let1When let is used with another verb to make a suggestion ( let's do it at once), the first person plural of the appropriate verb can generally be used to express this in French: faisons-le tout de suite. (Note that the verb alone translates let us do and no pronoun appears in French.) — In the spoken language, however, French speakers will use the much more colloquial on + present tense or si on + imperfect tense: let's go! = allons-y or on y va!; let's go to the cinema tonight = si on allait au cinéma ce soir?— These translations can also be used for suggestions in the negative: let's not take or don't let's take the bus—let's walk = on ne prend pas le bus, on y va à pied or ne prenons pas le bus, allons-y à pied.— When let is used to mean allow, it is generally translated by the verb laisser. For more examples and particular usages, see the entry below.
When let is used with another verb to make a suggestion ( let's do it at once), the first person plural of the appropriate verb can generally be used to express this in French: faisons-le tout de suite. (Note that the verb alone translates let us do and no pronoun appears in French.) — In the spoken language, however, French speakers will use the much more colloquial on + present tense or si on + imperfect tense: let's go! = allons-y or on y va!; let's go to the cinema tonight = si on allait au cinéma ce soir?— These translations can also be used for suggestions in the negative: let's not take or don't let's take the bus—let's walk = on ne prend pas le bus, on y va à pied or ne prenons pas le bus, allons-y à pied.— When let is used to mean allow, it is generally translated by the verb laisser. For more examples and particular usages, see the entry below.
vtr
- 1 (in suggestions, commands) let's get out of here! = sortons d'ici! let's not or don't let's (GB) talk about that! = n'en parlons pas!
- 2 (allow) to let sb do = laisser qn faire let me explain = laisse-moi t'expliquer don't let it get you down = ne te laisse pas abattre she wanted to go but they wouldn't let her = elle voulait y aller mais ils ne l'ont pas laissée faire to let one's hair grow = se laisser pousser les cheveux
Phrasal verbs
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let down
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let go
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let in
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let off
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let out
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let up
[rain, wind] se calmer; [pressure] s'arrêter; [heat] diminuer