How to Ask When a Bus or Train Leaves in French
Learn to ask what time the next bus or train leaves in French, understand schedule responses, and distinguish departure time from arrival time.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If you need to catch a bus or train in a French-speaking place, the key question is not when it arrives, but when it leaves. In this lesson you will learn to ask 'What time does the next bus leave?' and understand simple schedule answers. You will also learn to avoid confusing departure time with arrival time, so you can plan your trip with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask what time the next bus or train leaves in French.
- understand and respond to simple departure time information.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
À quelle heure part le prochain bus ?
What time does the next bus leave?
ah kel uhr pahr luh pro-shan booss
Standard polite question. Use 'part' for a bus that leaves. 'Prochain' means next.
À quelle heure part le prochain train ?
What time does the next train leave?
ah kel uhr pahr luh pro-shan tran
Same pattern, but with 'train'. The final 'n' in 'train' is nasal, not pronounced as a hard n.
Le bus part à huit heures.
The bus leaves at eight o'clock.
luh booss pahr ah wee tuhr
A simple statement of departure time. 'Heures' is pronounced 'uhr' but links with the number.
Le train part dans dix minutes.
The train leaves in ten minutes.
luh tran pahr dahn dee mee-noot
Use 'dans' + time to say 'in' a certain amount of time from now.
Il part à quelle heure ?
What time does it leave?
eel pahr ah kel uhr
Use 'il' for a masculine noun like 'bus' or 'train' when the noun is already clear.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about departure time, use 'À quelle heure part...?' followed by the transport. 'Part' is the third-person singular of the verb 'partir' (to leave). For example: 'À quelle heure part le bus ?' (What time does the bus leave?) or 'À quelle heure part le train ?' (What time does the train leave?). If you already mentioned the bus or train, you can simply say 'Il part à quelle heure ?' (What time does it leave?).
When to use it
Use these questions when you are at a station, bus stop, or ticket counter and need to know the departure time. Do not use 'arriver' (to arrive) for this. 'À quelle heure arrive le bus ?' asks when the bus arrives, not when it leaves. If you want to know when to be ready, ask about departure: 'À quelle heure part le bus ?' You can also ask 'C'est à quelle heure ?' (What time is it?) in very casual speech, but the full pattern is clearer and more polite.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, à quelle heure part le prochain bus pour Lyon ?
Hello, what time does the next bus to Lyon leave?bon-zhoor, ah kel uhr pahr luh pro-shan booss poor lee-onLe prochain bus part à quatorze heures trente.
The next bus leaves at 2:30 p.m.luh pro-shan booss pahr ah ka-torz uhr trahntMerci. Et il arrive à quelle heure à Lyon ?
Thank you. And what time does it arrive in Lyon?mair-see. ay eel a-reev ah kel uhr ah lee-onIl arrive à dix-sept heures.
It arrives at 5 p.m.eel a-reev ah dee-set uhrA little context goes a long way
In France, buses and trains often use the 24-hour clock for schedules, so 'quatorze heures' means 2 p.m. In Quebec and parts of Canada, the 12-hour clock with 'du matin', 'de l'après-midi', or 'du soir' is more common in everyday speech. When asking at a counter, it is polite to start with 'Bonjour' before your question.
One thing to watch for
Using 'arriver' (to arrive) when you mean 'partir' (to leave). For example, saying 'À quelle heure arrive le bus ?' when you want to know when it leaves.
Try this instead: Use 'partir' for departure: 'À quelle heure part le bus ?' (What time does the bus leave?). Use 'arriver' only for arrival: 'À quelle heure arrive le bus ?' (What time does the bus arrive?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What time does the next train leave?' in French?
Show a sample answer
À quelle heure part le prochain train ?
This uses 'part' from 'partir' and 'prochain train' for 'next train'. You could also say 'À quelle heure part le train suivant ?' with the same meaning.
2What does 'Le bus part dans cinq minutes' mean?
Show a sample answer
The bus leaves in five minutes.
'Part' means leaves, and 'dans cinq minutes' means in five minutes. This tells you the departure is soon.
3If someone asks 'À quelle heure part le bus ?', what are you being asked?
Show a sample answer
What time does the bus leave?
The question uses 'part' (leaves), so it asks about departure time, not arrival time. A valid alternative answer could be 'When does the bus leave?'
To ask about departure, use 'À quelle heure part...?' and remember that 'partir' means to leave, while 'arriver' means to arrive. Keep the two separate to avoid confusion.
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