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
| English | French with pronunciation |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Asking for the Time
| English | French with pronunciation |
|---|---|
| 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? |
Common Time-Related Expressions
French is rich with idiomatic expressions related to time.
| English | French with pronunciation |
|---|---|
| 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 |