The French pronoun en can be translated in many ways depending on the context. It often means “some,” “any,” “some of it,” “some of them,” “of it,” “of them,” “from it,” “from them,” or even “about it” or “about them.” It replaces a phrase introduced by de and is used to avoid repetition. En usually comes before the verb.

En to mean “some” or “any”

Use en to replace a noun that is preceded by du, de la, de l’, or des.

Examples:

• Tu veux du pain ? Oui, j’en veux.
  Do you want some bread? Yes, I want some.
• Il a de l’argent. Il en a beaucoup.
  He has money. He has a lot of it.
• Avez-vous des enfants ? Oui, nous en avons deux.
  Do you have children? Yes, we have two (of them).
• Je n’en ai pas acheté.
  I didn’t buy any.
• Elle n’en prend jamais.
  She never takes any.

En to mean “some of it” or “some of them”

When the noun has already been mentioned or is understood, en can replace de + noun and indicate a part of a whole.

Examples:

• Voici des pommes. Tu en veux ?
  Here are some apples. Do you want some?
• J’en ai mangé trois.
  I ate three of them.
• Il parle de ses projets. Il en parle souvent.
  He talks about his plans. He talks about them often.
• Elle a plusieurs robes. Elle en porte une différente chaque jour.
  She has several dresses. She wears a different one every day.

En to mean “of it” or “of them”

En replaces de + noun when talking about possession, quantity, or topic.

Examples:

• Je me souviens de cette chanson. Je m’en souviens bien.
  I remember that song. I remember it well.
• Ils parlent de leurs vacances. Ils en parlent avec joie.
  They talk about their holidays. They talk about them with joy.
• As-tu besoin de ton livre ? Non, je n’en ai pas besoin.
  Do you need your book? No, I don’t need it.
• Nous avons discuté de ces idées. Nous en avons discuté longuement.
  We discussed those ideas. We discussed them at length.

En to mean “from it” or “from them”

When the verb implies origin, separation, or removal, en can mean “from it” or “from them.”

Examples:

• Il revient de Paris. Il en revient demain.
  He is coming back from Paris. He is coming back from there tomorrow.
• Elle sort de la maison. Elle en sort à midi.
  She is leaving the house. She leaves it at noon.
• Ils se sont échappés de la prison. Ils s’en sont échappés pendant la nuit.
  They escaped from the prison. They escaped from it during the night.

En with verbs followed by “de”

Many French verbs are followed by de + noun. In these cases, en can replace the whole de + noun phrase.

Examples:

• Il a peur de l’orage. Il en a peur depuis toujours.
  He is afraid of storms. He has been afraid of them forever.
• Elle parle souvent de son frère. Elle en parle avec tendresse.
  She often talks about her brother. She talks about him with tenderness.
• Je doute de sa sincérité. J’en doute un peu.
  I doubt his sincerity. I doubt it a little.

Word order

En comes before the conjugated verb in simple tenses, and before the auxiliary verb in compound tenses.

Examples:

• J’en veux.
  I want some.
• Je n’en ai pas vu.
  I didn’t see any.
• Tu vas en parler ?
  Are you going to talk about it?
• Il en a acheté trois.
  He bought three of them.