let it go.”


"Faut décider."

“You have to decide.”




"Bonne idée !"

“Good idea!” — spontaneous and natural.

"Pourquoi pas ?"

“Why not?” — mild, open agreement.

"D’accord."

“Okay / Agreed.” — simple acceptance.

"Allons-y !"

“Let’s go!” — enthusiastic acceptance.

"Ça marche !"

“That works.”



"Non, merci."

“No, thanks.” — direct

"Pas question."

“No way. / Out of the question.” — strong disagreement

"Ça me tente pas trop."

“Not really tempted.” — polite, casual

"Je sais pas..."

“I don't know...”

"Je suis pas sûr(e)."

“I'm not sure.

"Ça me dit pas trop."

“I don't really feel like it. — polite rejection

"Ça me dit rien."

“Doesn't appeal to me. — firmer rejection

"Je préfère pas."

“I’d rather not.” — soft and polite refusal.

"Bof, pas trop envie."

“Meh, don’t really feel like it.” — casual and honest.

"Non, pas pour moi."

“No, not for me.” — neutral and friendly.

"Je ne crois pas que ce soit une bonne idée."

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” — polite disagreement with reasoning.

"Je crois/pense/trouve pas, non."

“I don’t think so, no.

"Moi, je trouve pas."

“I don’t think so.