French · Time, Numbers & Colors
"On time" in French: à l'heure
à l'heure
On time in French is à l'heure — heure is its own word after l'. Arrive à l'heure; le train est à l'heure means the train is on time.
Train board
Bonne nouvelle : le TGV est à l'heure.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce à l'heure
Say it
ah LUHR
/a lœʁ/
À: ah. L'heure: LUHR. Soft h; say ah LUHR as a unit.
"On time" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| à l'heure | on time Default. | Default. |
| arriver à l'heure | to arrive on time With verb. | With verb. |
| pile à l'heure | right on time Exact. | Exact. |
| en retard | late Opposite. | Opposite. |
How to use à l'heure in real life
- 1Train board
Bonne nouvelle : le TGV est à l'heure.
Good news: the TGV is on time.
Heure as own word.
- 2Meeting reminder
Sois à l'heure, le client attend.
Be on time; the client is waiting.
Imperative feel.
- 3Theater doors
On est à l'heure pour le spectacle.
We're on time for the show.
Event.
Mistakes English speakers make with à l'heure
Incorrect: À lheure (missing apostrophe).
Correct: À l'heure.
Write l'heure with an apostrophe.
Incorrect: À l'horaire.
Correct: À l'heure.
On time is à l'heure, not à l'horaire.
Good to know
French official culture values à l'heure for trains and appointments; social dinners can run later. Announcements say en retard or à l'heure on station boards.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Rushing to a concert
ChatPal
On sera à l'heure ?
Will we be on time?
You
Si on part maintenant, on est à l'heure.
If we leave now, we're on time.
ChatPal
Le métro est à l'heure ce soir.
The metro is on time tonight.
You
Alors on file.
Then let's hurry.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"On time" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "On time" in French
How do you say on time in French?
À l'heure.
How do you say late?
En retard.
Must heure appear as its own word?
Yes — à l'heure, not a fused form.
How do you pronounce l'heure?
LUHR.
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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