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How to Say ‘At half past twelve’ in French

À midi et demi

ah mee-DEE eh duh-MEE

[ah mee-DEE eh duh-MEE]

💬 Usage Tip: Et demi adds half an hour to any time: une heure et demie "half past one". After midi, it's spelled without the final e.

Phrase Breakdown

À midi

ah mee-DEE

At noon

'À' introduces a time. Say 'a mi-di'.

Example

On mange à midi.

We eat at noon.

Words in this phrase

À

[ah]

at

A preposition indicating position or direction.

Example

À la maison.

At the house.

midi

[mee-DEE]

noon / midday

Twelve o'clock in the daytime.

Example

On mange à midi.

We eat at noon.

et demi

eh duh-MEE

and a half (half past)

Added after an hour, it means 'thirty'. The 't' in 'et' is silent. Say 'é de-mi'.

Example

Il est une heure et demie.

It's half past one.

Words in this phrase

et

[eh]

and

Joins two thoughts or questions together.

Example

Et vous êtes venu aussi?

And did you come too?

demi

[duh-MEE]

half

Used after a time to mean half past.

Example

Le train part à deux heures et demie.

The train leaves at half past two.

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