Entendons

Entendons is the first-person plural present indicative form of the French verb entendre, meaning to hear or to understand. In everyday usage, nous entendons typically translates as “we hear,” and can also carry a figurative sense of “we understand.” The form can also function as an inclusive imperative in some rhetorical contexts, for example in phrases like Entendons ce que disent les témoins (“Let us understand/hear what the witnesses say”) or Entendons-nous bien? (“Let us be clear, do we understand each other?”).

Etymology and related forms: entendre derives from Old French and ultimately from Latin intendere, reflecting an evolution from “to hear” toward meanings such as “to understand.” The present indicative of entendre for other subjects includes j’entends, tu entends, il entend, nous entendons, vous entendez, ils entendent. The present subjunctive for nous is entende + -ions, yielding entendions, not entendant.

Usage notes: The phrase distinguishes literal hearing from understanding. With certain constructions, entendre appears in idioms such as entendre parler de quelqu’un (to have heard of someone) or entendre raison (to listen to reason). As a tense form, entendons is not the subjunctive; the corresponding present subjunctive form is entendions. Pronunciation centers on a nasal vowel, with the final s typically silent in standard speech.

Cultural presence: Entendons and its related forms appear in French literature, speeches and songs as a call to listen, reflect or cooperate. It is commonly encountered in discussions about communication, consensus-building, and collaborative decision-making.

See also: entendre; entente; comprehension; listening.