This TIME, you'll get it right! Fois vs temps, briefly explained.

Struggling to choose between FOIS & TEMPS ? Let’s untangle it with some nifty examples to help you with your instant recall. 

The confusion comes from the fact that for both words in English, it’s the same word: “time”. However, in French we have two different words for specific contexts.

Discover:

• The difference between FOIS & TEMPS
• How FOIS is used 
• How TEMPS is used

What does “fois” mean in French?

If you tend to forget the meaning of “fois”, simply remember that it’s when you can count (the number of times): un, deux, trois… Note that the final “s” is silent and the spelling remains the same whether it’s singular or plural.

Let’s see with a concrete example:

• Combien de fois est-ce que tu as promené le chien cette semaine ? >>> How many times have you walked the dog this week?

Another example about any past experience:

• Combien de fois es-tu allé en France cette année ? >>> How many times have you been to France this year?

In this context, you talk more about repetition:

• Tu regardes un film? Ah - je l’ai vu deux fois - il est magnifique. >>> Are you watching a film? Ah - I've already seen it twice - it’s brilliant!

Another way to employ “fois”: with the expression “once upon a time”. In French, the translation would be like this:

• Il était une fois … >>> Once upon a time …

The French word for “temps”and its translations.

Time to explain the second option for the English word “time”: “temps”. Practise your best French pronunciation and don’t pronounce the 2 last letters: “ps”.

For this word, you’ll only have 2 reasons to use it:

• in relation to having time (or not)
• for the weather

In the next parts, we will spend some “temps” to elaborate with examples that speak to you.

How to use “temps” in relation to having time.

Whenever you wish to express the fact you have time or not, you will choose the French word “temps”.

Here’s an example for you:

• Je n’ai pas le temps d’aller à la boulangerie ce matin. >>> I don’t have time to go to the baker’s this morning.

By the way, the word “longtemps” literally means “for a long time”.

How to express frequency in French with “de temps en temps”.

Time to explore another expression related to time: “de temps en temps”. Don’t forget the liaison and be sure to connect the “temps” with “en” because of the “s”.

Not sure how to say it?

• Tu vas souvent dans les montagnes ? De temps en temps. >>> Do you often go into the mountains? From time to time.

Expressing the duration with  “temps”.

Do you wish to express the duration or length of time? The french structure “combien de temps” means “how long”.

It will be like this:

• Combien de temps est-ce que je dois attendre ? >>> How much time have I got to wait for?

Here, you have the same expression but this time with “for how long”. It would be this way:

• Depuis combien de temps est-ce que vous apprenez le français ? >>> How long have you been learning French for?

How to ask about the weather forecast in French.

So, you have seen that the French word “temps” implies the notion of time. However, you can also have it while describing the weather forecast.

The typical question is quite different from the English structure. Therefore, I invite you to be in the French brain without trying to translate it word for word:

• Quel temps fait-il aujourd’hui ? >>> What’s the weather like today?

Never use “temps” for time on the clock!

Oui, you have seen that “temps” is associated with “time”. But, non, you don’t need it when asking or telling time!

See for yourself:

• Quelle heure est-il ? >>> What time is it?

To sum it up, the word ”temps” refers to the passing of time, hours and the time on the clock is at a precise moment, hence “heure”.

“Fois”vs “temps”: two different ways to translate “time” in French.

As you have learned, even if “time” in English can be accepted in various contexts, French requires a specific word in a precise context. Your two options are:

• fois
• temps

For both words, you ignore the final letter(s) and the spelling is exactly the same for the singular and plural (lucky you!).

Since you don’t have to worry about the number, your focus will be on determining the context.

For the frequency and number of times or to start a tale, your option is: fois.

On the contrary, in case that you are talking about having time or not, the length of time and expressions of frequency and asking about the weather, your translation of “time” will be “temps”. 

The only exception you should remember is never translating “time” by “fois” nor “temps” when asking and telling time. The only choice for you is the French word “heure”.

I hope that after having spent some “temps” on this lesson, it will be the last “fois” that you hesitate between the translations of the English word “time”.

But, if you still have any questions, feel free to reach out because it’s not healthy to keep doubts in our brain…