une heure et demie
In French, une heure et demie is the way to say half past one.
The phrase is used to indicate the time, specifically one-thirty or half past one. Depending on the context of the sentence, it can also mean 'one and a half hours'.
Meaning: "half past one" as example of usage in other languages (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The part et demie literally means 'and a half'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word demie is in the feminine singular form to agree with the feminine noun heure. This agreement remains the same even when expressing half past any hour from 2 to 12, such as in deux heures et demie.
Did you know?
- The word heure shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'year', as both stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'season' or 'time'.
- French speakers rarely use a 12-hour clock in official contexts, so une heure et demie is often replaced by treize heures trente in airports or train stations.
- In French, you must use the feminine demie to match heure, but if you were talking about a half-hour as a duration, you might use the masculine demi.
Examples in context
- Il est une heure et demie.It's half past one.Tatoeba #7957305 by Micsmithel, translation #3550808 by adamtrousers
- La nuit dernière, ma fille n'est pas rentrée à la maison avant une heure et demie.Last night my daughter didn't come home until half past one.Tatoeba #838518 by sacredceltic, translation #838509 by CM
- Le rendez-vous est à une heure et demie.The appointment is at half past one.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are checking the time at a cafe.
- NathanQuelle heure est-il, Chloé ?What time is it, Chloé?
- ChloéIl est une heure et demie.It is half past one.
- NathanD'accord, nous sommes en retard.Okay, we are late.
- ChloéNe t'inquiète pas, Nathan.Don't worry, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “half past” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries et, heure, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
