Il est trois heures et demie de l'après-midi
It is three thirty in the afternoon
Language note: 'Et demie' means 'and a half', crucial for expressing half-past the hour.
Culture note: In French culture, 3:30 PM might involve goûter, a small afternoon snack, especially for children.
Context: Your friend states the current time in the afternoon.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Il
[eel]
It
Pronoun used for previously mentioned ideas or things.
Il est tard pour sortir.
It is late to go out.
est
[ay]
is
Used as a linking verb indicating existence.
Est-ce vrai ?
Is it true?
trois
[twah]
three
The number following two; 3.
Je vois trois oiseaux.
I see three birds.
heures
[uhrs]
hours
Plural form of hour, segments of time.
Il est trois heures.
It is three o'clock.
et
[ay]
and
A conjunction used to connect words or phrases.
Pierre et Marie sont amis.
Pierre and Marie are friends.
demie
[deh-mee]
half
One of two equal parts.
Ils ont partagé une pomme et demie.
They shared one and a half apples.
de
[duh]
of
Used to indicate possession, origin, or composition.
Un verre de vin.
A glass of wine.
l'
[l]
the (elided)
A contraction of 'le' or 'la' before a vowel sound.
L'arbre est grand.
The tree is tall.
après-midi
[ah-preh-mee-dee]
afternoon
The period of the day between noon and evening.
On joue au parc l'après-midi.
We play at the park in the afternoon.
Phrase Parts
Il
It
Used as a subject pronoun to introduce the time.
Il est tôt.
It is early.
est
is
Third person singular form of 'être' (to be).
Il est important.
It is important.
trois heures
three o'clock
Used to indicate the time of three hours past midnight or noon.
Trois heures pile.
Exactly three o'clock.
et demie
and a half
Indicates thirty minutes past the hour.
Il est neuf heures et demie.
It is half past nine.
de l'après-midi
in the afternoon
Specifies the time of day in the afternoon.
Quatre heures de l'après-midi.
Four in the afternoon.
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