A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's three o'clock" in French
Say 'Il est trois heures' to tell the time in French, meaning 'It is three o'clock'.
Il est trois heures.
eel ay TRWAHZ uhrneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when someone asks you for the current time. It's the standard way to state exactly three o'clock.
Alternatives
- Trois heures.Use this shorter version when the context is already clear.
- Il est trois heures pile.Use this to emphasize that it's *exactly* three o'clock, no minutes past.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 'h' in 'heures'
The 'h' in 'heures' is silent, so don't pronounce it.
Forgetting 'Il est'
Always start with 'Il est' when stating the time, unless you're being very brief.
Mispronouncing 'trois'
The 'oi' sound is like 'wa' in 'water', and the final 's' is silent.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How do I say 3:15 in French?
You would say 'Il est trois heures et quart'. 'Quart' means quarter.
What's the difference between 'trois heures' and 'il est trois heures'?
'Il est trois heures' is the full, standard sentence. 'Trois heures' is a shortened, more casual way to say it when the context is obvious.
Do French people use AM/PM or 24-hour time?
France primarily uses the 24-hour clock (e.g., 15h00 for 3 PM), but for casual conversation about the morning or afternoon, they might still say 'trois heures' without specifying AM/PM if it's clear.
