In this workshop you will practice asking about delivery time in French and understanding the answer. You will use short questions and a customer-service exchange. The focus is on asking clearly, listening for the time given, and checking whether express delivery is possible. You can play both roles with audio, and use the answer keys to check yourself.
Asking how long delivery takes
Start with a simple question. «Combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison ?» means "How long does delivery take?" «Ça prend combien de temps pour arriver ?» means "How long does it take to arrive?" Both ask about time, not price or address. «En combien de temps est-ce que je vais recevoir mon colis ?» means "How long will it take for me to receive my parcel?" It is more specific because it mentions the parcel. Use one short question at a time. Speak slowly and clearly. If you are in a shop or on the phone, you can begin with a greeting, then ask your question. Do not add extra information unless you need to.
Checking express delivery
If you want a faster option, ask about express delivery. «Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible ?» means "Is express delivery available?" This is a yes-or-no question. In the recorded exchange, the customer first asks about standard delivery, then checks express for a region. «D'accord. Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible pour ma région ?» means "Okay. Is express delivery available for my region?" The reply gives a condition: «Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.» means "Yes, but you have to order before 2 p.m. After that, it takes one more day." Listen for the time limit and the extra day. The answer is not only yes or no; it includes a condition.
Understanding the full exchange
The recorded dialogue has two roles. Speaker A is the customer. Speaker B is the staff member. A begins with «Bonjour, combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison standard ?», which means "Hello, how long does standard delivery take?" B answers with «En général, trois à cinq jours ouvrables. La livraison express prend 24 heures.», which means "Generally, three to five working days. Express delivery takes 24 hours." A then asks «D'accord. Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible pour ma région ?», and B replies with «Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.». When you practice, keep the order: greeting and question, answer, follow-up question, answer. If you swap roles, you change who reads A and who reads B, but the order stays the same. Do not start with the answer before the question.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison ?
How long does delivery take?
kon-byen duh tahn foh-teel poor lah lee-vray-zon
Ça prend combien de temps pour arriver ?
How long does it take to arrive?
sah prahn kon-byen duh tahn poor ah-ree-vay
Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible ?
Is express delivery available?
ess-kuh lah lee-vray-zon ex-press ay dees-pee-neebl
En combien de temps est-ce que je vais recevoir mon colis ?
How long will it take for me to receive my parcel?
ahn kon-byen duh tahn ess-kuh zhuh vay ruh-suh-vwahr mon ko-lee
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison standard ?
Hello, how long does standard delivery take?En général, trois à cinq jours ouvrables. La livraison express prend 24 heures.
Generally, three to five working days. Express delivery takes 24 hours.D'accord. Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible pour ma région ?
Okay. Is express delivery available for my region?Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.
Yes, but you have to order before 2 p.m. After that, it takes one more day.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: customer and staff
You are the customer. The staff member will answer. Use the recorded lines in order. Read A's lines aloud, then listen to B's lines or read them if you are practicing both roles.
Your task: Say the customer's first line: «Bonjour, combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison standard ?». Then read or listen to the staff reply: «En général, trois à cinq jours ouvrables. La livraison express prend 24 heures.». Next, ask the follow-up: «D'accord. Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible pour ma région ?». Finally, read or listen to the staff reply: «Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.». Repeat the exchange once more, trying to keep a calm, polite tone.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
Read the staff reply «Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.». It means: "Yes, but you have to order before 2 p.m. After that, it takes one more day." Then choose the correct answer below.
Your task: Question: What does the staff reply tell you about express delivery? A) Express delivery is always available with no time limit. B) Express delivery is available, but you must order before 2 p.m.; after that, it takes one more day. C) Express delivery is not available in your region. Choose A, B, or C.
Recall with correct roles
Cover the recorded lines. You will recall the exchange from memory. Decide who is the customer and who is the staff member. The customer asks first.
Your task: Say the customer's opening question about standard delivery. Then say the staff answer about three to five working days and express delivery in 24 hours. Then say the customer's follow-up about express delivery for the region. Finally, say the staff reply about ordering before 2 p.m. and the extra day. Use the recording references to check yourself after speaking.
Common questions
Can I use these questions in a shop or on the phone?
Yes. The questions are short and polite. You can greet the person, then ask «Combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison ?» or «Bonjour, combien de temps faut-il pour la livraison standard ?». If you need a faster option, ask «Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible ?» or «D'accord. Est-ce que la livraison express est disponible pour ma région ?». Listen for the time and any condition in the reply.
What should I listen for in the staff reply?
Listen for the number of days or hours. In «En général, trois à cinq jours ouvrables. La livraison express prend 24 heures.», the staff member says three to five working days and 24 hours for express. In «Oui, mais il faut commander avant 14 heures. Ensuite, ça prend un jour de plus.», listen for the 2 p.m. limit and the extra day. These details tell you when your parcel may arrive.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask about delivery timeChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's French into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr