Ways to say it
| French |
|---|
| combien de temps |
| pour combien de temps |
| depuis combien de temps |
| depuis quand |
The phrase combien de temps is used to ask about the total amount of time an event or process requires or lasts.
Which one should you use?
The various forms of "how long" change depending on whether you are focusing on the start of an action, the intended future duration or a specific point in time: * Use depuis combien de temps when asking about the duration of an action that started in the past and is still continuing. * Use pour combien de temps when asking about a planned or intended duration in the future. * Use depuis quand to ask for a specific starting point in time rather than a total duration.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The way you structure your question can signal how formal you want to be. In casual, spoken French, it is common to place combien de temps at the end of a sentence, such as in Ça prend combien de temps…? or Ça dure combien de temps…? To ask how long something lasts or takes in a formal manner, you can use Combien de temps dure…? or Pouvez-vous me dire combien de temps cela prend…? You may also use the formal phrase Quelle est la durée de…? to ask what the duration of something is. In an informal setting, you might also hear T'en as pour combien de temps…? when asking how much longer someone will be.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase combien de temps literally functions as "how much time" to ask about the total duration of a process or event.
Did you know?
- In French, the concept of 'time' temps is a homonym for 'weather'.
- When using depuis combien de temps, French speakers use the present tense for an action that started in the past, unlike the English present perfect.
- The word combien is actually a contraction of two words: comme and bien, literally meaning 'as well'.
Examples in context
- Combien de temps ça dure ?How long does it last?This sentence is useful for asking how long something lasts with combien de temps.Tatoeba #576479 by sacredceltic, translation #3378508 by hoffmania
- Combien de temps ça prend ?How long does it take?This sentence is useful for asking how long something takes with combien de temps.Tatoeba #576481 by sacredceltic, translation #36829 by CK
- Ça prend combien de temps ?How long does that take?Tatoeba #10491943 by lbdx, translation #7126302 by CM
- Excusez-moi, combien de temps dure la réunion ?Excuse me, how long does the meeting last?
- Quelle est la durée du spectacle de ce soir ?What is the duration of tonight's show?
- Ça prend combien de temps pour arriver chez toi ?How long does it take to get to your place?
- Ça dure combien de temps, le film que tu veux voir ?How long does the movie you want to watch last?
- Pouvez-vous me dire combien de temps cela prend pour visiter le musée ?Can you tell me how long it takes to visit the museum?
- 601 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are discussing a movie at the cinema.
- LéaCombien de temps dure ce film ?How long is this movie?
- LucasIl dure deux heures.It lasts two hours.
- LéaD'accord, on a le temps de manger avant.Okay, we have time to eat before.
- LucasOui, allons-y maintenant.Yes, let's go now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how long” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries combien, de, depuis, pour, quand, temps, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
