French has several translations for “time.” Temps, heure, fois, and moment each fit a different meaning.
time in French = temps, heure, fois, or moment, pronounced approximately tahn / uhr / fwah / moh-mahn.
How Do You Say time in French?
Temps means time in general or duration. Heure means an hour or clock time. Fois means an occasion or number of times, while moment means a brief moment.
Meaning: time; duration, clock time, occasion, or moment
Ask Quelle heure est-il ? when you want the clock time, but ask Combien de temps ? to ask how long something takes. For “three times,” say trois fois.
Different Ways to Express time
English uses one word for several ideas that French separates. Match the French noun to the specific sense you want.
1. Temps — time or duration
temps — time; duration. Use it for time in general, available time, or how long an activity lasts. The final ps is silent.
2. Heure — an hour or clock time
heure — hour; time of day. Use it to ask or state clock time. The h is silent, and the initial h blocks liaison.
3. Fois — an occasion or count
fois — time; occasion. Use fois to count occurrences: une fois is once, deux fois is twice. The final s is silent.
4. Moment — a moment
moment — moment; short period. Use it for a brief point or short period, as in un moment (“a moment”).
time in French: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| French | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| temps | time; duration | General time and duration |
| heure | hour; time of day | Clock time |
| fois | time; occasion | Repeated events |
| moment | moment; short period | Brief moments |
How to Pronounce temps, heure, fois, or moment
Temps is roughly “tahn” with a nasal vowel and silent final consonants. Heure sounds like “uhr,” fois like “fwah,” and moment has two nasal vowels.
Example Sentences Using time
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I don’t have much time.
Use: Temps describes time available.
Meaning: What time is it?
Use: Heure is used for clock time.
Meaning: We went to Paris twice.
Use: Deux fois counts occurrences.
Frequently Asked Questions About time in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the usual word for “time” in French?
Temps is common for general time or duration, but clock time is heure and an occurrence is fois.
How do you ask what time it is?
Say Quelle heure est-il ?
How do you ask “how much time”?
Say Combien de temps ?
How do you say “three times”?
Say trois fois.
Does <em>temps</em> rhyme with English “attempts”?
No. Its final consonants are silent and the vowel is nasal, roughly “tahn.”
Summary: time in French
Use temps for general time or duration, heure for clock time, fois for an occasion or count, and moment for a brief point. The intended meaning determines the right word.
