A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What time do you open" in French
Ask about shop opening times in France with this polite and standard phrase.
À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?
ah kel ohr oo-VRAY vooneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when approaching a shop, boulangerie, or museum before you plan to enter. It's a polite way to inquire about their opening hours.
Alternatives
- Vous ouvrez à quelle heure ?Slightly more casual word order, still perfectly polite.
- Vous ouvrez quand ?More direct and can be used when you're in a bit of a hurry.
Ways to get it wrong
Forgetting 'à'
Always say 'à quelle heure' to ask 'at what time'.
Pronouncing 'heure'
The 'h' is silent, so it sounds like 'ur'.
A small cultural note
Many smaller shops might close for a lunch break, so asking about opening times is often a good idea.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What if I want to ask a friend?
You would use the informal 'tu' form: 'À quelle heure tu ouvres ?'. This is for people you know well.
Can I just ask 'Quelle heure est-il?'
No, 'Quelle heure est-il?' means 'What time is it?' and asks for the current time, not opening hours.
What if they are already open?
If the shop is clearly open, you don't need to ask this question. You can just walk in and say 'Bonjour !'.
