How do you say "Can we work something out?" in French?

"Can we work something out?" in French is "On peut s'arranger ?". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘Can we work something out?’ in French

Q: What does "On peut s'arranger ?" mean in English?

"On peut s'arranger ?" means "Can we work something out?" in English. Usage tip: [On] often means [we] in everyday French, so [On peut...] is a very common spoken pattern for suggestions or possibilities. You can reuse it with other verbs: [On peut attendre ?], [On peut changer l'adresse ?].

On peut s'arranger ?

ohn puh seuh ah-rahn-ZHEY

[ohn puh seuh ah-rahn-ZHEY]

💬 Usage Tip: [On] often means [we] in everyday French, so [On peut...] is a very common spoken pattern for suggestions or possibilities. You can reuse it with other verbs: [On peut attendre ?], [On peut changer l'adresse ?].

🇫🇷 In France: This is a polite, practical way to negotiate with a driver without sounding aggressive. It suggests finding a compromise, which often lands better than a direct complaint.

Phrase Breakdown

[ohn]

Inclusive first person plural subject pronoun

Example

On prend un taxi.

We take a taxi.

peut

[puh]

can

To be able to

Example

Peut-on demander un arrêt ?

Can we request a stop?

S'arranger ?

seuh ah-rahn-ZHEY

Words in this phrase

[seuh]

Used to indicate purpose or intention

Example

Elle préfère s'en aller.

She prefers to leave.

arranger

[ah-rahn-ZHEY]

arrange

To come to an agreement or understanding

Example

On peut s'arranger ?

Can we come to an arrangement?

Guides for French learners

“Do You Speak English?” in French, and What to Say When You Don't Speak FrenchHow to say “do you speak English?” in French politely, what you'll hear back, and the phrases for “I don't speak French” and “can you repeat that?”, with audio.The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.

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