vingt minutes
In French, the phrase for twenty minutes is vingt minutes.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the number vingt (twenty) and the noun minutes (minutes).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of France, particularly in Paris, speakers may use vingt minutes pile to emphasize that they mean exactly twenty minutes.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the number is greater than one, the noun minutes must be in its plural form.
Did you know?
- French conceptualizes the number 80 not as a unique word but as quatre-vingts, which literally translates to 'four twenties'.
- While English speakers use 'twenty minutes' to describe a duration, a French person might say moins vingt to describe a specific time. This translates to 'twenty less' and refers to twenty minutes before the next hour.
- The spelling of vingt includes a 'g' that was actually lost in the pronunciation for centuries. It was only reintroduced in Middle French to reflect its Latin origins, even though it is not pronounced.
Examples in context
- La récréation dure vingt minutes.Break lasts for twenty minutes.This sentence shows how to state the duration of a break using vingt minutes.Tatoeba #11915926 by lbdx, translation #11913533 by sundown
- Puis-je te rappeler dans vingt minutes ?Can I call you back in twenty minutes?This sentence uses vingt minutes to indicate a time delay for a return call.Tatoeba #10044 by TRANG, translation #72951 by CK
- Je peux te rappeler d'ici vingt minutes ?Can I call you back within twenty minutes?This sentence uses vingt minutes to express a window of time within which a call will be made.Tatoeba #9075102 by lbdx, translation #663926 by bluepie88
- Je serai prêt dans vingt minutes.I will be ready in twenty minutes.
- La conférence commence dans une vingtaine de minutes.The conference starts in about twenty minutes.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are waiting for a train.
- EmmaLe train arrive dans vingt minutes.The train arrives in twenty minutes.
- GabrielC'est parfait, on a le temps.That's perfect, we have time.
- EmmaTu veux prendre un café, Gabriel ?Do you want to grab a coffee, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, bonne idée.Yes, good idea.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vingt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
