il est l'heure de se réveiller
The English phrase "time to wake up" is translated into French as il est l'heure de se réveiller.
This phrase is used to inform someone that it is the moment they should stop sleeping. If you want to command someone to wake up immediately rather than stating that it is the time to do so, use the imperative Réveille-toi !
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of il est (it is), l'heure (the hour/time), de (of) and the reflexive verb se réveiller (to wake oneself up).
Which one should you use?
In casual spoken French, C'est l'heure de se réveiller is a very common alternative to the more formal Il est l'heure de se réveiller.
Did you know?
- The word est in il est l'heure is a rare exception in French where the 's' remains visible in the spelling. While many words lost their internal 's' over centuries, est kept it to mirror its Latin ancestor, unlike the similar form êt which never took hold.
- While réveiller means 'to wake up', French has a distinct word éveiller used for the act of awakening someone's interest or curiosity.
- The word heure in il est l'heure performs double duty, referring to both the specific hour on a clock and the general abstract concept of 'time'.
Examples in context
- Vous êtes en retard. Il est temps de vous réveiller, monsieur.You are running late. It is time for you to wake up, sir.
- Allez, dépêche-toi ! Il est l'heure de se lever !Come on, hurry up! It's time to get up!
- Il est l'heure de se réveiller pour l'école.It is time to wake up for school.
- Vite, il est l'heure de se réveiller !Quick, it is time to wake up!
- Le soleil brille, il est l'heure de se réveiller.The sun is shining, it is time to wake up.
Example conversation
Nathan is trying to wake up Chloé on a Saturday morning.
- NathanChloé, il est l'heure de se réveiller.Chloé, it is time to wake up.
- ChloéEncore cinq minutes, s'il te plaît.Five more minutes, please.
- NathanNon, tu dois te lever maintenant.No, you must get up now.
- ChloéD'accord, je me lève.Okay, I am getting up.
