heure du coucher
feminine
The English phrase 'bedtime' can be translated into French as heure du coucher. Wiktionary also lists dodo.
Meaning: time when one goes to bed to sleep (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| heure du coucher | feminine | |
| dodo | /do.do/ | masculine |
The term is used to describe the time when one goes to bed to sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase heure du coucher literally translates to 'hour of the lying down'.
Which one should you use?
Heure du coucher is the standard way to refer to bedtime. In contrast, dodo is a childish term used primarily with very young children, similar to saying 'night-night' or 'sleepy-bye' in English. In a domestic setting with children, you might also hear the informal phrase l'heure du dodo to mean 'the bedtime'.
How does it change in a sentence?
heure du coucher is a feminine noun. dodo is a masculine noun.
Did you know?
- French uses the same root for 'bedtime' as it does for the setting sun, as coucher le soleil means the sun is setting.
- The word coucher is a doublet of the French word colloquer, meaning 'to confer' or 'to talk'.
- In many French-speaking households, parents might not use a noun for 'bedtime' at all, but instead use the verb 'se coucher' to turn the action into a command.
Examples in context
- Je dois m'excuser, mais il est l'heure du coucher, donc je dois y aller.I must apologize, but it's bedtime, so I have to go.
- L'heure du coucher approche.Bedtime is approaching.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are discussing their children's schedule.
- NathanLéa, quelle est l'heure du coucher du petit ?Léa, what is the little one's bedtime?
- LéaC'est normalement à vingt et une heures.It is normally at 9 p.m.
- NathanC'est un peu tard pour un enfant.That is a bit late for a child.
- LéaJe vais avancer l'heure du coucher demain.I will move bedtime earlier tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bedtime” translations and entries dodo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coucher, dodo, du, heure, CC BY-SA 4.0.
