Everything You Need to Know About Telling Time in French
Whether you’re catching a train, scheduling a meeting, or making dinner plans, telling time in French is an essential skill for daily communication. Unlike some complex French grammar rules, learning to express time is relatively straightforward—especially if you already know your French numbers.
At Learn Languages Store, we help language learners master practical and conversational French in an immersive way. This guide will break down how to express time in French, how to ask for the time, and key vocabulary to enhance your learning experience.
Table of Contents
- How to express the time in French
- How to ask for the time in French
- Important words for telling time in French
- How to use 12-hour and 24-hour time formats
- Essential tips for learning French faster
How to Express the Time in French
Understanding Different Words for “Time”
Before diving into time expressions, it’s important to know the different ways to say “time” in French. Unlike English, which uses “time” for almost everything, French has three different words depending on the context:
- Heure (l’heure – “hour/time”) → Used when asking or telling the specific time of day.
- Avez-vous l’heure ? → Do you have the time?
- C’est l’heure de partir. → It’s time to leave.
- Le temps (general “time”) → Used for an unspecified period or amount of time.
- Je n’ai pas beaucoup de temps. → I don’t have much time.
- Quand auras-tu le temps ? → When will you have time?
- Le moment (specific moment in time) → Used to refer to a particular point in time.
- C’est le bon moment ? → Is this the right time?
How to Ask for the Time in French
Asking the Current Time
If you need to ask someone for the time, use one of these common phrases:
✅ Formal:
- Avez-vous l’heure ? → Do you have the time?
✅ Informal:
- Quelle heure est-il ? (Kell air ay teel) → What time is it?
- Il est quelle heure ? (Eel ay kell air) → What time is it? (less formal)
Asking “At What Time?”
If you want to ask about the start or end time of an event, use à quelle heure:
- À quelle heure commence le film ? → What time does the movie start?
- Le magasin ferme à quelle heure ? → What time does the store close?
Important Words for Telling Time in French
Basic Time Vocabulary
Before forming complete sentences, you should be familiar with key French time-related words:
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| une heure | oon air | one o’clock |
| deux heures | duh zair | two o’clock |
| midi | mee-dee | noon |
| minuit | mee-nwee | midnight |
| matin | mah-tahn | morning |
| après-midi | ah-pray mee-dee | afternoon |
| soir | swar | evening/night |
How to Say the Time in French
To state the time, use il est (“it is”) followed by the hour and minutes:
✅ Basic structure:
- Il est [number] heure(s). → It is [number] o’clock.
✅ Examples:
- Il est une heure. → It is one o’clock.
- Il est trois heures. → It is three o’clock.
✅ Adding minutes:
- Il est cinq heures dix. → It is 5:10.
- Il est huit heures vingt-cinq. → It is 8:25.
✅ Using “quarter past” and “quarter to”:
- Il est sept heures et quart. → It is 7:15 (quarter past 7).
- Il est dix heures moins le quart. → It is 9:45 (quarter to 10).
✅ Using “half past”:
- Il est deux heures et demie. → It is 2:30 (half past 2).
✅ Using “minus” to express minutes before the next hour:
- Il est neuf heures moins dix. → It is 8:50 (ten to 9).
- Il est minuit moins vingt. → It is 11:40 (twenty to midnight).
12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Time Format in French
French-speaking countries generally use 24-hour time (military time) in formal situations, such as schedules and timetables. However, in everyday speech, they often use the 12-hour format with added phrases like du matin (morning), de l’après-midi (afternoon), or du soir (evening).
| 12-hour Time | 24-hour Time | English |
|---|---|---|
| six heures du matin | six heures | 6:00 AM |
| une heure de l’après-midi | treize heures | 1:00 PM |
| huit heures du soir | vingt heures | 8:00 PM |
✅ Tip: In spoken French, you can still use the 12-hour format, but when writing, especially in official documents, 24-hour time is preferred.
Essential Tips for Learning French Faster
At Learn Languages Store, we believe that the best way to learn French is through immersive and consistent practice. Here are some language learning tips to help you master time expressions and more:
1. Practice With Real-Life Scenarios
- Set your phone and watch to French time format.
- Ask a friend, “Quelle heure est-il?” at random times throughout the day.
2. Use Mnemonics and Flashcards
- Create flashcards with French numbers and time expressions.
- Use apps like Anki or Quizlet for spaced repetition learning.
3. Listen to French Audio Content
- Watch French TV shows or movies and focus on how time is expressed.
- Listen to French podcasts that discuss daily activities and schedules.
4. Speak With Native Speakers
- Join a French-speaking group or take classes at Learn Languages Store!
- Try Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition to improve your pronunciation.
Learn French Faster with Learn Languages Store!
You can ask “What time is it?” in French using:
Formal: Avez-vous l’heure? (Do you have the time?)
Casual: Quelle heure est-il? or Il est quelle heure? (What time is it?)
Half past: Il est deux heures et demie. (It is 2:30.)
Quarter past: Il est sept heures et quart. (It is 7:15.)
Quarter to: Il est dix heures moins le quart. (It is 9:45.)
The 12-hour format is commonly used in spoken French, often with du matin (AM), de l’après-midi (PM), or du soir (PM).
The 24-hour format is used in written schedules and official contexts (e.g., 14h30 instead of 2:30 PM).
At Learn Languages Store, we provide expert-led French courses that cater to learners of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your fluency, our structured programs will help you master time expressions and more.
📍 Visit Us At:
Learn Languages Store
330, 3rd floor, Big Splash, above Just in Time,
Juhu Nagar, Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400703
📞 Call Us: 9594113111
📩 Email Us: services@learnlanguages.store
Start your French learning journey with us today and gain the confidence to speak fluently! 🚀
