1. Home
  2. Education
  3. French Language

Telling Time in French - L'Heure

Telling time in French is just a matter of knowing the numbers and a few formulas.

What time is it?

Quelle heure est-il ?

It's one o'clockIl est une heure 1h00
It's two o'clockIl est deux heures 2h00
It's 3:30Il est trois heures et demie
Il est trois heures trente
3h30
It's 4:15Il est quatre heures et quart
Il est quatre heures quinze
4h15
It's 4:45Il est cinq heures moins le quart
Il est cinq heures moins quinze
Il est quatre heures quarante-cinq
4h45
It's 5:10Il est cinq heures dix 5h10
It's 6:50Il est sept heures moins dix
Il est six heures cinquante
6h50
It's 7amIl est sept heures du matin 7h00
It's 3pmIl est trois heures de l'après-midi
Il est quinze heures
15h00
It's 6pmIl est six heures du soir
Il est dix-huit heures
18h00
It's noonIl est midi 12h00
It's midnightIl est minuit 0h00

Notes

The French don't have words for "a.m." and "p.m." You can use "du matin" for a.m., "de l'après-midi" from noon until 6p.m., and "du soir" from 6p.m. until midnight, but time is usually expressed on a 24-hour clock. Thus 3pm would be translated as quinze heures or 15h00.

In French, you have to say "heure" (except with midi and minuit), even though in English "o'clock" is often left out. In addition, the French hour and minute are separate by h (for heure) where in English we use :

  

Practice! Telling Time in French

Related Lessons

  

You are here: Learn French --> French for Beginners --> French Vocabulary --> Time

French for Beginners
Email Course

Sign up for my free, weekly French for Beginners email course to learn basic French grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Subscribe here

 

The free, twice-weekly About French Language newsletter keeps you informed about changes to this site, including new lessons, learning tips, and forum discussions. Subscribe today!

Subscribe to the Newsletter
Name
Email

Explore French Language

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. French Language

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.