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A2 pronoun #2,000 よく出る 6分で読める

l'un l'autre

each other

At the A1 level, you primarily learn reciprocity through the reflexive pronoun 'se' (e.g., 'Ils s'aiment'). You might encounter 'l'un l'autre' in very simple fixed phrases. The focus is on understanding that the action goes both ways. You don't need to worry about complex prepositions yet, just recognize that 'l'un l'autre' reinforces the idea of 'together' or 'each other'. For example, in a simple sentence like 'Ils s'aident l'un l'autre', you can see that two people are helping each other. It's important to start noticing that 'l'un' refers to one person and 'l'autre' to the second person in the pair.
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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'l'un l'autre' to clarify your sentences. You learn that 'Ils se regardent' can be ambiguous, and adding 'l'un l'autre' makes it clear they are looking at each other. You also start to learn the feminine form 'l'une l'autre'. This level introduces the idea that the phrase can change based on who you are talking about. You might also see simple prepositions like 'pour' (l'un pour l'autre) in romantic or friendly contexts. It's about making your basic descriptions of people's interactions more precise and professional.
At the B1 level, you must master the placement of prepositions within the phrase. You should be able to correctly say 'Ils se parlent l'un à l'autre' or 'Ils dépendent l'un de l'autre'. You also start using the plural forms 'les uns les autres' when talking about groups of people, such as a class of students or a sports team. You understand the difference between 'l'un l'autre' (reciprocal) and 'l'un et l'autre' (both). This level requires you to use the phrase naturally in both spoken and written descriptions of social dynamics and relationships.
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At the B2 level, you use 'l'un l'autre' with more complex verbs and in more abstract contexts. You can discuss social issues, saying things like 'Les citoyens doivent se soutenir les uns les autres'. You are comfortable with all gender and number variations and rarely make mistakes with prepositions. You also begin to recognize the stylistic value of the phrase—using it to add rhythm or emphasis to a sentence. You can distinguish between 'l'un l'autre' and adverbs like 'mutuellement' and choose the one that fits the register of your conversation or essay.
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At the C1 level, you use 'l'un l'autre' with nuance in sophisticated arguments. You might use it in literary analysis or philosophical discussions to describe the relationship between concepts or characters. You understand how it functions in complex sentence structures, such as when it's separated from the verb or used in subordinate clauses. Your usage is fluid, and you can use it to avoid ambiguity in dense texts. You also understand historical or rare usages found in classical French literature and can interpret them correctly in context.
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At the C2 level, you have a near-native command of 'l'un l'autre'. You can use it to create specific rhetorical effects, such as chiasmus or parallelism. You are aware of the subtle differences in tone between 'l'un l'autre' and its synonyms in every possible context. You can use the phrase in highly formal legal, academic, or poetic writing with perfect precision. You also understand the etymological roots and how the phrase has evolved in the French language, allowing you to appreciate and use it in its most refined forms.
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l'un l'autre 30秒で

  • Means 'each other' or 'one another' in English.
  • Agrees in gender (l'un/l'une) and number (les uns/les unes).
  • Requires prepositions to be placed in the middle (e.g., l'un à l'autre).
  • Used with reflexive verbs to clarify reciprocal action.

The French phrase l'un l'autre is a reciprocal pronoun used to indicate that an action is performed by two or more people or things upon each other. In English, it is most commonly translated as 'each other' or 'one another'. While French often uses reflexive pronouns (se) to indicate reciprocity, l'un l'autre is frequently added to clarify that the action is indeed reciprocal and not just reflexive, or to emphasize the mutual nature of the relationship. For example, 'Ils se regardent' could mean they are looking at themselves in a mirror, but 'Ils se regardent l'un l'autre' explicitly means they are looking at each other.

Grammatical Function
It functions as a pronoun that agrees in gender and number with the nouns it refers to. If referring to two men, it is 'l'un l'autre'; two women, 'l'une l'autre'; a group of men or mixed gender, 'les uns les autres'; and a group of women, 'les unes les autres'.
Syntactic Placement
It usually follows the verb. If a preposition is required by the verb (like 'parler à'), the preposition is placed between 'l'un' and 'l'autre'.
Reciprocity vs. Reflexivity
In French, the reflexive pronoun 'se' is often ambiguous. Adding 'l'un l'autre' removes this ambiguity, ensuring the listener understands the action is shared between parties.

Ils s'aident l'un l'autre pour finir le projet.

— Example of mutual assistance between two individuals.

Elles se parlent l'une à l'autre tous les matins.

— Example with feminine agreement and prepositional use.

Les enfants jouent les uns avec les autres.

— Example of plural masculine/mixed group interaction.

Ils ne peuvent pas vivre l'un sans l'autre.

— Common romantic expression showing dependency.

Les deux pays se font la guerre l'un contre l'autre.

— Example of antagonistic reciprocity.
Common Contexts
Relationships, team dynamics, physical interactions, and comparative logic.
Evolution
Derived from Latin 'unus' and 'alter', it has remained a staple of French grammar to provide clarity where reflexive verbs fall short.

Using l'un l'autre correctly requires attention to three main factors: gender agreement, number agreement, and the placement of prepositions. Because it is a pronoun that substitutes for nouns already mentioned, it must mirror their characteristics. If you are talking about two sisters, you must use l'une l'autre. If you are talking about a group of students (mixed), you use les uns les autres.

1. Agreement Rules

The phrase changes based on who is involved:

  • Masculine Singular (2 entities): l'un l'autre
  • Feminine Singular (2 entities): l'une l'autre
  • Masculine/Mixed Plural (3+ entities): les uns les autres
  • Feminine Plural (3+ entities): les unes les autres

2. The Role of Prepositions

This is where most learners stumble. In English, we say 'They talk to each other.' In French, the 'to' (à) goes in the middle: 'Ils se parlent l'un à l'autre.' Common prepositions include:

  • À: s'écrire l'un à l'autre (to write to each other)
  • De: avoir peur l'un de l'autre (to be afraid of each other)
  • Pour: être faits l'un pour l'autre (to be made for each other)
  • Contre: s'appuyer l'un contre l'autre (to lean against each other)

3. Verb Compatibility

Usually, l'un l'autre is used with pronominal verbs (verbs starting with 'se'). The 'se' indicates the action is directed back at the subject, and 'l'un l'autre' specifies that the action is shared between the members of the subject. For example, 'Ils se détestent l'un l'autre' (They hate each other).

You will encounter l'un l'autre in almost every register of French, from high literature to casual conversation, though its usage varies slightly. In formal writing, the plural forms les uns les autres are strictly used for groups of three or more, whereas in casual speech, people might default to the singular form even for larger groups.

In Daily Conversation

In everyday life, it’s used to describe social interactions. 'On se connaît l'un l'autre depuis l'enfance' (We've known each other since childhood). It’s also common in instructions: 'Mettez les chaises les unes sur les autres' (Put the chairs on top of each other).

In Media and News

Journalists use it to describe international relations or conflicts. 'Les deux nations s'accusent l'une l'autre de rompre le traité' (The two nations accuse each other of breaking the treaty). It provides a level of precision necessary for reporting.

In Literature and Philosophy

French literature is full of explorations of the 'Other'. You'll find phrases like 'se reconnaître l'un dans l'autre' (to recognize oneself in the other). It’s a key phrase for discussing empathy, conflict, and human connection.

'Aimer, ce n'est pas se regarder l'un l'autre, c'est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.'

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Mastering l'un l'autre involves avoiding several common pitfalls that even intermediate learners face. The most frequent errors involve preposition placement and gender/number agreement.

1. Forgetting the Preposition

Learners often translate literally from English. English: 'They talk to each other.' Incorrect French: *'Ils se parlent l'un l'autre.' Correct French: 'Ils se parlent l'un à l'autre.' The preposition required by the verb must be present.

2. Agreement Errors

Using the masculine 'l'un l'autre' as a default is a common mistake. If you are referring to two women, you must use 'l'une l'autre'. If the group is plural, you must use 'les uns les autres'.

3. Redundancy with 'Entre'

Some learners try to combine 'entre nous' with 'l'un l'autre' in ways that are grammatically heavy. For example, 'On se parle entre nous l'un l'autre' is repetitive. Choose one or the other based on the emphasis you want to provide.

4. Confusion with 'L'un et l'autre'

L'un l'autre (each other) is different from l'un et l'autre (both). 'Je les aime l'un et l'autre' means 'I love both of them.' 'Ils s'aiment l'un l'autre' means 'They love each other.'

While l'un l'autre is the most versatile way to express reciprocity, several other words and phrases can be used depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

Mutuellement
An adverb meaning 'mutually'. It is often more formal. 'Ils se sont mutuellement aidés' (They mutually helped each other).
Réciproquement
Meaning 'reciprocally'. Often used in logical or formal contexts. 'Le respect doit être réciproque.'
Entre eux / Entre elles
Meaning 'among themselves'. This focuses more on the group dynamic than the specific individual-to-individual interaction. 'Ils discutent entre eux.'
L'un et l'autre
Often confused, but means 'both'. Use this when you want to say both parties are involved in an action, but not necessarily upon each other.

Choosing between these depends on whether you want to emphasize the action (use l'un l'autre) or the state of the relationship (use mutuellement/réciproque).

How Formal Is It?

フォーマル

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カジュアル

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スラング

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難易度

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レベル別の例文

1

Ils s'aiment l'un l'autre.

They love each other.

Basic reciprocal use with a reflexive verb.

2

Marie et Anne s'aident l'une l'autre.

Marie and Anne help each other.

Feminine singular agreement.

3

Nous nous parlons l'un l'autre.

We talk to each other.

First person plural usage.

4

Ils se regardent l'un l'autre.

They look at each other.

Clarifying reciprocity.

5

Les deux chats jouent l'un avec l'autre.

The two cats play with each other.

Use of preposition 'avec'.

6

Paul et Marc se battent l'un contre l'autre.

Paul and Marc fight against each other.

Use of preposition 'contre'.

7

Elles se sourient l'une à l'autre.

They smile at each other.

Feminine agreement with preposition 'à'.

8

Ils marchent l'un à côté de l'autre.

They walk next to each other.

Compound preposition usage.

1

Ils se sont rencontrés l'un l'autre au parc.

They met each other at the park.

Past tense (passé composé) usage.

2

Nous devons nous respecter l'un l'autre.

We must respect each other.

Modal verb 'devoir' with reciprocity.

3

Les deux voitures se sont rentrées l'une dans l'autre.

The two cars crashed into each other.

Feminine agreement (voiture).

4

Ils ne peuvent pas vivre l'un sans l'autre.

They cannot live without each other.

Preposition 'sans' expressing dependency.

5

Les enfants se lancent le ballon l'un à l'autre.

The children throw the ball to each other.

Indirect object with 'à'.

6

Elles se ressemblent beaucoup l'une à l'autre.

They look a lot like each other.

Verb 'ressembler' requires 'à'.

7

Ils se sont écrit l'un à l'autre pendant l'été.

They wrote to each other during the summer.

Reciprocal correspondence.

8

Nous nous écoutons l'un l'autre.

We listen to each other.

Direct object reciprocity.

1

Les étudiants s'encouragent les uns les autres.

The students encourage one another.

Plural form for a group.

2

Les pièces du puzzle s'emboîtent les unes dans les autres.

The puzzle pieces fit into each other.

Feminine plural agreement (pièces).

3

Ils se sont promis de ne jamais se quitter l'un l'autre.

They promised each other never to leave each other.

Infinitive clause usage.

4

Les membres de l'équipe se font confiance les uns aux autres.

The team members trust each other.

Preposition 'à' with plural 'aux'.

5

Ces deux idées se complètent l'une l'autre.

These two ideas complement each other.

Abstract usage.

6

Ils se sont partagé les tâches les uns avec les autres.

They shared the tasks with each other.

Plural with 'avec'.

7

Les sœurs se confient leurs secrets l'une à l'autre.

The sisters confide their secrets to each other.

Feminine singular with indirect object.

8

Ils se sont éloignés l'un de l'autre avec le temps.

They grew apart from each other over time.

Preposition 'de' indicating separation.

1

Les pays membres se soutiennent les uns les autres face à la crise.

The member countries support each other in the face of the crisis.

Political/Formal context.

2

Ils se sont mutuellement influencés l'un l'autre.

They mutually influenced each other.

Emphasis using 'mutuellement' and 'l'un l'autre'.

3

Les différentes cultures s'enrichissent les unes les autres.

Different cultures enrich each other.

Abstract plural reciprocity.

4

Ils ne cessent de se critiquer les uns les autres.

They don't stop criticizing each other.

Plural usage with negative 'ne cessent de'.

5

Les molécules s'attirent les unes les autres.

The molecules attract each other.

Scientific context.

6

Ils se sont succédé les uns aux autres à la tête de l'entreprise.

They succeeded each other at the head of the company.

Verb 'succéder' with 'à'.

7

Les deux versions se contredisent l'une l'autre.

The two versions contradict each other.

Logical contradiction.

8

Ils se sont portés secours les uns aux autres.

They brought aid to each other.

Formal expression 'porter secours'.

1

Dans ce système, les éléments sont interdépendants les uns des autres.

In this system, the elements are interdependent on each other.

Adjective 'interdépendants' with 'de'.

2

Le poète et sa muse se nourrissent l'un de l'autre.

The poet and his muse feed off each other.

Metaphorical usage.

3

Les théories s'imbriquent les unes dans les autres de manière complexe.

The theories overlap with each other in a complex way.

Academic register.

4

Ils se sont renvoyé la balle l'un à l'autre durant tout le débat.

They passed the buck to each other throughout the debate.

Idiomatic usage 'renvoyer la balle'.

5

Les ombres s'allongeaient les unes derrière les autres.

The shadows stretched out one behind the other.

Descriptive literary usage.

6

Ils se sont sacrifiés l'un pour l'autre.

They sacrificed themselves for each other.

High emotional register.

7

Les préjugés se nourrissent les uns des autres.

Prejudices feed on each other.

Sociological analysis.

8

Ils se sont mutuellement exclus les uns les autres du cercle.

They mutually excluded each other from the circle.

Complex group dynamics.

1

L'œuvre et l'auteur sont indissociables l'un de l'autre.

The work and the author are inseparable from each other.

Philosophical/Literary statement.

2

Les paradoxes s'engendrent les uns les autres au sein de sa pensée.

Paradoxes beget each other within his thought.

Highly abstract/Intellectual.

3

Ils se sont échinés à se détruire l'un l'autre.

They strove to destroy each other.

Sophisticated verb 's'échiner'.

4

La haine et l'amour se côtoient l'un l'autre dans son cœur.

Hate and love rub shoulders with each other in his heart.

Poetic personification.

5

Les époques se superposent les unes aux autres dans ce quartier.

Eras are superimposed on each other in this neighborhood.

Historical/Urban analysis.

6

Ils se sont réciproquement asservis les uns les autres.

They reciprocally enslaved each other.

Formal/Political philosophy.

7

Le sujet et l'objet se constituent l'un par l'autre.

The subject and the object constitute each other.

Phenomenological usage.

8

Leurs destins étaient inextricablement liés l'un à l'autre.

Their destinies were inextricably linked to each other.

Literary/Dramatic register.

よく使う組み合わせ

s'aimer l'un l'autre
s'aider l'un l'autre
se parler l'un à l'autre
dépendre l'un de l'autre
être faits l'un pour l'autre
se regarder l'un l'autre
se faire confiance l'un à l'autre
vivre l'un avec l'autre
se battre l'un contre l'autre
se succéder les uns aux autres

よく使うフレーズ

L'un dans l'autre (All things considered / On balance)

L'un pour l'autre

L'un après l'autre

L'un avec l'autre

Les uns comme les autres

L'un ou l'autre

Ni l'un ni l'autre

L'un et l'autre

Les uns sur les autres

L'un contre l'autre

よく混同される語

l'un l'autre vs L'un et l'autre (Both)

l'un l'autre vs L'un ou l'autre (Either)

l'un l'autre vs Ni l'un ni l'autre (Neither)

慣用句と表現

""

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""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

間違えやすい

l'un l'autre vs

l'un l'autre vs

l'un l'autre vs

l'un l'autre vs

l'un l'autre vs

文型パターン

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使い方

clarity

Use it when 'se' alone could be mistaken for a reflexive action (doing to oneself).

emphasis

Use it to highlight the mutual effort or bond.

よくある間違い
  • Saying 'Ils se parlent l'un l'autre' instead of 'l'un à l'autre'.
  • Using 'l'un l'autre' for 'both' (should be 'l'un et l'autre').
  • Forgetting to change to 'l'une' for feminine subjects.
  • Using 'l'un l'autre' without the reflexive pronoun 'se' when required.
  • Misplacing the preposition (e.g., *à l'un l'autre).

ヒント

Check Agreement

Always look at the gender of the people you are talking about. Use 'l'une' for women.

Avoid Ambiguity

Use 'l'un l'autre' if 'ils se regardent' could mean they are looking in a mirror.

The Middle Man

If the verb needs a preposition, put it in the middle of the phrase.

Groups of 3+

Switch to 'les uns les autres' when talking about a larger group.

Vary Your Vocabulary

Try using 'mutuellement' in formal writing for variety.

The Liaison

Pronounce the 'n' in 'un' as it connects to 'autre'.

Reciprocity

Ensure the action is actually being done by both parties to each other.

English Equivalent

Always map it to 'each other' in your mind for the correct logic.

Hear the 'Se'

The reflexive 'se' is your first signal that a reciprocal phrase might follow.

Punctuation

No commas are needed within the phrase 'l'un l'autre'.

暗記しよう

語源

Latin

文化的な背景

Using 'les uns les autres' in a group setting shows a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Frequently used by Existentialist writers to describe human interaction.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

会話のきっかけ

"Est-ce que vous vous aidez les uns les autres au travail ?"

"Pensez-vous que deux personnes peuvent changer l'une l'autre ?"

"Comment les membres de votre famille se soutiennent-ils les uns les autres ?"

"Est-ce important de se dire la vérité l'un à l'autre ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui fait que deux personnes sont faites l'une pour l'autre ?"

日記のテーマ

Décrivez une amitié où vous vous complétez l'un l'autre.

Racontez une fois où deux personnes se sont mal comprises l'une l'autre.

Pourquoi est-il important que les citoyens se respectent les uns les autres ?

Analysez comment deux personnages de votre livre préféré s'influencent l'un l'autre.

Réfléchissez à l'expression 'l'un dans l'autre' appliquée à votre semaine.

よくある質問

10 問

Technically, 'les uns les autres' is for three or more, but in casual speech, 'l'un l'autre' is sometimes used for any number.

The preposition always goes between 'l'un' and 'l'autre', for example: 'l'un à l'autre'.

Most of the time, yes, because the action is reciprocal. However, some verbs like 'dépendre' aren't reflexive but still use it.

'L'un l'autre' means 'each other'. 'L'un et l'autre' means 'both'.

Yes, it becomes 'l'une l'autre' for two women or 'les unes les autres' for a group of women.

It is standard French. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

It is grammatically correct but redundant. Usually, you choose one or the other.

Use the masculine plural: 'les uns les autres'.

You say 'l'un sans l'autre'.

No, it is used as an object or after a preposition.

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