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How to Say ‘They are a bit late.’ in French

Ils sont un peu en retard.

eel sohn uhn puh ahn ruh-tar

[eel sohn uhn puh ahn ruh-tar]

💬 Usage Tip: Un peu = 'a little / a bit.' En retard means 'late.'

🇫🇷 In France: A very realistic school-gate phrase—delays at pickup happen, and everyone notices!

Phrase Breakdown

Ils

[eel]

they

Ils means 'they' for a masculine or mixed group.

Example

Quand les enfants tardent, on dit : Ils sont un peu en retard.

When the children are late, people say: 'They are a little late.'

sont

[sohn]

are

Sont means 'are' from the verb être.

Example

En attendant, je dis : Ils sont un peu en retard.

While waiting, I say: 'They are a little late.'

un

[uhn]

a

Un means 'a' or 'one'; in un peu it is part of the phrase 'a little'.

Example

Je remarque : Ils sont un peu en retard.

I remark: 'They are a little late.'

peu

[puh]

little

Peu means 'little'; un peu means 'a little' or 'a bit'.

Example

S'il y a du retard, je dis : Ils sont un peu en retard.

If there is a delay, I say: 'They are a little late.'

en

[ahn]

in

En is part of the fixed expression en retard, meaning 'late'.

Example

Au portail, on entend parfois : Ils sont un peu en retard.

At the gate, you sometimes hear: 'They are a little late.'

retard

[ruh-tar]

late

Retard means 'delay'; en retard means 'late'.

Example

Quand la classe sort tard, je dis : Ils sont un peu en retard.

When the class comes out late, I say: 'They are a little late.'

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