Temps is undoubtedly the most common way to say “time” in French. But what if we told you there are many more ways to express this fundamental concept? Whether you're talking about the duration of an event, a specific moment, or even the weather, French offers a rich vocabulary for "time." Mastering these nuances will significantly boost your confidence and understanding. Let's explore 9 essential ways to say “time” (and its various forms) in French, making your conversations much more precise and natural!

The general, overarching word for 'time' – temps

The general, overarching word for 'time' – temps

Temps is the most common and versatile word for 'time' in French, covering a broad range of meanings related to duration, moments, and periods.

This word is a masculine noun and is invariable, meaning its form does not change whether you are referring to a singular or plural concept of time. You will always see it as le temps (the time) or du temps (some time).

Temps can be used in virtually any situation, from very casual conversations among friends to formal academic writing, making it the essential go-to word for 'time' in French.

While primarily meaning 'time', temps also frequently refers to 'weather' or 'a period/duration', which can sometimes be confusing for learners.

Fortunately, the specific meaning of temps is almost always made clear by the context of the sentence or the accompanying verb. You don't usually need to worry about ambiguity.

For instance, if someone asks "Quel temps fait-il?", they are inquiring about the weather ("What's the weather like?"), not asking "What time is it?" (which would be "Quelle heure est-il?"). Conversely, "J'ai passé beaucoup de temps à Paris" clearly means "I spent a lot of time in Paris."

Temps is integral to many common French expressions, such as:

Perdre son temps (to waste one's time)
Gagner du temps (to save time)
De temps en temps (from time to time)
Faire beau temps (to be good weather)

As you become more familiar with French, distinguishing between its various meanings will become second nature. Always pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall conversation.

The pervasive use of temps in French reflects a cultural emphasis on both the passage of time and the immediate environmental conditions. Understanding its flexibility unlocks a deeper connection to everyday French communication.

💡 * J'ai besoin de plus de temps pour finir ce travail. (I need more time to finish this work.)

Quel temps magnifique aujourd'hui ! (What magnificent weather today!)

Il est temps de partir. (It's time to leave.)

Nous avons passé un bon temps ensemble. (We had a good time together.)

Avec le temps, tout s'arrange. (With time, everything works out.)

The 'hour' or specific 'time of day' – heure

The 'hour' or specific 'time of day' – heure

When you want to talk about the concept of an 'hour' or a specific 'time of day' in French, the most fundamental word you'll use is heure. It's a versatile feminine noun that serves as the cornerstone for discussing time.

One primary use of heure is to count hours, indicating a duration. For example, to say 'two hours,' you would say deux heures. Remember that since heure is feminine, any preceding numbers or adjectives will agree with it.

Heure is also indispensable when asking 'What time is it?' (Quelle heure est-il ?) or stating the current time (Il est... heures). For instance, 'It's three o'clock' translates to Il est trois heures.

Beyond its literal meaning, heure appears in many useful expressions. To be 'on time' is à l'heure, to be 'early' is de bonne heure, and to be 'late' is en retard (though retard is the noun, à l'heure uses heure directly).

It's important to distinguish heure from temps. While both relate to time, heure refers to a specific unit of 60 minutes or a particular point in time, whereas temps is the more general concept of time, duration, or even weather.

French speakers commonly use the 24-hour clock (military time), especially in formal settings or when specifying exact times. So, 3 PM might be expressed as quinze heures (15h00), rather than trois heures de l'après-midi, although the latter is also understood.

💡 * Quelle heure est-il ? (What time is it?)

Il est dix heures. (It's ten o'clock.)

Le cours dure une heure. (The class lasts one hour.)

Nous allons arriver à l'heure. (We are going to arrive on time.)

Elle travaille huit heures par jour. (She works eight hours per day.)

The 'time' as in an 'occurrence' or 'instance' – fois

In French, when you want to talk about 'time' as in an occurrence or an instance, the word you're looking for is fois.

It's crucial to remember that fois is always a feminine noun. You'll always use une fois (one time) or la fois (the time).

To express 'once,' 'twice,' or 'three times,' you simply use a number followed by fois: une fois (once), deux fois (twice), trois fois (three times), and so on.

For phrases like 'every time' or 'each time,' the French equivalent is chaque fois. This is a very common expression.

You can also form the adverb 'sometimes' by combining par (by) and fois, resulting in parfois.

It's important not to confuse fois with temps. While both relate to 'time,' temps refers to time as a duration, weather, or a general concept, whereas fois is specifically for counting instances or occurrences.

You'll often hear fois in expressions like la première fois (the first time), la dernière fois (the last time), or cette fois-ci (this time).

💡 * J'ai visité Paris une fois. (I visited Paris once.)

Chaque fois que je le vois, il me sourit. (Every time I see him, he smiles at me.)

Parfois, j'oublie mes clés. (Sometimes, I forget my keys.)

Cette fois-ci, c'est différent. (This time, it's different.)

Combien de fois êtes-vous allé en France ? (How many times have you been to France?)

The 'moment' or a brief 'instant' – moment

The French word moment directly translates to 'moment' or 'instant' in English.

Moment is a masculine noun in French. It is widely used to refer to a specific point in time or a brief duration.

It often appears in expressions like un bon moment (a good time) or au bon moment (at the right moment), emphasizing its versatility.

While often denoting a brief instant, moment can also refer to a slightly longer, but still temporary, period or a significant event, similar to 'a moment in history'.

💡 * J'arrive dans un moment. (I'll be there in a moment.)

C'était un très bon moment. (It was a very good moment/time.)

Attends un moment, s'il te plaît. (Wait a moment, please.)

Nous avons vécu des moments inoubliables. (We experienced unforgettable moments.)

C'est le moment de partir. (It's time to leave.)

The 'era' or a 'period in history' – époque

The 'era' or a 'period in history' – époque

Époque is a versatile French noun that primarily translates to 'era,' 'period,' or 'time,' often referring to a significant stretch of history or a distinct phase.

It's frequently used when discussing historical periods, such as l'époque romaine (the Roman era) or l'époque médiévale (the medieval period), highlighting a specific cultural, political, or artistic phase.

Époque can also refer to a specific time or moment in someone's life, or a particular season, like à cette époque de l'année (at this time of year) or mon époque étudiante (my student days).

As a feminine noun, époque always takes feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., une époque, la belle époque). It's commonly found in expressions like faire époque (to make history/an epoch).

While 'temps' is a general word for 'time,' époque implies a more defined, often significant, duration or period, giving it a richer historical or contextual weight. It signifies a distinct phase rather than just a moment.

💡 * La Belle Époque est une période de paix et de prospérité en France. (The Belle Époque is a period of peace and prosperity in France.)

À quelle époque vivait Léonard de Vinci ? (In what era did Leonardo da Vinci live?)

Mon grand-père parle souvent de son époque à la campagne. (My grandfather often talks about his time in the countryside.)

C'était une époque difficile pour tout le monde. (It was a difficult time for everyone.)

Nous vivons une époque de grands changements technologiques. (We are living in an era of great technological changes.)

The 'duration' or 'length of time' – durée

When you want to talk about the length or span of time something lasts in French, the word you're looking for is durée.

Literally translating to "duration" or "length of time", durée is a feminine noun that specifically refers to the amount of time that passes from the beginning to the end of an event, process, or state. It's about how long something takes.

You'll frequently encounter durée when discussing the runtime of a film (la durée d'un film), the length of a trip (la durée d'un voyage), or the term of a contract (la durée d'un contrat). It's a fundamental concept for specifying temporal extent.

Several important expressions use durée. For instance, de longue durée means 'long-term' or 'of long duration', while de courte durée means 'short-term'. You might also hear à durée indéterminée ('indefinite duration') or à durée déterminée ('fixed-term'), especially in employment contracts.

While temps (time) is a general concept, durée is much more specific. Temps refers to time in general (e.g., 'What time is it?', 'the weather'), whereas durée always quantifies the period or extent of time. Think of it as the answer to 'How long?' rather than 'When?' or 'What is time?'

💡 * Quelle est la durée du film ? (What is the duration of the movie?)

La durée de notre séjour est de deux semaines. (The length of our stay is two weeks.)

C'est un projet de longue durée. (It's a long-term project.)

Le contrat a une durée de trois ans. (The contract has a duration of three years.)

Il n'a travaillé que pour une courte durée ici. (He only worked here for a short period.)

The 'deadline' or 'time limit' – délai

The French word délai translates to 'deadline,' 'time limit,' or 'period of time' within which something must be completed. It's crucial for understanding schedules and expectations in French contexts.

You'll frequently encounter délai in professional, administrative, and academic settings, indicating a specific period for an action or task. It implies a constraint or an expected completion time.

Délai is a masculine noun. Its plural form is délais. It often appears with verbs like respecter (to respect), dépasser (to exceed), or prolonger (to extend).

💡 * Le délai pour soumettre le rapport est vendredi. (The deadline to submit the report is Friday.)

Nous avons un délai de deux semaines pour terminer le projet. (We have a two-week time limit to finish the project.)

Il est important de respecter les délais. (It is important to respect the deadlines.)

As-tu demandé une prolongation du délai ? (Did you ask for an extension of the deadline?)

Le délai de livraison est de 3 à 5 jours ouvrables. (The delivery time is 3 to 5 business days.)

The 'schedule' or 'timetable' – horaire

The word horaire (masculine noun) primarily translates to “schedule” or “timetable” in English. It's used extensively to refer to planned times for events, transportation, work, or school.

Interestingly, horaire can also function as an adjective, meaning “hourly” or “related to a schedule/time.” For example, la plage horaire means “the time slot” or “time window.”

You'll frequently encounter horaire in contexts like public transport (les horaires des trains - train schedules), work (les horaires de travail - work hours), or store opening times (les horaires d'ouverture - opening hours). It's a fundamental word for discussing time management and planning.

💡 * Quel est l'horaire de ton vol ? (What is your flight schedule?)

Nous devons respecter les horaires. (We must respect the timetables.)

J'ai une large plage horaire pour ce rendez-vous. (I have a wide time slot for this appointment.)

Les changements d'horaires sont fréquents en période de vacances. (Schedule changes are frequent during holiday periods.)

Le service de bus est horaire. (The bus service is hourly.)

The 'season' or 'time of year' – saison

The French word for 'season' or 'time of year' is saison. It is a feminine noun.

As a feminine noun, saison takes feminine articles (e.g., la saison, une saison) and agrees with feminine adjectives. Its plural form is saisons.

Saison is commonly used to refer to the four calendar seasons: le printemps (spring), l'été (summer), l'automne (autumn), and l'hiver (winter). For instance, one might say la saison estivale (the summer season).

Beyond just calendar divisions, saison also describes a period of time dedicated to a specific activity or event. Examples include la saison de chasse (hunting season), une saison de télévision (a TV season), or la saison touristique (the tourist season).

A useful expression is en saison, meaning 'in season' when referring to the availability of fruits, vegetables, or other seasonal products. For instance, les fraises sont en saison (strawberries are in season).

💡 * Quelle est ta saison préférée ? (What is your favorite season?)

Nous sommes en pleine saison des pluies. (We are in the middle of the rainy season.)

La saison de ski commence en décembre. (The ski season starts in December.)

J'adore les fruits de saison. (I love seasonal fruits.)

Cette série a cinq saisons. (This series has five seasons.)

Are there other ways to say 'time' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to express 'time' in French. However, the French language is rich with nuances, offering various expressions for different contexts of 'time'.

For more specific or regional expressions of 'time,' you can search online for 'comment dire temps en ___' followed by a Francophone country or region.

While exploring, you might discover fascinating idiomatic expressions involving 'time.' Always verify their meaning and observe their usage in context before incorporating them into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media – reading, watching, and listening – pay close attention to how 'time' is expressed. You're likely to uncover a wealth of alternative phrases and idioms.

For a deeper dive into the various expressions and nuances of 'time' in French, the WordReference entry for temps is an excellent starting point!

I hope this article has clarified the many ways to talk about 'time' in French. To conclude, here's a fitting thought from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "C'est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante." (It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.)

9 ways to say "time" in French