A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "In five minutes" in French
Say 'dans cinq minutes' to tell someone you'll be ready or arrive in exactly five minutes.
dans cinq minutes
dahn sank mee-NOOTneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're almost ready to leave, or when you'll arrive at a specific location. It's a precise timeframe, so be sure you can meet it!
Alternatives
- d'ici cinq minutesSlightly more formal, emphasizes the time from now.
- dans un quart d'heureUse this for 'in a quarter of an hour' (15 minutes).
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 's' in 'cinq'
The 'c' in 'cinq' makes an 's' sound, but the 'q' is silent.
Forgetting 'dans'
You need 'dans' (in) before the time period; just 'cinq minutes' isn't enough.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
how to say in 5 minutes in french
The most common way is 'dans cinq minutes'. This is understood everywhere in France.
dans cinq minutes vs d'ici cinq minutes
'Dans cinq minutes' is very direct and common. 'D'ici cinq minutes' is a bit more formal and emphasizes the duration from the present moment.
is dans cinq minutes exact
It implies a fairly precise five minutes, so try to be reasonably on time. It's not a vague 'soon'.
