Expressing timeliness in French - late/early/on time - general

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-11-27

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In French, there are several expressions using the verb "être" when you wish to talk about timeliness.

How to use 'être' to express timeliness in French

Look at these sentences:

Je suis désolé d'être en retard.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Vous êtes vraiment en avance !

You are really early!

Je ne suis jamais à l'heure !

I am never on time!

Notice that to say that you are late/early/on time in French, you use the expressions:

(être) en retard

(être) en avance

(être) à l'heure

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Idioms about Time

Examples and resources

Ne venez pas en avance, s'il-vous-plaît !

Don't come early, please!

Tu étais en retard ce matin !

You were late this morning!

Je suis désolé d'être en retard.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Nous voulons vraiment arriver à l'heure.

We really want to arrive on time.

Stéphane est arrivé à l'heure à l'école.

Stéphane arrived on time to school.

Julie arrive en retard tous les jours.

Julie arrives late every day.

La réunion a commencé en avance.

The meeting started early.