Updated January 18, 2026 with newly added audio — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
Knowing how to tell time in French is essential for daily life — meeting friends, catching trains, making appointments, or arriving on time. In this lesson, you’ll learn the most natural ways French speakers tell the time, with native audio and clear tips that make it easier than you think.
👉 Quelle heure est-il ? — What time is it
👉 Il est une heure — It is one o’clock
👉 Il est deux heures — It is two o’clock
👉 Il est midi — It is noon
👉 Il est minuit — It is midnight
👉 Il est quinze heures — It is three p.m.
👉 Il est dix-huit heures — It is six p.m.
⏰ How to tell time in French
How to ask the time in French
The most common way to ask the time is:
👉 Quelle heure est-il ? — What time is it?
Other common spoken options:
👉 Il est quelle heure ? (informal)
👉 Vous avez l’heure ? (polite, spoken)
The basic structure (this never changes)
In French, you always use:
Il est + heure(s)
Examples:
👉 Il est une heure. → It’s 1:00
👉 Il est deux heures. → It’s 2:00
👉 Il est cinq heures. → It’s 5:00
⚠️ You must say heure(s).
You cannot say “It’s five” in French.
Noon and midnight
French does not say twelve o’clock here.
👉 Il est midi. → It’s noon
👉 Il est minuit. → It’s midnight
That’s it. No douze heures.
Minutes past the hour (spoken French)
French still uses a few classic expressions:
- et quart → :15
👉 Il est trois heures et quart. - et demie → :30
👉 Il est six heures et demie. - moins le quart → :45
👉 Il est cinq heures moins le quart.
These are common in spoken French, especially with the 12-hour clock.
🔑 The 24-hour clock — use my tips
This is how French people actually avoid confusion.
Instead of saying “5 p.m.”, they say:
👉 Il est dix-sept heures. → 5:00 p.m.
👉 Il est dix-huit heures. → 6:00 p.m.
👉 Il est vingt heures. → 8:00 p.m.
No a.m., no p.m., no guessing.
👉 Il est treize heures — It’s one p.m.
👉 Il est dix-sept heures — It’s five p.m.
👉 Il est vingt heures — It’s eight p.m.
👉 Il est vingt-trois heures — It’s eleven p.m.
💡 Many students struggle with the 24-hour clock. Here’s a simple tip.
Picture a round clock and focus on 3, 6, and 9. Now replace them with 15, 18, and 21. These are your anchor hours.
Once you know them, just add or subtract 1 for nearby hours.
👉 Example: 7 p.m. = 19h00 (18h00 + 1).
You must know the numbers to say the time in French.
👉 See also: French numbers 1-100 (with audio) »
Need more help?
If you’d like more guided listening practice, I also recommend À Moi Paris, an online French course I’ve personally reviewed and used with students. The lessons focus on real spoken French with clear, natural audio recorded at multiple speeds.
👉 Learn more about À Moi Paris »
If you purchase the course, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Telling Time In French — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do you ask the time in French?
The most common way to ask the time in French is Quelle heure est-il ?
In everyday speech, you’ll also hear Il est quelle heure ? (informal) and Vous avez l’heure ? (polite, spoken French).
Do you always say “il est” when telling time in French?
Yes. When telling the time in French, you always use il est + heure(s).
French does not drop the word heure the way English drops “o’clock.”
How do you say noon and midnight in French?
French does not say “twelve o’clock” for these times.
Instead, you say il est midi (noon) and il est minuit (midnight).
How do you say times like 3:15 or 5:45 in French?
In spoken French, you’ll often hear:
et quart for :15
et demie for :30
moins le quart for :45
For example, il est cinq heures moins le quart means 4:45.
Do French people use the 24-hour clock?
Yes. In daily life, French speakers commonly use the 24-hour clock to avoid confusion, especially for schedules, travel, and appointments.
Instead of saying “5 p.m.”, they say il est dix-sept heures.
Why is audio important when learning to tell time in French?
Hearing native audio helps you learn natural pronunciation and rhythm. This lesson includes audio by Marie Assel Cambier with explanations by French teacher David Issokson.
