Telling Time
A1
How to tell and ask the time in French: hours, half past, quarter
Asking the Time
- Quelle heure est-il ? — What time is it? (formal)
- Il est quelle heure ? — What time is it? (informal/spoken)
On the Hour
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il est une heure. | It's 1 o'clock. (the only hour that uses une) |
| Il est deux heures. | It's 2 o'clock. |
| Il est midi. | It's noon (12 PM). |
| Il est minuit. | It's midnight (12 AM). |
Note: midi and minuit are never followed by heures.
Half Past and Quarter
| French | Time |
|---|---|
| Il est trois heures et quart. | 3:15 |
| Il est trois heures et demie. | 3:30 |
| Il est quatre heures moins le quart. | 3:45 |
Minutes
| Time | French | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 3:10 | trois heures dix | Add minutes directly |
| 3:20 | trois heures vingt | Add minutes directly |
| 3:35 | quatre heures moins vingt-cinq | Next hour minus remaining minutes |
| 3:40 | quatre heures moins vingt | Next hour minus 20 |
| 3:50 | quatre heures moins dix | Next hour minus 10 |
Rule: For 1-30 minutes past the hour, add the minutes (heures + minutes). For 31-59, subtract from the next hour (next hour + moins + remaining minutes).
The 24-Hour Clock
In everyday conversation, the 12-hour clock is used. However, in formal contexts (train stations, airports, broadcasts, schedules), France uses the 24-hour clock:
- 13h00 = treize heures
- 15h30 = quinze heures trente
- 20h45 = vingt heures quarante-cinq
Exam tip: TCF listening sections often use the 24-hour format. Practice converting quickly: subtract 12 for hours after noon (e.g., 15h = 3 PM).
Useful Time Vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| du matin | in the morning (AM) |
| de l'après-midi | in the afternoon (PM) |
| du soir | in the evening (PM) |
| tôt | early |
| tard | late |
| à l'heure | on time |
| en retard | late (behind schedule) |
| en avance | early (ahead of schedule) |