l'heure
In French, l'heure is the phrase used for the English phrase "the hour", referring to the specific time of day as shown on a clock.
l'heure is used to refer to the specific time. To ask for the current time, use the standard question Quelle heure est-il ? When stating the time, the most common way to say "It is…" is by using Il est… followed by a number and heures. For example, to express specific parts of an hour, you can use …et quart for "a quarter past", …et demie for "half past", and …moins le quart for "a quarter to". In formal settings, French speakers typically use the 24-hour clock.
What does it mean word for word?
The form l'heure is a contraction of the feminine noun heure and the definite article la due to elision.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the informal …et d'mi is used instead of …et demie.
How does it change in a sentence?
While l'heure uses the definite article to refer to the time, the phrase une heure is used when you want to count a specific duration of sixty minutes.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use Il est l'heure to mean "It is [a specific] time". In French, the phrase Il est l'heure specifically means "It is time (to do something)".
Did you know?
- The word heure is a direct descendant of the Latin word hora, which in turn came from the Greek hōra meaning 'season' or 'time of day'.
- The French expression à l'heure does not just mean 'at the hour', but specifically means 'on time'.
- In France, you will see the 24-hour clock used for almost all official schedules, including trains, cinema screenings and television programs.
Examples in context
- Il est maintenant l'heure.The hour is now.This sentence shows how to say that the time has come.Tatoeba #6579175 by GB3, translation #6577507 by Eccles17
- On loue les bateaux à l'heure.You can rent a boat by the hour.This sentence demonstrates renting something by the hour using l'heure.Tatoeba #1450173 by sacredceltic, translation #1449317 by CK
- J'ai loué un bateau à l'heure.I hired a boat by the hour.This sentence demonstrates hiring something by the hour using l'heure.Tatoeba #1461395 by sacredceltic, translation #258115 by sundown
- Il est six heuresIt is six o'clock
- Il est neuf heuresIt is nine o'clock
- Il est onze heures et vingtIt is eleven twenty
- Il est deux heures et quartIt is two fifteen
- Il est quatre heures et demieIt is four thirty
- Il est sept heures moins le quartIt is a quarter to seven
- Quatre heuresFour o'clock
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are meeting at a cafe.
- EmmaQuelle heure est-il ?What time is it?
- NathanJe ne connais pas l'heure.I don't know the time.
- EmmaRegarde l'heure sur ton téléphone.Check the time on your phone.
- NathanAh, il est déjà midi !Ah, it is already noon!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
