heure du thé
The English phrase "tea time" is translated into French as heure du thé.
The phrase is used to describe the time of day when tea is traditionally served and drunk.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase heure du thé literally translates to "hour of the tea".
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the tea time as a specific concept or event, use the definite article l'heure du thé.
When do people say it?
While heure du thé describes the concept of tea time, French children and families more commonly use the term le goûter to refer to the specific mid-afternoon snack time.
Did you know?
- While heure du thé is a literal translation, the cultural heart of mid-afternoon snacking in France is le goûter. This tradition is so ingrained that it is often treated as a mandatory fourth meal for children.
- The French word thé was borrowed from the Dutch word 'thee', which itself came from the Hokkien Chinese word tê. This makes it a linguistic relative of the English word 'chai'.
- In France, le goûter is frequently accompanied by a piece of baguette with chocolate or a tartine, rather than a formal set of tea leaves and a pot.
Examples in context
- Avec plaisir! J'amènerai des petits gâteaux pour accompagner notre tea time.Certainly! I'll bring some cakes to accompany our tea time.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are sitting in a cozy living room.
- ChloéNathan, est-ce l'heure du thé ?Nathan, is it tea time?
- NathanOui, Chloé, c'est l'heure du thé.Yes, Chloé, it is tea time.
- ChloéParfait, je vais préparer l'eau.Perfect, I will prepare the water.
- NathanMerci, c'est très gentil.Thank you, that is very kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, heure, thé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
