emploi du temps
/ɑ̃.plwa dy tɑ̃/
To say schedule in French, use emploi du temps. It is the usual word for a personal plan of activities over the day or week. If unsure, use emploi du temps. Wiktionary also lists planning and horaire.
Meaning: a procedural plan, usually but not necessarily tabular in nature, indicating a sequence of operations and the planned times at which those operations are to occur (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| emploi du temps | /ɑ̃.plwa dy tɑ̃/ | |
| planning | /pla.niŋ/ | masculine |
| horaire | /ɔ.ʁɛʁ/ | masculine |
| ordonnancement | /ɔʁ.dɔ.nɑ̃s.mɑ̃/ | masculine |
emploi du temps is used for a person's routine, such as a student's class schedule or an employee's working week.
Which one should you use?
horaire is for the times something happens, such as a bus timetable or opening hours. planning is common at work for a plan of tasks or shifts. ordonnancement is a technical term for the scheduling of operations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Grille horaire is used for a TV or radio schedule.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
planning, horaire and ordonnancement are masculine. To make a schedule is planifier, and to schedule something for a set time is programmer or prévoir.
How do you pronounce it?
In emploi du temps both em and temps have a nasal vowel, and the final letters of temps are silent.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the English word schedule in French. Say emploi du temps or planning.
Did you know?
- The term emploi du temps literally translates to 'employment of time'. It is the standard way to describe a student's or worker's routine.
- The word planning is actually a 'pseudo-anglicism' used in French. Although it looks exactly like the English word, it is used to describe a sequence of tasks or shifts rather than the act of designing a long-term strategy.
- If you want to say you are scheduling a specific event for a certain time, you might use the verb programmer, which is the same word used in French to talk about computer programming.
Examples in context
- J'ai un horaire chargé.I have a tight schedule.un horaire chargé means a busy schedule.Tatoeba #1838893 by sacredceltic, translation #1837861 by Spamster
- Il a un horaire chargé.He has a tight schedule.The same expression with he as the subject.Tatoeba #1838898 by sacredceltic, translation #1837857 by Spamster
- Il n'y a pas d'horaire.There is no schedule.Il n'y a pas d'horaire means there is no timetable.Tatoeba #7839225 by sacredceltic, translation #4501948 by CK
- Quel est le programme de la conférence?What is the schedule/program of the conference?
- L'horaire indique que le prochain train partira à 10 heures.The schedule indicates that the next train will leave at 10 o'clock.
- Peux-tu me donner le calendrier des réunions?Can you give me the schedule of the meetings?
- On fait quoi aujourd'hui? Quel est le planning?What are we doing today? What's the schedule?
- Mon emploi du temps est très chargé cette semaine.My schedule is very busy this week.
- Regardons la grille horaire des émissions ce soir.Let's check the TV schedule for tonight.
- As-tu déjà consulté l'agenda pour notre réunion?Have you already looked at the schedule for our meeting?
- Le rendez-vous est prévu pour le 10 mai à 15 heuresThe appointment is scheduled for May 10th at 3 o'clock
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are discussing their university classes.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu as ton emploi du temps ?Do you have your schedule?
- NathanOui, mais mon emploi du temps est très chargé.Yes, but my schedule is very busy.
- ChloéMoi aussi, je n'ai pas de pause.Me too, I have no break.
- NathanC'est difficile pour nous cette année.It is difficult for us this year.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “schedule” translations and entries emploi du temps, planning, horaire, ordonnancement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, emploi, horaire, ordonnancement, planning, temps, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
