un quart
The English phrase "a quarter" is translated to French as un quart.
un quart refers to one part of something that has been divided into four equal portions. It is also commonly used when talking about time, as in the phrase un quart d'heure (a quarter of an hour).
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say "a quarter of" a specific noun, you use un quart de (or un quart d' before a vowel). However, if you are referring to a specific, previously mentioned whole, you should use the contracted articles du, de la or des instead.
When do people say it?
In informal contexts, French speakers often shorten the phrase un quart d'heure to just un quart when referring to a fifteen-minute period.
Did you know?
- In French, the term quartier is used for both a city neighborhood and a 'quarter' or slice of a fruit like an orange.
- In certain French maritime or technical contexts, un quart can refer to a specific watch or period of duty on a ship.
- The phrase faire le quart refers to a specific military or security duty of patrolling a specific sector, extending the idea of a divided area into a professional task.
Examples in context
- Marie a mangé un quart du gâteau.Mary ate a quarter of the cake.This sentence shows how to use un quart to describe a fraction of a cake.Tatoeba #2897252 by Amastan, translation #3746369 by zwhzwh
- Les écureuils ne retrouvent qu'un quart des noisettes qu'ils enterrent.Squirrels only find a quarter of the nuts that they bury.This sentence uses un quart to describe a fraction of a quantity of nuts.Tatoeba #5688131 by Yemana, translation #5688031 by Hybrid
- Comme à son habitude, il arriva un quart d'heure en retard.As is usual with him, he arrived a quarter of an hour late.This sentence illustrates the use of un quart when talking about a specific amount of time.Tatoeba #1819696 by sacredceltic, translation #284653 by CM
- Je voudrais un quart de litre de lait, s'il vous plaît.I would like a quarter liter of milk, please.
- La réunion commencera dans un quart d'heure.The meeting will start in a quarter of an hour.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are sharing a pizza.
- HugoTu veux combien de pizza, Manon ?How much pizza do you want, Manon?
- ManonJe vais prendre juste un quart.I will just take a quarter.
- HugoD'accord, je prends un quart aussi.Okay, I'll take a quarter too.
- ManonParfait, il en reste pour les autres.Perfect, there is some left for the others.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
