Wondering how to get over the “What time is it?” question or answer in French? There are various ways of saying “What time is it?” French grammar can be very tricky. This article will guide you step by step in learning the differences. As you know, time is usually expressed on a 12-hour clock. It’s important to understand how to tell the time in French, especially if you are traveling or currently touring French-speaking countries. Knowing the fundamentals can most certainly give you the ease of mind you need.
How would you express Noon or Midnight? Midi (Noon) and Minuit (Midnight) for example.
Midi🎧 – Noon
Minuit🎧 – Midnight
Asking “What time is it?”, is a fundamental part of the learning curve. A great place to start is knowing French numbers and a few formulas.
Once you understand the numbers and formulas, it starts becoming easier and more fun to learn. Walk with us down this incredible article on Telling Time in French.
How to say “time” in French? 🕐
Time is such a beautiful word. It contains so much information that can be expressed in many ways. Let’s take a look at some of the beginner examples below.
Time as in instance. – la fois
I did it one time. – Je l’ai fait une fois.
Time as in a period of time – le temps
I spent some time here. – J’ai passé du temps ici.
Time as in telling time – l’heure
What time is it? – Quelle heure est-il ?
As you can see there are different ways of expressing what time you are referring to. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the examples and understand how to pronounce them. Note that the above is the generic definitions and may vary from time to time.
Quiz time! Question 1.
How would you go about asking a person in France for the current time?
A. Je l’ai fait une fois.
B. J’ai passé du temps ici.
C. Quelle heure est-il ?
How to say “what time is it” in French? 🗣️
What time is it? (Generic)
Quelle heure est-il? (French) – What time is it?
Please take note that the samples are all generic definitions.
What time is it? (Formal)
Understanding when and how to say “what time is it?” in a more formal approach can be achieved when saying it like this:
Est-ce que vous avez l’heure, s’il vous plaît?(French) – Do you have the time, please?
As mentioned the above can be used in a formal manner. This means asking a complete stranger for the time and not someone you know for years. This would be the correct way of saying “What time is it?”, if you are new to a foreign country and don’t know many people.
How to ask: When does the (event) start?
Indeed, this is again a completely new way of asking for a specific time. Perhaps you have a venue to attend and would like to know what time to be there or what time the event starts.
À quelle heure est le film?(French) – At what time is the movie?
To be (être) and To start (commencer) can be used as two different verbs.
Here are two example videos that could help you to conjugate the verbs.
If you are unsure of how to conjugate the verbs here are some more examples:
With the verb “commencer”:
À quelle heure commence le film? – What time starts the movie?
With the verb “être”:
À quelle heure être au cinéma? – What time to be at the movie?
Recap 1
| French Wording | English Translation | Audio |
| Je l’ai fait une fois. | I did it on time. | Je l’ai fait une fois. |
| J’ai passé du temps ici. | I spent some time here. | J’ai passé du temps ici. |
| Quelle heure est-il ? | What time is it? | Quelle heure est-il ? |
| Est-ce que vous avez l’heure, s’il vous plaît? | Do you have the time, please? | Est-ce que vous avez l’heure, s’il vous plaît? |
| À quelle heure est le film? | At what time is the movie? | À quelle heure est le film? |
| À quelle heure commence le film? | At what time does the movie start? | À quelle heure commence le film? |
| Quelle heure est le film? | What time is the movie? | Quelle heure est le film? |
Quiz time! Question 2.
What is the formal way of asking “What time is it?”.
A. Est-ce que vous avez l’heure, s’il vous plaît?
B. Quelle heure est-il?
C. À quelle heure est le film?
How to tell time? (Comment lire l’heure) 🇫🇷
What an achievement thus far for being able to now know how to say “What time is it?” in French. Congratulations. Très bien! – Very Good!
The information above needs to be understood and one must be able to answer the questions too right? Knowing French numbers is the next step in enabling you to discuss the time.
It’s part of the exciting learning process of adequately speaking in French.
Below is a quick video that allows you to listen to how the numbers are pronounced.
The formula for telling time is fairly easy. Here is a great example of a good structure.
Il est + number + heures ( Il est quatre heures – It’s four o’clock)
Attention: In irregular cases with “1” is feminine meaning “une” (il est une heure)
Recap 2 (1)
| French Wording | English Translation | Audio |
| Très bien | Very Good! | Très bien |
| unu | One | unu |
| deux | Two | deux |
| trois | Three | trois |
| quatre | Four | quatre |
| cinq | Five | cinq |
| six | Six | six |
| sept | Seven | sept |
| huit | Eight | huit |
| neuf | Nine | neuf |
| dix | Ten | dix |
| onze | Eleven | onze |
| douze | Twelve | douze |
| Il est quatre heures | It’s four o’clock | Il est quatre heures |
Quiz time! Question 3.
How would you tell someone it is “Seven o’clock” in French?
A. il est une heure
B. il est deux heure
C. il est sept heure
12h Clock vs 24h Clock
Although both express time, the 12-hour clock divides each day into two periods of 12 hours, while the 24-hour clock counts the full 24 hours of a day continuously.
With the 12-hour clock, you may need to clarify whether it’s 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. It could make a big difference! The French language use phrases to express the difference between morning (le matin), afternoon (l’après-midi), and evening/night (le soir).
du matin (in the morning or a.m.)
de l’après-midi (in the afternoon or p.m.)
du soir (in the evening/at night or p.m.)
Using the 24-hour clock is quite simple because all you do is add. There is no more moins le quart or et demie and so forth. The easiest way of remembering how to structure a 24-hour time-telling phrase is by adding heure at the end of the number.
08:00 (huit heure)
Recap 3 (1)
| French Wording | English Translation | Audio |
| du matin | in the morning or a.m | du matin |
| de l’après-midi | in the afternoon or p.m. | de l’après-midi |
| du soir | in the evening/at night or p.m. | du soir |
| huit heure | 08:00 (Eight o’clock) |
Quiz Time! Question 4.
What is the correct way of saying “in the afternoon” in French? (12-Hour)
A. treize heures
B. de l’après-midi
C. du matin
Time in French (Useful Phrases)
Here are some great phrases which can be used in different ways of telling and expressing time.
Phrases (1)
| French Wording | English Translation | Audio |
| le temps de la réflexion | time to think | le temps de la réflexion |
| diminuer le temps de travail | to reduce working hours | diminuer le temps de travail |
| avec le temps | with the passing of time | avec le temps |
| temps mort | a time-out | temps mort |
| il y a peu de temps | a little while ago | il y a peu de temps |
| en même temps | at the same time | en même temps |
| préparation cuisine | preparation time | préparation cuisine |
| un temps plein ou plein temps | a full-time job | un temps plein ou plein temps |
Quiz Time! Question 5.
How would you ask a store owner if there was a “full-time job”?
A: préparation cuisine
B: avec le temps
C: un temps plein ou plein temps
Conclusion
What have we learned? Well first off we can now tell the time in French and speak it. Not only that but the times of a day can be expressed in words, Afternoon to Morning. Understanding the difference between the word is crucial to speaking French. As I mentioned earlier, been able to elaborate the time of a show or been early to a venue.
Taking time to reflect on your day or asking for a time out at a soccer game. These are all great ways of expressing time in French and being able to understand the meanings and phrases.
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Quiz Answers
Quiz 1) Quelle heure est-il ?
Quiz 2) Est-ce que vous avez l’heure, s’il vous plaît?
Quiz 3) il est sept heure
Quiz 4) de l’après-midi
Quiz 5) un temps plein ou plein temps
