A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's a quarter to six" in French
Say "Il est six heures moins le quart" to tell time in French, meaning it's 15 minutes before 6 o'clock.
Il est six heures moins le quart.
eel eh SEEZ uhr mwah(n) luh KARneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to specify the time is 5:45. It's common in everyday conversations, like when arranging to meet someone or checking the time before an event.
Alternatives
- Il est cinq heures quarante-cinq.This uses the 24-hour clock format, which is also very common.
- On se retrouve à six heures moins le quart ?This is a question asking if you should meet at that time.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'moins'
The 'ns' in 'moins' is nasal and doesn't make a separate 'n' sound; it's like 'mwah'.
Forgetting 'le'
You must say 'moins le quart', not just 'moins quart'.
Confusing 'heures'
Always use the plural 'heures' when telling time, even for one o'clock ('une heure').
A small cultural note
French speakers often use the 24-hour clock (e.g., 17h45) in writing and formal contexts, but 'moins le quart' is very common in spoken French.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say 5:45 in French?
You can say "Il est six heures moins le quart," which literally means "It is six hours minus the quarter." Alternatively, you can use the 24-hour format: "Il est dix-sept heures quarante-cinq."
What does 'moins le quart' mean?
'Moins le quart' translates to 'minus the quarter.' It's used to indicate that a full hour is approaching but is still 15 minutes away.
Is 'Il est six heures moins le quart' formal or informal?
This phrase is considered neutral and is appropriate for most everyday situations, whether you're talking to friends or acquaintances.
