馃嚝馃嚪 French phrases

How to Say "What time is it?" in French

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Quelle heure est-il ?
"What time is it?" in French 路 say it like kel uhr eh eel

The most natural way to say "What time is it?" in French is Quelle heure est-il ?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Il est quelle heure ?
More casual and often used in spoken French.
脌 quelle heure ?
Used when asking for a specific time for an event.

When to use it

You can use this phrase when you want to know the current time. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. It is a common question in everyday conversations.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What time is it?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in French

FrenchEnglish
Excusez-moi, quelle heure est-il ?Excuse me, what time is it?
Common mistake
Learners often forget to use the inversion in formal questions, saying 'Quelle heure est' instead of 'Quelle heure est-il ?'.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Quelle heure est-il ?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking French with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just say 'Quelle heure'?

No, you need to complete the question with 'est-il' or use a different structure.

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