When you start learning French, knowing how to tell time isn’t just about numbers on a clock. It’s key to getting a real sense of everyday life and culture in French-speaking places. They often use a 24-hour clock format, which might be new to you. Also, phrases like ‘quart,’ ‘demi,’ and ‘moins’ add a layer of detail. Understanding these terms is crucial in social and work situations. So, why is telling time in French special? Let’s dive into those unique aspects.
Learning the Basics of Telling Time in French
Vocabulary for Hours and Minutes
When learning to tell time in French, it’s crucial to know the words for ‘hour’ and ‘minute’—heure and minute. Unlike some places that use a 12-hour clock, France operates on a 24-hour system. This means you should get comfortable with numbers from zero (zéro) to twenty-three (vingt-trois). When you need to say the exact time, just put the hours and minutes together. Say Il est trois heures vingt for 3:20. And remember, for one o’clock, you say Il est une heure. Getting these basics down is key for smooth communication in French settings.
Hours
| French | English |
| une heure | one hour |
| deux heures | two hours |
| trois heures | three hours |
| quatre heures | four hours |
| cinq heures | five hours |
| six heures | six hours |
| sept heures | seven hours |
| huit heures | eight hours |
| neuf heures | nine hours |
| dix heures | ten hours |
| onze heures | eleven hours |
| douze heures | twelve hours |
| treize heures | thirteen hours |
| quatorze heures | fourteen hours |
| quinze heures | fifteen hours |
| seize heures | sixteen hours |
| dix-sept heures | seventeen hours |
| dix-huit heures | eighteen hours |
| dix-neuf heures | nineteen hours |
| vingt heures | twenty hours |
| vingt et une heures | twenty-one hours |
| vingt-deux heures | twenty-two hours |
| vingt-trois heures | twenty-three hours |
| vingt-quatre heures | twenty-four hours |
Minutes
| French | English |
| une minute | one minute |
| deux minutes | two minutes |
| trois minutes | three minutes |
| quatre minutes | four minutes |
| cinq minutes | five minutes |
| six minutes | six minutes |
| sept minutes | seven minutes |
| huit minutes | eight minutes |
| neuf minutes | nine minutes |
| dix minutes | ten minutes |
| onze minutes | eleven minutes |
| douze minutes | twelve minutes |
| treize minutes | thirteen minutes |
| quatorze minutes | fourteen minutes |
| quinze minutes | fifteen minutes |
| seize minutes | sixteen minutes |
| dix-sept minutes | seventeen minutes |
| dix-huit minutes | eighteen minutes |
| dix-neuf minutes | nineteen minutes |
| vingt minutes | twenty minutes |
| vingt et une minutes | twenty-one minutes |
| vingt-deux minutes | twenty-two minutes |
| vingt-trois minutes | twenty-three minutes |
| vingt-quatre minutes | twenty-four minutes |
| vingt-cinq minutes | twenty-five minutes |
| vingt-six minutes | twenty-six minutes |
| vingt-sept minutes | twenty-seven minutes |
| vingt-huit minutes | twenty-eight minutes |
| vingt-neuf minutes | twenty-nine minutes |
| trente minutes | thirty minutes |
| trente et une minutes | thirty-one minutes |
| trente-deux minutes | thirty-two minutes |
| trente-trois minutes | thirty-three minutes |
| trente-quatre minutes | thirty-four minutes |
| trente-cinq minutes | thirty-five minutes |
| trente-six minutes | thirty-six minutes |
| trente-sept minutes | thirty-seven minutes |
| trente-huit minutes | thirty-eight minutes |
| trente-neuf minutes | thirty-nine minutes |
| quarante minutes | forty minutes |
| quarante et une minutes | forty-one minutes |
| quarante-deux minutes | forty-two minutes |
| quarante-trois minutes | forty-three minutes |
| quarante-quatre minutes | forty-four minutes |
| quarante-cinq minutes | forty-five minutes |
| quarante-six minutes | forty-six minutes |
| quarante-sept minutes | forty-seven minutes |
| quarante-huit minutes | forty-eight minutes |
| quarante-neuf minutes | forty-nine minutes |
| cinquante minutes | fifty minutes |
| cinquante et une minutes | fifty-one minutes |
| cinquante-deux minutes | fifty-two minutes |
| cinquante-trois minutes | fifty-three minutes |
| cinquante-quatre minutes | fifty-four minutes |
| cinquante-cinq minutes | fifty-five minutes |
| cinquante-six minutes | fifty-six minutes |
| cinquante-sept minutes | fifty-seven minutes |
| cinquante-huit minutes | fifty-eight minutes |
| cinquante-neuf minutes | fifty-nine minutes |
Also Read: Drinks In French: Words And Phrases For Beverages
How to Ask for the Time?
When you’re learning to tell time in French, it’s important to know how to ask for the time politely. The most common way to do this is to ask, ‘Quelle heure est-il, s’il vous plaît?’ This means ‘What time is it, please?’ and works well in both formal and casual situations.
If you’re talking with friends or in a relaxed setting, you might say, ‘Il est quelle heure?’ or even more casually, ‘T’as l’heure?’ Each way of asking is polite but fits different levels of formality. Knowing these phrases helps you communicate clearly and shows you respect the rules of the French language.
| French | English |
| Quelle heure est-il ? | What time is it? |
| Vous avez l’heure ? | Do you have the time? |
| Pouvez-vous me dire l’heure, s’il vous plaît ? | Can you tell me the time, please? |
| Il est quelle heure ? | What time is it? (informal) |
| À quelle heure commence… ? | At what time does… start? |
| À quelle heure finit… ? | At what time does… end? |
| Tu as l’heure ? | Do you have the time? (informal) |
| Peux-tu me dire l’heure, s’il te plaît ? | Can you tell me the time, please? (informal) |
Also Read: Sorry In French: Unique Ways To Apologize In French
Conclusion
In short, learning how to tell time in French is key if you’re starting out and want to get better at chatting in French. It helps with everyday conversations and when you’re traveling. Plus, it connects you more deeply with the culture. Once you get the hang of saying the hours and minutes, you’ll find it easier to fit in and enjoy your time in places where French is spoken. This makes your whole experience in the French-speaking world much richer. Keep visiting the Translation Blog for more translations and learn more languages!
