Meaning of French on marche in English

On marche

We walk, we’re walking

Quand on marche, il faut bien respirer. When we walk, we need to breathe well.
Pourquoi on marche aussi lentement? Why are we walking so slowly?
Le matin, on marche jusqu’au métro. In the morning, we walk to the metro.
Quand il fait beau, on marche dehors. When it’s nice out, we walk outside.
Sans voiture, on marche plus souvent. Without a car, we walk more often.

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More about on marche

On marche is a versatile French phrase that translates to different expressions in English depending on the context. Literally, it means “we walk,” but it’s often used in a broader sense to indicate movement, progress, or functioning. Depending on the situation, it can mean “we’re going,” “let’s go,” or even “it works.”

For example, if someone suggests an idea and another person replies ça marche or on marche, they mean “that works” or “we’re on board.” In a more literal sense, on marche can simply describe walking: On marche jusqu’à la gare — “We’re walking to the station.” But it can also express action or moving forward: On marche vers une solution — “We’re working toward a solution.”

Interestingly, the phrase has an informal and flexible use in French, similar to how English speakers might say “we’re moving” or “we’re getting somewhere.” It can also suggest a general way of operating, like in Ça marche comme ça — “That’s how it works.”