Learn French: Le concours commence à neuf heures. - The competition starts at nine o'clock.

Some French words naturally end in s even in their singular form, like le concours (the competition) or le temps (the time). To make it plural, you do not add another letter; you just change the article. So "the competitions" is simply les concours.

Does "concours" mean the same thing as the English word "concourse"?

No, they are "false friends." While they look very similar, un concours in French usually means a competition, a contest, or a competitive entrance exam. An English "concourse" (like a large open space in an airport) is usually called un hall in French.

Why do we use "à" before "neuf heures"?

The preposition à is used to mean "at" when talking about a specific time on the clock. You will always use it for schedules and appointments, like à neuf heures (at nine o'clock) or à midi (at noon).

Is there a special pronunciation rule for "neuf heures"?

Yes! When neuf (nine) is followed by a word starting with a vowel sound or a silent 'h' (like heures or ans), the f is pronounced like a "v". You will hear this liaison pronounced as if it were written "neuve heures".