gouvernons

Gouvernons is the first-person plural present indicative form of the French verb gouverner, meaning to govern or to rule. It can also function as the imperative in the nous form, used to express “let us govern,” as in exhortations or rhetorical statements such as Gouvernons ensemble. The form reflects the regular conjugation pattern of -er verbs in French.

Etymology and cognates: gouverner derives from Latin gubernare, borrowed into Old/Middle French as gouverner before evolving into gouverner in modern French. The Latin word itself comes from the Greek κυβερνάω (kybernaō, “to steer, to pilot”) or related terms meaning helmsman or governor. The term has cognates in many Romance languages and the English verb govern.

Usage notes: Gouvernons is primarily used with the subject nous (we govern). It contrasts with the noun gouvernement (government) and the agent noun gouverneur (governor) as well as with the related noun gouvernance (governance). In contemporary French, the imperative sense is mostly found in formal or collective contexts, often in political or organizational rhetoric.

Conjugation snapshot (present tense): je gouverne, tu gouvernes, il/elle gouverne, nous gouvernons, vous gouvernez, ils/elles gouvernent.

See also: Gouvernance, Gouvernement, Gouverneur, Gouverneur général.