The Secret Origin of 'Let's': What One of English's Most Common Words Really Hides

"Let's go!", "Let's eat?", "Let's do this!". If you're learning English, you probably use the word "let's" dozens of times a day. It's the simplest, most direct way to make an invitation. But... have you ever stopped to think about the logic behind it?

The verb "to let" means "to permit" or "to allow." So why do we use it to invite someone to do something with us? And what on earth is that apostrophe 's' doing there?

Get ready, because you're about to discover one of the most interesting and revealing secrets about the evolution of the English language. The answer is simpler and more brilliant than you might think.

The Puzzle: Why Does 'Let's' Seem So Strange?

The confusion is completely normal. If we translate it literally, "Let's go to the party" would sound like "Permit us to go to the party." That feels like a super formal request for permission, not an excited invitation between friends. So, how did an expression that implies permission become the foundation for a casual suggestion?

The answer isn't in what the word means today, but in what it hides.

The Reveal: The Secret Word Hiding in the Apostrophe 'S'

The 's' in "let's" is not possessive, nor is it a form of the verb "is." In reality, it's the ghost of another word.

Let's = Let us

That's right! "Let's" is simply the contraction of "let us". This is a grammatical structure known as the first-person plural imperative, used to make a suggestion that includes the speaker.

This origin is confirmed by authoritative sources on the English language, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, which documents "let's" as a contracted form of "let us" used for making proposals. Source: Oxford English Dictionary (OED), "let's, prep." OED Online, Oxford University Press.

From Formal and Archaic to Fast and Casual

Long ago, people did in fact use the full form "let us" in more formal conversations. Imagine scenes from period dramas:

"Let us go to the cricket match."

"Let us visit the Queen."

Over the centuries, the English language, like any living language, sought the path of least resistance. Human speech is naturally "lazy" and looks for shortcuts. The pronunciation of "let us" began to merge and become faster, until the contraction "let's" became the absolute standard in daily life.

'Lazy English': An Evolution, Not a Mistake

It's tempting to call this change "lazy," as I joke in the video. And in a way, it is. But in linguistics, we call this efficiency. No native speaker today would think of saying "Let us go to the movies" unless they were making a joke or being extremely formal.

The modern "let's" has completely lost its connotation of "permission" and today carries 100% of the energy of a "suggestion" or "invitation." Understanding this evolution isn't just a fun fact; it's a way of understanding the soul of a language that is always in motion.

How to Use 'Let's' Correctly Today

The rule is simple: use "let's" followed by a verb in its base form (infinitive without "to") whenever you want to invite or suggest that you and another person (or people) do something together.

Correct: "Let's study English."

Incorrect: "Let's to study English."

Incorrect: "Let's studying English."

It's simple, direct, and one of the most useful tools you'll have in your conversational toolkit.

Now that you've unraveled the mystery of "let's," what other English word has you scratching your head? Leave your question in the comments below! I love investigating these linguistic puzzles.

And for more tips and secrets that will accelerate your journey to fluency, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Test Your Knowledge!

Think you've mastered the concept? Let's find out! Complete the sentences below and check your answers at the end.

1. "The movie starts in five minutes! ______ hurry!"

a) Let's b) Let us c) We

2. Complete the sentence with the correct verb: "It's a beautiful day. Let's ______ to the beach."

3. What is the full, more formal version of "Let's"?

Answers below (no peeking!)

1. a) Let's (used for a casual, urgent suggestion) 2. go (the verb must be in its base form, without "to") 3. Let us

Sources

Oxford English Dictionary (OED) https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/let-s

Merriam-Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%27s

Etymonline (Online Etymology Dictionary) https://www.etymonline.com/word/let

Cambridge Dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pt/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/let-let-s