PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
⏰❓

How to Say ‘What time is it?’ in French

Quelle heure est-il ?

kel uhruh eh EEL

[kel uhruh eh EEL]

💬 Usage Tip: The normally silent t of est links to il, so est-il sounds like (eh-teel).

Phrase Breakdown

Quelle

[kel]

what

Question word used with heure to ask for a specific time.

Example

Dans « Le cours est à quelle heure ? », « quelle » aide à demander l'heure exacte.

In “What time is the class?”, “quelle” helps ask for the exact time.

heure

[uhruh]

time

A continuous, measurable quantity in which events occur in a sequence, or a specific moment on the clock.

Example

Nous devons vérifier l'heure sur la montre.

We need to check the time on the watch.

est

[eh]

is

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

-il

[EEL]

it

Impersonal 'il' used for time and weather, inverted in questions.

Example

Quel temps fait-il ?

What's the weather like?

Related guides

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.How to Learn to Speak French, Not Just Read ItWhy reading French doesn't make you speak it, and a practical way to learn to speak French: real conversations, speaking out loud from day one, and practice with people.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer