French · Time, Numbers & Colors
"What time is it?" in French: Quelle heure est-il ?
Quelle heure est-il ?
What time is it? in French is Quelle heure est-il ? A casual version is Il est quelle heure ? Answers start with Il est… plus the hour.
At a bus stop
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How to pronounce Quelle heure est-il ?
Say it
kell ur eh-TEEL
/kɛl œʁ ɛ.t‿il/
Quelle heure est-il sounds like kell ur eh-TEEL. Liaison links est and il. Soft r in heure.
"What time is it?" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Quelle heure est-il ? | What time is it? Standard polite question. | Standard polite question. |
| Il est quelle heure ? | What time is it? Very common spoken order. | Very common spoken order. |
| Tu as l'heure ? | Have you got the time? Casual ask. | Casual ask. |
| Il est deux heures. | It's two o'clock. Model answer shape. | Model answer shape. |
How to use Quelle heure est-il ? in real life
- 1At a bus stop
Pardon, quelle heure est-il ?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Full standard form.
- 2Texting a friend
Il est quelle heure chez toi ?
What time is it where you are?
Spoken word order.
- 3Before a meeting
Quelle heure est-il ? On commence bientôt.
What time is it? We're starting soon.
Space before ? in French.
Mistakes English speakers make with Quelle heure est-il ?
Incorrect: Quel heure est-il ?
Correct: Quelle heure est-il ?
Heure is feminine: quelle, not quel.
Incorrect: Quelle heure est-il.
Correct: Quelle heure est-il ?
It's a question — use the question mark (with a space before it).
Good to know
The 24-hour clock is common on tickets and schedules (14 h), while casual speech often stays with 2 heures de l'après-midi. Always leave a space before ? in French.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching a train
ChatPal
Quelle heure est-il ?
What time is it?
You
Il est presque midi.
It's almost noon.
ChatPal
Quelle heure est-il exactement sur ton téléphone ?
What time is it exactly on your phone?
You
Midi moins cinq. On accélère.
Five to noon. 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"What time is it?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What time is it?" in French
How do you ask the time in French?
Quelle heure est-il ?
Is there a casual form?
Il est quelle heure ? or Tu as l'heure ?
How do answers start?
Il est… (Il est trois heures).
Why quelle not quel?
Heure is feminine.
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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