Learn to tell and understand time correctly in French.

If you thought that mastering English was already enough to grow professionally and dedicate yourself to what you love most, we are sorry to tell you that this is no longer the case. The world has reached such a level of globalization that the more languages we control, the better, always taking into account which are the most spoken and the most used in the sector we are focusing on. For example, in the field of business, without a doubt, one needs to speak English perfectly, French, and German, which are associated with the great European economic powers.

If our sights are set internationally, then it would also be advisable to start with Chinese, which is already the world's leading technological power... in short, as you can see, this language thing is starting to go from being an option to being an obligation.

But, let's focus on French, haven't you started basic French yet to be able to hold a conversation? Start right now in this post!

Would you know how to tell time in French? Learn this and many other everyday French phrases

To learn French well, like any other language, it is necessary to start by establishing the most basic knowledge and for the main objective to be adapting your ear to the most fundamental day-to-day conversations. For example, if you were traveling to Paris, would you know how to ask for the time in French, ask for an address, or order a menu?

Jot down the ten most useful phrases in French!

• Where is...? - Où est...? (For example, Where is the main street? - Où est la rue principale?)

• How much does this cost? - Combien ça coûte? (For example, How much does this book cost? - Combien coûte ce livre?)

• I don't understand - Je ne comprends pas

• Can you repeat, please? - Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît?

• Where is the bathroom? - Où sont les toilettes?

• I would like to reserve a table - Je voudrais réserver une table

• What do you recommend? - Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez?

• The check, please - L'addition, s'il vous plaît

• Can you help me? - Pouvez-vous m'aider?

• What time is it? - Quelle heure est-il?

How is the time written in French? Learn the hours, minutes, and fractions of the hour in French

• On the dot: "heure pile" or "heure exacte" (for example, "It's 3 on the dot" - "Il est trois heures pile").

• Quarter past: "et quart" (for example, "It's a quarter past 4" - "Il est quatre heures et quart").

• Half past: "et demie" (for example, "It's half past 5" - "Il est cinq heures et demie").

• Quarter to: "moins le quart" (for example, "It's a quarter to 6" - "Il est six heures moins le quart").

• Half to: "moins la demie" (for example, "It's half to 7" - "Il est sept heures moins la demie").

In addition to these expressions, the decimal fraction format can also be used to indicate the exact hours. For example, "It's 3:45" can be said "Il est trois heures quarante-cinq" or simply "Il est trois heures quarante-cinq minutes."

How to ask and tell the time in French?

Now that you know how to tell the time in French, learn how to ask for it as follows: Quelle heure est-il?

And how to give it this way: Il est... (whatever the hour is)

How is the date said in French?

To say the date in French, the following pattern is generally used: "jour (day) + mois (month) + année (year)". Below, I will show you some examples of how the date is said in French:

• July 6, 2023: "le 6 juillet 2023" (pronounced: "le sis juillet deux mille vingt-trois").
• March 21, 2024: "le 21 mars 2024" (pronounced: "le vingt et un mars deux mille vingt-quatre").
• December 9, 2025: "le 9 décembre 2025" (pronounced: "le neuf décembre deux mille vingt-cinq").

It is important to remember that in French the "day + month + year" format is used and each element is separated by spaces. Furthermore, the day is indicated in a cardinal number (1, 2, 3...) and the year is read in groups of two digits.

We hope this post has helped you refresh the most basic French knowledge you had saved since high school, now it's up to you to continue advancing in the world of languages to expand your opportunities to grow in the international framework or occupy the best positions in your sector.

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