l'on

Meaning

Alternative form of on

Pronounced as (IPA)

/l‿ɔ̃/

Etymology

The elided article l’ + on, which is of nominal origin (see the related homme). This pronoun has traditionally been assessed as a euphonic prothesis (in particular after que to avoid the homophone of qu’on with con), but the form is in fact found in free variation, including at the beginning of sentences in very formal usage.

Sentences

C’est pourquoi je dis que l’on mange notre pain blanc .

That's why I say we eat our white bread.

Et l’on veut que j’aime le genre humain !

And they want me to love the human race!

L'on s'interroge sur le sort de Rebecca .

We wonder about Rebecca's fate.