En quelle année sommes-nous
The English phrase "what year it is" is translated into French as En quelle année sommes-nous.
This phrase is used to ask for the current calendar year. When stating the year in response, use cardinal numbers, such as deux mille vingt-trois for 2023.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase En quelle année sommes-nous literally translates to "In which year are we".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more common and informal way to ask the same question in spoken French, you can use On est en quelle année ? Additionally, if you want to state the year informally, you can use On est en [year].
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb être (to be) conjugated in the first-person plural nous form to express the current time or date.
When do people say it?
A standard way to respond to this question is to use the structure Nous sommes en [année] or the informal On est en [year].
Did you know?
- The word année likely comes from a Vulgar Latin term meaning 'a crop' or 'a vintage', suggesting that a year was originally measured by the harvest.
- While the phrase uses année for the current calendar year, French speakers use the word an when stating a person's age, such as J'ai vingt ans.
- The word année implies a completed duration or a cycle, whereas the word an is often used for a specific point in time or an age.
Examples in context
- On est en 2023.We are in 2023.
- Excusez-moi, en quelle année sommes-nous déjà ?Excuse me, what year is it again?
Example conversation
A student and a teacher are looking at a calendar in a classroom.
- HugoEn quelle année sommes-nous ?What year is it?
- LéaNous sommes en 2024.We are in 2024.
- HugoAh, je pensais que c'était 2023.Ah, I thought it was 2023.
- LéaNon, l'année est déjà bien avancée.No, the year is already well underway.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries année, en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
