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How to Say ‘What time does boarding start?’ in French

L'embarquement commence à quelle heure ?

l' ahn-bar-kuh-MAHN koh-MAHNSS ah kel ur

[l' ahn-bar-kuh-MAHN koh-MAHNSS ah kel ur]

💬 Usage Tip: In everyday speech the question part à quelle heure often goes at the end, so you just add it after a normal statement. Try Le vol part à quelle heure ? "What time does the flight leave?"

Phrase Breakdown

L'embarquement commence

l' ahn-bar-kuh-MAHN koh-MAHNSS

Boarding starts

The article is elided, so 'L'embarquement' sounds like 'lahn-bar-kuh-mahn'. Both 'em' and 'en' are nasal vowels. 'Commence' sounds like 'koh-mahns'.

Example

L'embarquement commence bientôt.

Boarding starts soon.

Words in this phrase

[l']

the

Used before singular when the item is known.

Example

L'homme est là.

The man is there.

embarquement

[ahn-bar-kuh-MAHN]

boarding

The process of getting on the plane.

Example

L'embarquement est à dix heures.

Boarding is at ten o'clock.

commence

[koh-MAHNSS]

starts

Form of 'commencer', to begin.

Example

Le film commence bientôt.

The film starts soon.

à quelle heure ?

ah kel ur

at what time?

Link 'quelle' and 'heure' into one flow: 'ah kel-ur'. The 'h' is silent. Let your voice rise at the end for a question.

Example

Le train part à quelle heure ?

What time does the train leave?

Words in this phrase

[ah]

A preposition indicating position or direction.

Example

À la maison.

At the house.

quelle

[kel]

which / what

Used to ask for a choice or specific information with a feminine noun.

Example

Quelle couleur préférez-vous ?

Which color do you prefer?

heure

[ur]

hour / time

Means "hour" or "time," depending on context.

Example

L'heure du cours est confirmée.

The class time is confirmed.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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