Learn French: Tell the Time and Use 'at', 'from', and 'until' in Schedules
Master telling clock time in French and use à, de…à, and jusqu'à to talk about when classes, work, and events start and end.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Telling the time in French is a practical skill you will use every day. In this lesson, you will learn how to ask and answer the time, and how to say when something starts, how long it lasts, and when it ends. The key prepositions are à (at), de…à (from…to), and jusqu'à (until). You will also learn the difference between the 12-hour and 24-hour systems, which are both used in France. By the end, you will be able to say sentences like 'Le cours commence à neuf heures' (The class starts at nine) and 'Je travaille de neuf heures à cinq heures' (I work from nine to five).
By the end, you can…
- ask and tell the time in French using both 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
- say when an event starts using à (at).
- say how long something lasts using de…à (from…to).
- say when something ends using jusqu'à (until).
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Quelle heure est-il ?
What time is it?
kel UHR eh-TEEL
Standard way to ask the time. In informal speech, you may hear 'Il est quelle heure ?'
Il est neuf heures.
It is nine o'clock.
eel eh nuh-VUHR
Use 'Il est' + number + 'heures' for exact hours. For 1 a.m./p.m., say 'Il est une heure' (not 'un heure').
Le cours commence à neuf heures.
The class starts at nine o'clock.
luh KOOR koh-MAHNS ah nuh-VUHR
Use 'à' before a clock time to mean 'at'. 'Commencer' means 'to start/begin'.
Je travaille de neuf heures à cinq heures.
I work from nine to five.
zhuh trah-VY duh nuh-VUHR ah sank UHR
Use 'de…à' to express 'from…to'. In 24-hour time, this is 'de neuf heures à dix-sept heures'.
La réunion dure jusqu'à midi.
The meeting lasts until noon.
lah ray-oo-NYON dure zhoo-SKAH mee-DEE
'Jusqu'à' means 'until'. 'Midi' = noon; 'minuit' = midnight. Both are masculine.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To tell the time, use 'Il est' + number + 'heure(s)'. For minutes, add the number after 'heures': 'Il est neuf heures dix' (9:10). For 'quarter past', say 'et quart' (e.g., 'neuf heures et quart'); for 'half past', say 'et demie' (e.g., 'neuf heures et demie'); for 'quarter to', say 'moins le quart' (e.g., 'dix heures moins le quart' = 9:45). In the 24-hour system, simply say the hour then minutes: 'neuf heures dix' (9:10), 'vingt et une heures' (21:00). To say 'at' a time, use 'à': 'à neuf heures'. To say 'from…to', use 'de…à': 'de neuf heures à dix heures'. To say 'until', use 'jusqu'à': 'jusqu'à dix heures'.
When to use it
Use 'à' for a specific starting point: 'Le film commence à vingt heures' (The movie starts at 8 p.m.). Use 'de…à' for a duration with a start and end: 'La banque est ouverte de neuf heures à dix-sept heures' (The bank is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Use 'jusqu'à' to emphasize the end point, especially when the start is not mentioned: 'Je travaille jusqu'à dix-huit heures' (I work until 6 p.m.). In casual conversation, French speakers often use the 12-hour system with 'du matin' (a.m.), 'de l'après-midi' (p.m.), or 'du soir' (evening): 'neuf heures du matin' (9 a.m.). The 24-hour system is standard for schedules, transport, and official contexts.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Excusez-moi, quelle heure est-il ?
Excuse me, what time is it?eks-kew-ZAY mwah, kel UHR eh-TEELIl est neuf heures et quart.
It is a quarter past nine.eel eh nuh-VUHR eh KARMerci. Le cours commence à neuf heures et demie, n'est-ce pas ?
Thank you. The class starts at half past nine, doesn't it?mair-SEE. luh KOOR koh-MAHNS ah nuh-VUHR eh duh-MEE, ness-PAHOui, et il dure jusqu'à midi.
Yes, and it lasts until noon.wee, eh eel dure zhoo-SKAH mee-DEEA little context goes a long way
In France, the 24-hour clock is common for official schedules (trains, classes, appointments), while the 12-hour clock with 'du matin', 'de l'après-midi', or 'du soir' is used in everyday conversation. In Quebec and other Francophone regions, both systems are understood, but the 12-hour format may be more frequent in casual speech. When writing, use 'h' for hours (e.g., '9h30') in France; in Canada, you may see '9 h 30' with spaces. Always use 'heures' in speech except with 'midi' and 'minuit'.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je travaille de neuf à cinq' without 'heures'.
Try this instead: In French, you must include 'heures' when telling time: 'Je travaille de neuf heures à cinq heures.' The only exceptions are 'midi' (noon) and 'minuit' (midnight): 'de midi à minuit'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The meeting starts at 2 p.m.' in French using the 24-hour clock?
Show a sample answer
La réunion commence à quatorze heures.
'Quatorze heures' is the 24-hour equivalent of 2 p.m. You could also say 'à deux heures de l'après-midi' in casual speech.
2Translate: 'I work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.'
Show a sample answer
Je travaille de huit heures à seize heures.
Use 'de…à' for 'from…to'. 'Seize heures' is 4 p.m. in 24-hour time. Alternatively: 'de huit heures du matin à quatre heures de l'après-midi'.
3How do you say 'The store is open until 7 p.m.'?
Show a sample answer
Le magasin est ouvert jusqu'à dix-neuf heures.
'Jusqu'à' means 'until'. 'Dix-neuf heures' is 7 p.m. You could also say 'jusqu'à sept heures du soir'.
Use 'à' for a specific time, 'de…à' for a range, and 'jusqu'à' for an endpoint. Always include 'heures' except with 'midi' and 'minuit'. Practice both 12-hour and 24-hour formats to understand schedules in any Francophone context.
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