~ら
JLPT Level: N4
Meanings
We/They/You all (plural forms)
These/Those (plural demonstratives)
Plural suffix for certain pronouns and demonstratives
Usage
Pronoun + ら
これ + ら / それ + ら / あれ + ら
Explanation
~ら is a casual, spoken-form suffix that attaches to certain pronouns (e.g., 私ら, 僕ら, あなたら) and demonstratives (e.g., これら, それら, あれら) to indicate a plural meaning like we, they, you all, or these/those. It is common in informal conversation and may carry a masculine or rough nuance depending on the speaker. It is not used in formal writing; for formal plural, use 私たち, あなたたち, これら, それら, あれら (the latter being less common). Common patterns include pronoun + ら for personal groups and demonstrative + ら for plural forms of those demonstratives.
私らは明日、旅行に行く。
わしらはあした、りょこうにいく。
We are going on a trip tomorrow.
僕らの家は大きい。
ぼくらのいえはおおきい。
Our house is big.
君らも手伝ってくれる?
きみらもてつだってくれる?
Can you all help too?
これらは私の本です。
これらはわたしのほんです。
These are my books.
それらは新しい映画だ。
それらはあたらしいえいがだ。
Those are new movies.