on time

In English, the phrase “on time” can refer to something happening at the expected or scheduled time, without delay. In French, there are two main ways to translate “on time”: à temps and à l’heure. They are not interchangeable. The correct choice depends on the context.

À l’heure

The phrase à l’heure is used when talking about being punctual, especially with reference to a clock or a schedule. It applies when someone arrives, departs, or does something at the correct or expected time.

Examples:

  • Il est toujours à l’heure pour ses rendez-vous.
    He is always on time for his appointments.
  • Le train est arrivé à l’heure.
    The train arrived on time.
  • Je veux que tu sois à l’heure demain matin.
    I want you to be on time tomorrow morning.
  • Elle n’est pas souvent à l’heure.
    She is not often on time.
  • Merci d’être venu à l’heure.
    Thank you for coming on time.

À l’heure refers to clock-based timing. It is often used when someone arrives or something happens at the time fixed by a timetable or plan.

À temps

The phrase à temps means “in time” or “before it is too late.” It is used when referring to actions completed early enough to avoid a problem, meet a deadline, or prevent something negative.

Examples:

  • J’ai terminé mon devoir à temps.
    I finished my assignment on time.
  • Est-ce qu’on arrivera à temps pour le spectacle ?
    Will we arrive on time for the show?
  • Heureusement, ils sont arrivés à temps pour sauver le chien.
    Fortunately, they arrived in time to save the dog.
  • Tu dois payer tes impôts à temps.
    You must pay your taxes on time.
  • Si tu veux réussir, tu dois rendre ton travail à temps.
    If you want to succeed, you must hand in your work on time.

À temps focuses more on a deadline or a time limit, not a scheduled clock time. It implies that the action was completed before it became too late.

Choosing between à l’heure and à temps

Use à l’heure when referring to being punctual according to a schedule.
Use à temps when referring to completing something early enough to avoid negative consequences.

Compare:

  • Il est arrivé à l’heure à la réunion.
    He arrived at the meeting on time (punctually).
  • Il est arrivé à temps pour éviter une dispute.
    He arrived in time to avoid an argument.

Although both may be translated as “on time,” the nuance is different. À l’heure is about the expected moment; à temps is about being early enough to achieve or prevent something.

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • regular -re verbs

    French verbs that end in “re” also follow a regular pattern for their conjugation in the present tense and the passé composé. A good example is the verb “vendre,” which means “to sell.” Regular -re verb endings Person Ending je -s tu -s il/elle/on (no ending, just the stem) nous -ons vous -ez ils/elles -ent…

  • ce qui vs ceux qui

    The difference between ce qui and ceux qui boils down to what they refer to and whether the idea is singular or plural. 1. ce qui Key point: ce qui is neutral and can refer to both concrete and abstract things, but it’s singular in meaning. 2. ceux qui Key point: ceux qui is plural…

  • looking forward to

    In English, looking forward to expresses anticipation or excitement about a future event. In French, there is no single direct equivalent, and the translation depends on context, formality, and grammatical structure. Common strategies include using the verb avoir hâte de, phrases with être impatient de, or more formal constructions with se réjouir de. 1. Avoir…

  • noun gender full list

    In French, every noun (naming word) has a grammatical gender: it is either masculine or feminine. This gender does not necessarily relate to biological gender. One of the most reliable ways to predict the gender of a noun is by looking at its ending. While there are exceptions, many nouns follow predictable patterns based on…

  • chant, champs

    In French, chant and champs are perfect homophones. They are pronounced the same way: /ʃɑ̃/ (like “shahn” in English, but nasalized). 1. Chant (Song, Singing) Difference Between “Chant” and “Chanson” While both words relate to music, they are used differently: 2. Champs (Fields)

  • however

    The English word “however” can have different meanings depending on context. It may contrast with a previous statement (“but, nevertheless”), introduce a restriction (“yet, all the same”), or express degree (“no matter how”). French uses several different words and phrases to cover these meanings. “Cependant” “Ceppendant” is the most common translation of “however” in formal…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *