If you thought that mastering English was enough to grow professionally and dedicate yourself to what you like best, we are sorry to tell you that this is no longer the case. The world has reached such a level of globalization that the more languages we control, the better, always taking into account which are the most widely spoken and used in the sector we are targeting. For example, in the field of business, without a doubt, it is necessary to speak perfect English, French and German, which are associated with the great European economic powers.
If our sights are set on the international level, then it would also be advisable to get started in Chinese, which is already the world’s leading technological power… well, as you can see, languages are starting to go from being an option to being an obligation.
But, let’s focus on French, haven’t you started learning basic French to be able to get by on a conversational level? Start right now in this post!
Can you tell the time in French? Learn this and many other phrases in French for day to day
To learn French well, like any other language, it is necessary to begin by establishing the most basic knowledge and that the main objective is to adapt your ear to the most fundamental conversations of everyday life. For example, if you were traveling to Paris, would you know how to ask for the time in French, ask for an address, or ask for a menu?
Write down the ten most useful phrases in French!
- Where is…? – Où is…? (For example: Where is the main street? – Où est la rue principale?)
- How much is this? – Combien ça coûte? (For example: How much does this book cost? – Combien coûte ce livre?)
- I don’t understand – Je ne comprends pas
- Can you repeat please? – Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît?
- Where is the restroom? – Où sont les toilettes?
- I would like to reserve a table – Je voudrais réserver une table
- What do you recommend? – Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez?
- The check, please – L’addition, s’il vous plaît
- You can help me? – Pouvez-vous m’aider?
- What time is it? – What time is it?
How do you write time in French? Learn the hours, minutes and fractions of the hour in French
- O’clock: “heure pile” or “heure exacte” (for example, “It’s 3 o’clock” – “Il est trois heures pile”).
- And fourth: “et quart” (for example, “It is a quarter past 4” – “Il est quatre heures et quart”).
- And half: “et demie” (for example, “It’s half past 5” – “Il est cinq heures et demie”).
- Quarter to: “moins le quart” (for example, “It’s a quarter to 6” – “Il est six heures moins le quart”).
- Minus half: “moins la demie” (for example, “It is half past 7” – “Il est sept heures moins la demie”).
In addition to these expressions, the format of decimal fractions can also be used to indicate exact times. For example, “It is 3:45” you can say “Il est trois heures quarante-cinq” or simply “Il est trois heures quarante-cinq minutes”.
How to ask for and give the time in French?
Now that you know how to tell the time in French, learn to ask for it like this: Quelle heure est-il?
And to give it this way: Il est…. (whatever time it is)
How do you say the date in French?
To say the date in French, the following pattern is generally used: “jour (day) + mois (month) + année (year)”. Next, I will show you some examples of how to say the date in French:
- July 6, 2023: “le 6 juillet 2023” (pronounced: “le sis juillet deux mille vingt-trois”).
- March 21, 2024: “le 21 mars 2024” (pronounced: “le vingt et un mars deux mille vingt-quatre”).
- December 9, 2025: “le 9 décembre 2025” (pronounced: “le neuf décembre deux mille vingt-cinq”).
It is important to remember that in French the format “day + month + year” is used and each element is separated with spaces. In addition, the day is indicated in cardinal number (1, 2, 3…) and the year is read in groups of two digits.
We hope that this post has helped you to refresh the most basic knowledge of French that you had stored since high school. Now it is your turn to continue advancing in the world of languages to expand your opportunities to grow internationally or occupy the best positions. of your sector.
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