French · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Clock" in French: horloge
l'horloge
Note: watch: la montre
Clock in French is l'horloge, feminine. A watch on your wrist is la montre. Une horloge is usually on a wall or tower.
In a classroom
L'horloge est en retard de cinq minutes.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce horloge
Say it
lor-LOZH
/ɔʁ.lɔʒ/
Horloge: or-LOZH. Silent h; ge like the s in measure. L'horloge sounds like lor-LOZH.
"Clock" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'horloge | the clock Wall or public clock. | Wall or public clock. |
| l'horloge murale | wall clock More specific. | More specific. |
| la montre | watch On the wrist. | On the wrist. |
| quelle heure est-il ? | what time is it? Asking the time. | Asking the time. |
How to use horloge in real life
- 1In a classroom
L'horloge est en retard de cinq minutes.
The clock is five minutes slow.
En retard = running late/slow.
- 2At the station
Regarde l'horloge : on a le temps.
Look at the clock: we have time.
Station clocks are common landmarks.
- 3Home DIY
On accroche l'horloge au-dessus de la porte.
We're hanging the clock above the door.
Accrocher = to hang up.
Mistakes English speakers make with horloge
Incorrect: Ma horloge de poignet.
Correct: Ma montre.
A wristwatch is une montre, not une horloge.
Incorrect: Le horloge.
Correct: L'horloge.
Use elision: l'horloge.
Good to know
Town squares often have a church or city-hall horloge everyone checks. For "what time is it?" you still ask quelle heure est-il ?, not "what does the clock say," though you might point at l'horloge.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Rushing for a train
ChatPal
L'horloge du quai indique 12 h 58.
The platform clock shows 12:58.
You
Le train part à 13 h. Dépêchons-nous !
The train leaves at 1. Let's hurry!
ChatPal
Cette horloge est juste, j'espère.
I hope this clock is right.
You
Moi aussi. Voie 3, vite.
Me too. Track 3, quick.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Clock" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Clock" in French
Horloge or montre?
Horloge for a clock; montre for a watch.
Gender of horloge?
Feminine: une horloge, l'horloge.
How do I ask the time?
Quelle heure est-il ?
How do you pronounce horloge?
Or-LOZH; l'horloge ≈ lor-LOZH.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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