horaires in 30 Seconds
- Horaires means schedule or timetable.
- It is masculine and usually used in the plural.
- Use it for transport, work, and opening hours.
- Don't confuse it with 'heure' (clock time).
The French word horaires is a versatile noun that primarily refers to a schedule, a timetable, or the specific set of hours during which an establishment operates or a service is provided. While in English we might use different words depending on the context—calling it a 'timetable' for a bus, 'opening hours' for a shop, or a 'work schedule' for a job—French often simplifies this under the umbrella of les horaires. It is derived from the Latin horarius, meaning 'of an hour,' and it carries that temporal precision into modern usage. When you are navigating daily life in a French-speaking country, this word becomes your compass for synchronization.
- Public Transport
- In the context of trains (SNCF), buses, or planes, les horaires tells you exactly when departures and arrivals are slated. You will see signs in stations saying 'Consultez les horaires ici' (Check the schedules here). It implies a fixed, authoritative timeline that the public is expected to follow.
Je dois vérifier les horaires du train pour Paris avant de partir.
- Business and Services
- When referring to a bakery, a bank, or a museum, les horaires d'ouverture defines the window of time they are open to the public. Unlike the English 'hours,' which can sometimes be vague, horaires suggests a formal structure. If a store has 'des horaires décalés,' it means they operate at non-standard times, perhaps opening late or staying open through the night.
- Professional Life
- In an office setting, tes horaires de travail are your contracted hours. If someone says they have 'des horaires souples,' they benefit from flexible working hours. Conversely, 'des horaires de bureau' refers to the standard 9-to-5 grind. Understanding this word is crucial for discussing work-life balance (l'équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée).
Mes horaires ne me permettent pas de venir à la réunion de ce soir.
Furthermore, horaires can be used as an adjective, though less commonly in basic conversation, to describe something relating to time or hours, such as 'un fuseau horaire' (a time zone). However, at the B1 level, focusing on its noun form as 'schedule' or 'hours' is most productive. It is almost always used in the plural when referring to a general set of times, though the singular l'horaire can refer to the concept of a timetable itself or a specific scheduled time for a single event.
Using horaires correctly involves understanding its relationship with prepositions and verbs of movement or inquiry. Since it represents a structural frame of time, it often pairs with verbs like consulter (to consult), respecter (to respect/follow), or modifier (to change). In French, we don't just 'have' hours; we 'follow' or 'are subject to' them.
- Verbs of Inquiry
- When you need to find out when something happens, you 'cherches les horaires' or 'demandes les horaires.' For example: 'Je vais demander les horaires à l'accueil' (I am going to ask for the schedule at the reception). If you are looking at a website, you are 'en train de consulter les horaires.'
Pourriez-vous m'indiquer les horaires d'ouverture de la bibliothèque ?
- Expressing Constraints
- The word is frequently used to explain why you can or cannot do something. Phrases like 'à cause de mes horaires' (because of my schedule) or 'selon mes horaires' (depending on my schedule) are common. It places the responsibility on the external structure of time rather than personal choice.
- Changes and Modifications
- Schedules change, especially during holidays (vacances scolaires) or public holidays (jours fériés). You will often hear: 'Les horaires ont été modifiés pour l'été' or 'Attention, horaires d'été en vigueur' (Caution, summer hours in effect). This is a staple of French administrative communication.
Les horaires de la banque changent à partir du premier lundi du mois.
In more advanced contexts, you might discuss 'le respect des horaires' (punctuality/following the schedule). In a professional evaluation, someone might be praised for their 'respect rigoureux des horaires.' Conversely, 'ne pas compter ses horaires' means to work much longer than required, often out of dedication or necessity, similar to 'not counting the hours' in English.
The word horaires is ubiquitous in the French linguistic landscape. It is not a poetic word; it is a functional, everyday term found on glass doors, digital screens, and in the polite queries of commuters. If you were to walk through a French city, you would encounter this word every few minutes.
- At the Gare (Train Station)
- The most common place to hear it is through the loudspeakers of a train station. An announcement might begin: 'En raison d'un incident technique, les horaires de départ sont perturbés.' (Due to a technical incident, departure times are disrupted). Here, horaires represents the promise of the transport system, and its disruption is a major topic of conversation among waiting passengers.
Regarde sur le panneau d'affichage, les horaires ont encore changé !
- In the Workplace
- Colleagues often discuss their 'horaires de travail.' In France, where the 35-hour work week is a legal standard, discussions about 'faire des heures supplémentaires' (doing overtime) or 'aménager ses horaires' (arranging one's schedule) are constant. You might hear a parent say, 'Je dois partir tôt à cause de mes horaires de garde' (I have to leave early because of my childcare schedule).
- Retail and Administration
- The phrase 'horaires d'ouverture' is plastered on every storefront. In administrative contexts, like at the Mairie (Town Hall) or the Préfecture, the horaires are often restricted, and missing the window by even five minutes can mean waiting another day. People often complain: 'Leurs horaires ne sont pas du tout pratiques !' (Their hours aren't practical at all!).
Vérifie les horaires de la poste, je crois qu'ils ferment à 17h le samedi.
Finally, in the digital age, 'horaires' is a top search term. Phrases like 'horaires cinéma' (movie times) or 'horaires piscine' (pool hours) are what people type into Google. It is a word that bridges the gap between the static printed timetable of the past and the real-time digital updates of the present.
Even for intermediate learners, horaires can be a bit of a trap due to its similarity to other time-related words in both French and English. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your French sound much more natural and precise.
- Confusing 'Heure' and 'Horaire'
- This is the most frequent error. Heure refers to the clock time (It's 5 o'clock) or a duration (I worked for five hours). Horaire refers to the *system* or *schedule*. You don't say 'Quelle horaire est-il ?' (Wrong) to ask the time; you say 'Quelle heure est-il ?'. Conversely, you don't ask for the 'heures de train' (Wrong); you ask for the 'horaires de train'.
Correct: Je n'aime pas mes horaires de travail. (I don't like my work schedule.)
Incorrect: Je n'aime pas mes heures de travail. (This implies you don't like the specific hours themselves, or it sounds like you don't like the amount of time.)
- Gender Confusion
- Many learners assume horaire is feminine because many words ending in '-e' are. However, horaire is masculine. Using feminine adjectives like 'bonnes horaires' or 'les horaires sont longues' is a giveaway of a non-native speaker. It should be 'bons horaires' and 'les horaires sont longs'.
- Misusing 'Emploi du temps'
- While emploi du temps also means schedule, it is specifically used for a person's individual daily or weekly plan (especially for students). Use horaires for public services, shops, and transport. You wouldn't say 'Les horaires de l'étudiant,' you'd say 'L'emploi du temps de l'étudiant.'
Mon emploi du temps est chargé, mais les horaires du bus me permettent de rentrer tôt.
Lastly, avoid using the singular 'horaire' when you mean 'hours of operation.' While 'L'horaire d'ouverture' is grammatically possible, the plural 'Les horaires d'ouverture' is the standard way to refer to the range of time a shop is open. Using the singular can sometimes sound like you are referring to one specific appointment time rather than a general window.
While horaires is the go-to word for general schedules, French offers several nuances depending on whether you are talking about personal planning, project management, or school life. Understanding these synonyms will help you choose the most precise term for your situation.
- Emploi du temps vs. Horaires
- As mentioned, emploi du temps is personal. It literally translates to 'use of time.' If you are a student, your 'emploi du temps' tells you when you have Math vs. French class. Horaires is the rigid, external frame (e.g., the school's opening and closing hours).
- Planning vs. Horaires
- The English loanword le planning is very common in French business. It refers to a project schedule or a roster. If you are assigning shifts to employees, you are making a 'planning.' Horaires refers to the actual hours they will work (e.g., 8:00 to 16:00).
On a fini le planning du projet ; maintenant, fixons les horaires des réunions.
- Calendrier vs. Horaires
- Calendrier is used for dates and long-term timelines. You use a 'calendrier' to see that the meeting is on the 15th of October. You use 'horaires' to see that it starts at 14:30. In sports, 'le calendrier des matchs' is the season schedule, but the 'horaires des matchs' are the specific kickoff times.
- Programme vs. Horaires
- A programme is a sequence of events (e.g., a festival program). While a programme includes times, it focuses more on the *content* of what is happening. Horaires focuses purely on the *clock times*.
Le programme du festival est génial, mais les horaires des concerts se chevauchent.
In summary, choose horaires for anything involving standardized times (transport, shops, work shifts). Choose emploi du temps for your personal day, planning for business organization, and calendrier for dates. Mastering these distinctions will elevate your French from 'functional' to 'fluent'.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The word 'horaire' can be both a noun and an adjective. While we usually use it as a noun (the schedule), in 'fuseau horaire' (time zone), it is an adjective.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'h' (it is always silent in this word).
- Making the 'r' sound like an English 'r'.
- Confusing the pronunciation with 'heure' (er).
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize on signs and documents.
Requires correct spelling and agreement (masculine plural).
Silent 'h' and guttural 'r' can be tricky for beginners.
Clearly articulated in transport announcements.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Agreement of 'Quels'
Quels sont les horaires ? (Quels matches masculine plural)
Silent 'H'
Les horaires (Pronounced as 'lez-o-rer' due to liaison)
Masculine gender of nouns ending in -aire
Un horaire, un dictionnaire, un salaire.
Preposition 'de' for possession/origin
Les horaires de la banque.
Plurality for general concepts
On parle des horaires en général.
Examples by Level
Quels sont les horaires du magasin ?
What are the store hours?
'Quels' agrees with the masculine plural 'horaires'.
Les horaires sont affichés ici.
The hours are posted here.
'Affichés' is the past participle used as an adjective, agreeing with 'horaires'.
J'aime les horaires de ce bus.
I like the schedule of this bus.
Use 'de' to link 'horaires' to the object.
La banque a des horaires bizarres.
The bank has strange hours.
'Bizarres' is an adjective that works for both genders.
Regarde les horaires sur ton téléphone.
Look at the schedule on your phone.
Imperative form of 'regarder'.
Les horaires changent demain.
The hours change tomorrow.
Present tense used for a near future event.
Il n'y a pas d'horaires le dimanche.
There are no hours on Sunday.
'Pas de' is used for negation.
C'est un bon horaire pour moi.
It's a good time/schedule for me.
Singular use of 'horaire' referring to one specific time.
Je dois vérifier les horaires du train pour Lyon.
I need to check the train schedule for Lyon.
'Vérifier' is a common verb paired with 'horaires'.
Mes horaires de travail sont de 9h à 17h.
My work hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM.
'De... à...' expresses a range.
Est-ce que les horaires sont les mêmes le samedi ?
Are the hours the same on Saturdays?
'Les mêmes' indicates identity/similarity.
Les nouveaux horaires commencent lundi prochain.
The new hours start next Monday.
'Nouveaux' is the masculine plural of 'nouveau'.
Il est arrivé en retard à cause des horaires.
He arrived late because of the schedule.
'À cause de' explains the reason.
On peut consulter les horaires sur Internet.
We can check the schedule on the Internet.
'On' is used as a general 'we' or 'one'.
Les horaires d'été sont différents.
The summer hours are different.
'D'été' acts as an adjective.
Elle a des horaires très chargés cette semaine.
She has a very busy schedule this week.
'Chargés' means busy or heavy.
Il est difficile de respecter les horaires avec les embouteillages.
It is difficult to stick to the schedule with the traffic jams.
'Respecter' implies following a set time.
L'entreprise propose des horaires souples à ses employés.
The company offers flexible hours to its employees.
'Souples' is the standard term for flexible.
Selon les horaires officiels, le musée ouvre à dix heures.
According to the official schedule, the museum opens at ten.
'Selon' is a B1 level preposition meaning 'according to'.
J'ai choisi ce vol car les horaires me convenaient mieux.
I chose this flight because the times suited me better.
'Convenir' (to suit) takes the indirect object 'me'.
Le changement d'horaires a perturbé les usagers.
The change of schedule disrupted the users.
'Perturber' is a common B1 verb for disruption.
Mes horaires ne coïncident pas avec les tiens.
My schedule doesn't coincide with yours.
'Les tiens' is a possessive pronoun.
Il faut s'adapter aux horaires de la crèche.
One must adapt to the nursery's hours.
'S'adapter à' requires the contracted article 'aux'.
Les horaires de bureau ne me plaisent plus.
Office hours no longer please me.
'Ne... plus' means 'no longer'.
L'amplitude horaire de ce poste est particulièrement élevée.
The range of hours for this position is particularly high.
'Amplitude horaire' is a professional term for the span of the workday.
La direction a décidé d'aménager les horaires pour l'été.
The management decided to arrange/adjust the hours for the summer.
'Aménager' means to organize or adjust specifically.
Le non-respect des horaires peut entraîner des sanctions.
Failure to follow the schedule can lead to sanctions.
'Non-respect' is a formal noun construction.
Il travaille en horaires décalés depuis deux ans.
He has been working irregular/staggered hours for two years.
'Horaires décalés' refers to shifts outside the 9-5 norm.
L'harmonisation des horaires de train est un défi européen.
The harmonization of train schedules is a European challenge.
'Harmonisation' is a formal B2 noun.
Les horaires d'ouverture ont été réduits faute de personnel.
The opening hours were reduced due to a lack of staff.
'Faute de' is a B2 way to say 'due to lack of'.
Cette réforme vise à assouplir les horaires de travail.
This reform aims to make work hours more flexible.
'Assouplir' is the verb form of 'souple'.
Il est impératif de consulter les horaires avant de réserver.
It is imperative to check the schedule before booking.
'Il est impératif de' is a formal B2 structure.
La rigidité des horaires administratifs freine l'entrepreneuriat.
The rigidity of administrative schedules hinders entrepreneurship.
'Rigidité' and 'freine' are high-level vocabulary.
Le salarié conteste ses horaires devant les prud'hommes.
The employee is contesting his hours before the labor court.
'Prud'hommes' is the specific French labor court.
On assiste à une déstructuration des horaires traditionnels.
We are witnessing a deconstruction of traditional schedules.
'Déstructuration' is a sociological term.
L'optimisation des flux horaires est cruciale pour la logistique.
Optimizing hourly flows is crucial for logistics.
'Flux horaires' refers to the movement of goods/people over time.
Il s'agit d'un horaire de passage purement indicatif.
This is a purely indicative passing time.
'Indicatif' means it's not guaranteed.
Les horaires de marée dictent le rythme de vie du village.
The tide schedules dictate the rhythm of life in the village.
'Dictent le rythme' is a literary expression.
La modulation des horaires permet de faire face aux pics d'activité.
The modulation of hours allows for dealing with activity peaks.
'Modulation' is a technical term for varying work hours.
Elle a dû composer avec des horaires de travail atypiques.
She had to deal with/manage atypical work hours.
'Composer avec' means to manage a difficult situation.
L'aliénation par les horaires de bureau est un thème récurrent.
Alienation through office hours is a recurring theme.
'Aliénation' is a philosophical/Marxist term.
L'ubiquité numérique remet en cause la notion même d'horaire.
Digital ubiquity challenges the very notion of a schedule.
'Remet en cause' means to challenge or question.
L'ordonnance précise les modalités de décompte du temps horaire.
The ordinance specifies the methods for counting hourly time.
'Modalités de décompte' is highly technical legal French.
La synchronisation des horaires à l'échelle planétaire est récente.
The synchronization of schedules on a global scale is recent.
'À l'échelle planétaire' means globally.
Les horaires de prière ponctuent la journée dans cette région.
Prayer times punctuate the day in this region.
'Ponctuent' is a sophisticated verb for marking time.
L'ajustement infra-horaire des prix est une pratique courante.
Sub-hourly price adjustment is a common practice.
'Infra-horaire' means within the hour.
Il déplore la marchandisation du temps à travers les horaires.
He deplores the commodification of time through schedules.
'Marchandisation' is a high-level academic term.
La plasticité des horaires est le corollaire de la liberté individuelle.
The plasticity of schedules is the corollary of individual freedom.
'Plasticité' and 'corollaire' are intellectual terms.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Used to explain a conflict or reason for being unavailable based on work/schedule.
Je ne peux pas venir à cause de mes horaires.
— Depending on what the schedule says.
Selon les horaires, le prochain bus est à 10h.
— Outside of the official operating times.
Il est interdit d'entrer en dehors des horaires d'ouverture.
— A modification to the existing timetable.
Il y a eu un changement d'horaires imprévu.
— To complete one's required working hours.
J'ai fini de faire mes horaires pour la semaine.
— To post or display the schedule publicly.
La mairie doit afficher les horaires de la piscine.
— The specific time a vehicle passes a stop.
Les horaires de passage sont indicatifs.
Idioms & Expressions
— To work very hard without worrying about how many hours are spent.
C'est un passionné, il ne compte pas ses horaires.
Informal— To be very strict and punctual about timing.
Mon patron est très à cheval sur les horaires.
Neutral— To adjust one's life to fit a specific schedule.
On doit s'adapter aux horaires des enfants.
Neutral— To be forced to follow a difficult or inconvenient schedule.
Il subit ses horaires de nuit depuis des mois.
Neutral— To align or coordinate one's schedule with someone else.
On va caler nos horaires pour se voir.
Informal— To have an extremely busy and packed schedule.
Avec son nouveau job, il a des horaires de ministre.
Informal— To live strictly by the clock (less common, usually 'vivre à l'heure').
Elle déteste vivre à l'horaire, elle préfère l'improvisation.
Neutral— A gap or free period in a schedule.
J'ai un trou dans mon horaire entre midi et deux.
Neutral— To be on time according to the plan.
Le pilote fait tout pour respecter l'horaire.
Formal— The schedule is very tight with little room for error.
L'horaire est serré, nous n'avons pas de temps à perdre.
NeutralWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Horrible Hair' day because you didn't check the 'Horaires' of the barber and arrived when they were closed.
Visual Association
Visualize a giant clock (Horloge) turning into a paper list of times (Horaires).
Word Web
Challenge
Try to find the 'horaires d'ouverture' for three different French museums online and write them down.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'horarius', which comes from 'hora' (hour). It entered Middle French to describe things related to time.
Original meaning: Relating to hours or a specific hour.
Romance (Latin)Cultural Context
No specific sensitivities, but be aware that 'horaires' in a religious context refers to prayer times.
In English, we often say 'What are your hours?' whereas in French, it's more common to ask 'Quels sont vos horaires d'ouverture?'
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the train station
- Où sont les horaires ?
- Le train respecte l'horaire.
- Les horaires sont affichés.
- Il y a un changement d'horaires.
At work
- Quels sont mes horaires ?
- J'ai des horaires souples.
- Je travaille en horaires décalés.
- On peut changer les horaires ?
Shopping
- Quels sont les horaires d'ouverture ?
- Le magasin a des horaires d'été.
- C'est ouvert en dehors des horaires ?
- Vérifie les horaires sur la porte.
School
- Les horaires des cours.
- L'emploi du temps et les horaires.
- La cantine a des horaires stricts.
- Respectez les horaires de l'école.
Travel/Tourism
- Les horaires des vols.
- Les horaires du musée.
- Consulter les horaires en ligne.
- Les horaires de marée pour la plage.
Conversation Starters
"Quels sont tes horaires de travail habituels ?"
"Est-ce que tu préfères les horaires de bureau ou les horaires décalés ?"
"Trouves-tu que les horaires des transports en commun sont fiables dans ta ville ?"
"À quelle heure les magasins ferment-ils selon les horaires d'été ?"
"Est-ce difficile pour toi de respecter les horaires le matin ?"
Journal Prompts
Décris tes horaires de travail idéaux. Pourquoi ?
Raconte une fois où tu as raté un train à cause d'un problème d'horaires.
Penses-tu que la société est trop obsédée par les horaires stricts ?
Comment les horaires d'ouverture des magasins influencent-ils ta vie quotidienne ?
Compare les horaires de ton pays avec ceux de la France.
Summary
Use 'les horaires' whenever you are referring to an official or organized set of times, such as 'les horaires de train' or 'les horaires d'ouverture.' It is the structural framework of time.
- Horaires means schedule or timetable.
- It is masculine and usually used in the plural.
- Use it for transport, work, and opening hours.
- Don't confuse it with 'heure' (clock time).
Related Content
More travel words
à bord de
B1On or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
à destination de
B1Bound for; going to a particular place.
à l'étranger
A2In or to a foreign country; abroad.
à pied
A2By walking, on foot.
à quel prix
B1At what cost or amount?
à vélo
B1By bike, using a bicycle for transport.
aboutissement
B1The culmination or completion of a journey or trip.
accès
A2The means or opportunity to approach or enter a place.
accès à bord
B1Boarding, getting onto a vehicle.
accès internet
B1The ability to connect to the internet.
