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

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2022-05-19
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Look at these sentences:

Je suis désolé d'être en retardI'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 

See also Expressing timeliness in French - late/early - precise

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Examples and resources

Julie arrive en retard tous les jours.Julie arrives late every day
Tu étais en retard ce matin!You were late this morning!
La réunion a commencé en avanceThe meeting started early
Je ne suis jamais à l'heure!I am never on time!
Ne venez pas en avance, s'il-vous-plaît!Don't come early, please!
Vous êtes vraiment en avance!You are really early!
Stéphane est arrivé à l'heure à l'écoleStéphane arrived on time to school
Je suis désolé d'être en retardI'm sorry I'm late
Nous voulons vraiment arriver à l'heureWe really want to arrive on time
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