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Il est l'heure de partir.

Il est l'heure de partir.
It is time to leave.
FromLesson 10inHardcore French

Breakdown of Il est l'heure de partir.

être
to be
il
he
de
of
partir
to leave
l'heure
the time

Questions & Answers about Il est l'heure de partir.

What is the literal translation of “Il est l'heure de partir”?
It literally means “It is time to leave.” This sentence is a common way in French to state that the moment for departure has arrived.
Why does the sentence begin with “Il est” instead of just saying “Est” or omitting the subject?
In French, expressions of time or general statements often use the impersonal subject “Il.” It doesn’t refer to a specific person or thing but is a fixed construction—as seen in phrases like “Il est trois heures” or “Il est temps…” This structure is simply how French indicates “it is” in contexts related to time.
What is the grammatical role of “de partir” in the sentence?
The phrase “de partir” is an infinitive construction that follows “l'heure.” The preposition “de” links “l'heure” with the action to be performed. Essentially, it specifies what it is time for—in this case, for leaving.
Why is the article “l’” used before “heure” in this expression?
In French, when referring to a specific moment designated as “the time” or “the hour,” you use the definite article. Because “heure” starts with a vowel, the article “le” contracts to “l’” (a process known as elision), giving us “l'heure.”
Can I also say “Il est temps de partir”? Is there any difference between that and “Il est l'heure de partir”?
Yes, you can say “Il est temps de partir” and it conveys a very similar meaning. Both expressions indicate that it is time to leave. While “l'heure” emphasizes the exact moment, “temps” can feel a bit more general. In most contexts, however, they are interchangeable.
Does this sentence come off as a command, or is it more of a statement?
It is more of a declarative statement. “Il est l'heure de partir” simply states that the time to leave has arrived; it doesn’t directly issue an order but implies that departure is now appropriate. Depending on the context and tone, it can gently suggest that one should leave.
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“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).

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