Understanding how to tell the time and use time-related expressions is an essential part of learning French. This article explores the basics of telling the time, as well as common expressions and nuances that can help you navigate French conversations about time with confidence.
The French system for telling the time is straightforward, but it has specific rules and conventions. In formal settings, such as train schedules, businesses, and official announcements, the 24-hour clock is commonly used. In informal contexts, the 12-hour clock is used.
Telling the time
Hour
Heure
It is 1 o’clock
Il est une heure
Minutes
Minutes
It is 3:10
Il est trois heures dix
Half
Demie
It is 4:30
Il est quatre heures et demie
Quarter
Quart
It is 3:15
Il est trois heures et quart
Minus
Moins
It is 4:50
Il est cinq heures moins dix
In the morning
Du matin
It is 9 o’clock in the morning
Il est neuf heures du matin
In the afternoon
De l’après-midi
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon
Il est trois heures de l’après-midi
In the evening
Du soir
It is 8 o’clock in the evening
Il est huit heures du soir
Practice these words
Heure
Asking for the Time
What time is it?
Quelle heure est-il?
Do you have time?
Tu as l’heure?
At what time does the movie start?
À quelle heure commence le film?
Can you tell me the time?
Pouvez-vous me dire l’heure?
Do you know what time it is?
Est-ce que vous savez l’heure?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Excusez-moi, il est quelle heure?
Is it time to leave?
C’est l’heure de partir?
Practice these words
Quelle heure est-il?
Common Time-Related Expressions
Early
De bonne heure
We arrived early
Nous sommes arrivés de bonne heure
Late
En retard
I’m sorry, I’m late
Je suis désolé, je suis en retard
On time
À l’heure
The train arrived on time
Le train est arrivé à l’heure
Since
Depuis
I’ve been working here for three years
Je travaille ici depuis trois ans
For/during
Pendant
We traveled for two weeks
Nous avons voyagé pendant deux semaines
In
Dans
I’m leaving in five minutes
Je pars dans cinq minutes
Time flies
Le temps passe vite
To waste time
Perdre du temps
To save time
Gagner du temps
Practice these words
De bonne heure