Telling Time in French Flashcards

Telling Time in French

• Basic Question: "What time is it?" translates to "Quelle heure est-il?"
• Midnight: "It is midnight" is "Il est minuit."
• O'clock Expressions:
  • "It is one o'clock" is "Il est une heure."
  • "It is two o'clock" is "Il est deux heures." (Notice the extra 's' in "deux heures.")
  • Continue in this pattern up to "Il est onze heures" for eleven o'clock.

Special Times

• Midday: "It is midday" is "Il est midi."
• Half Past:
  • "It is half past two" is "Il est deux heures et demie."
  • "It is half past midnight" translates to "Il est minuit et demi."
  • "It is half past midday" translates to "Il est midi et demi."

Quarters

• Quarter Past:
  • "It is quarter past three" is "Il est trois heures et quart."
• Quarter To:
  • "It is quarter to five" is "Il est cinq heures moins le quart."

Time Modifiers

• "Half past" is expressed as "et demi(e)."
• "Quarter past" is noted as "et quart."
• "Quarter to" is expressed as "moins le quart."

Expressing Minutes Past the Hour

• "It is ten past six" translates to "Il est six heures dix."
• "It is twenty to eight" translates to "Il est huit heures moins vingt."

Distinguishing Between AM and PM

• "It is one o'clock (a.m.)" can be stated as "Il est une heure du matin."
• "It is one o'clock (p.m.)" translates to "Il est une heure de l'après-midi."
• "It is eight o'clock (p.m.)" is "Il est huit heures du soir."

24-hour Clock

• "It is one o'clock, it is 13.00 hours" translates to "Il est treize heures."
• "It is five o'clock, it is 17.00 hours" is "Il est dix-sept heures."

Usage of Prepositions

• The preposition "à" is used for specific times, as in "at nine o'clock" -> "à neuf heures."