voyons

Voyons is a French term that can function both as a verb form and as an interjection. Morphologically, it is the first-person plural present indicative of the verb voir, meaning "we see" (nous voyons). This basic usage appears in declarative sentences such as “Nous voyons les étoiles” (We see the stars).

In addition, voyons is commonly used as an interjection or exhortative expression: “Voyons!” meaning roughly “Let’s see,” “Come on,” or “Really?” depending on context and intonation. In this form, it acts as a pragmatic device to prompt discussion, encourage reconsideration, or express mild impatience or skepticism. The interjective sense is frequent in spoken French, informal writing, and literary dialogue, where it can introduce a point or signal a shift in attention.

Pronunciation is typically [vwajɔ̃], with the final nasal vowel and the s in the written form not pronounced when used as an interjection. Its usage spans various registers, though the interjectory sense is most common in everyday speech. The word derives from the Latin videre, via the French verb voir, and reflects standard verb conjugation patterns rather than a distinct lexical item with a separate meaning.

In summary, voyons serves as a versatile form in French: as the simple present of voir for “we see,” and as a standalone interjection used to invite reflection or push a conversational turn. Its meaning is highly dependent on context and pronunciation.