permettons

Permettons is the 1st person plural present indicative form of the French verb permettre, meaning to allow or to permit. It is also used as the inclusive imperative, Permettons, to express a collective call to act or to enable something. In ordinary speech, the indicative use appears as “nous permettons,” while the imperative use expresses a proposal or policy stance, often in formal or persuasive contexts.

Grammatical notes and usage

Permettre is a transitive verb that typically takes an infinitive or a prepositional phrase: permettre à quelqu’un de faire quelque chose or permettre à qqn de s’exprimer. When used in the imperative, Permettons can introduce a directive aimed at a group, e.g., Permettons à chacun de participer or Permettons à tous d’avoir accès à l’information. In this sense, per mettons functions as a rallying or policy-driving statement, rather than a simple declaration of permission.

Examples

- Nous permettons à nos employés de travailler à distance. (We allow our employees to work remotely.)

- Permettons à chacun de s’exprimer lors de la réunion. (Let everyone speak during the meeting.)

- Permettons-nous de prendre une pause avant de reprendre le travail. (Let us take a break before continuing.)

Etymology and related forms

Permettre derives from Latin permittere, meaning to let go or to allow. Related forms include le participe passé permis, and other conjugations such as il permet, ils permettent, and permettons in contexts ranging from everyday speech to formal policy statements.

See also

Permis, Permettre, Permission, Langue française.