らplural: they, we, these
ら makes a plural, as たち does, but only on a handful of words. 彼ら is "they", 僕ら is a casual "we", and これら is "these".
They are moving to Japan next month.
There is an old bridge in our town.
Each of these methods has its own strengths.
How to form it
彼・僕・これ… + ら
The ones you will meet: 彼ら, 彼女ら, 僕ら, 俺ら, お前ら, あいつら, and これら, それら, あれら. Particles come after it: 彼らの, 僕らは.
- Tone
- Neutral on 彼ら and これら. Casual on 僕ら. Rough on お前ら and あいつら.
- Said about
- Your own group, or other people. In conversation, not people you look up to.
- Where you'll meet it
- 彼ら everywhere. 僕ら and 俺ら in conversation, songs and manga. これら mostly in writing.
In use
Please tell them the new schedule.
Can we come too?
Those guys still aren't here.
Three things to know
ら or たち?
たち goes on nearly any word for a person, and it is the safe one. ら belongs to its few words, and "they" is one of them: 彼ら, rarely 彼たち. On other words for people it usually sounds rough in conversation, and a noun for a thing never takes it: there is no 本ら.
Sounds odd: 先生らは
The teachers have already gone home.
Too rough for your teachers. People say 先生たち, or 先生方 to be polite.
これ is already "these"
これ can be one thing or several, so in conversation people just say これ.
These are all books borrowed from the library.
What people say.
These are all books borrowed from the library.
Written style.
In the news
News reports put ら after a name or a job title. After a name it is that person and the people with them.
Sato and the others took part in the neighborhood cleanup.
The rescue workers continued the search until nightfall.
Close neighbours
たちN5
The everyday plural for people, and after a name in conversation: 田中さんたち.
The children are playing in the schoolyard, full of energy.
Check yourself
1"The books on the desk are all my older brother's."
机の
Choose an answer to see why.
2A line from a news report. What does it mean?
山田さんらが
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
彼ら covers men, or men and women together. For women only it is 彼女たち or 彼女ら.
More sentences
The people involved did not answer the reporters' questions.
Tanaka and two colleagues are giving the presentation. Tanaka and the others arrived at the venue in the morning.
Please submit those documents at reception.
From a written notice.