Asking about the waiting time | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a public waiting area, one adult asks about the wait and decides whether to stay or return later..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Asking about the waiting time to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, quel est le temps d'attente estimé ?

ehk-skew-ZAY mwah, KEL eh luh tahn dah-TAHNT es-tee-MAY? Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?
B

Environ dix minutes, peut-être un peu plus.

ahn-vee-ROHN dee mee-NEWT, puh-TEHTR uhn puh plew. About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.
A

J'ai un autre rendez-vous après.

zhay uhn OH-truh rahn-day-VOO ah-PRAY. I have another appointment after this.
B

Si c'est trop tard, vous pouvez revenir après le déjeuner.

SEE say troh TAR, voo poo-VAY ruh-vuh-NEER ah-PRAY luh day-zhuh-NAY. If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.
A

Est-ce que je garderais ma place si je revenais plus tard ?

ess-kuh zhuh gar-duh-RAY mah PLAHSS see zhuh ruh-vuh-NAY plew TAR? Would I keep my place if I came back later?
B

Il vous faudrait prendre un nouveau ticket après le déjeuner.

eel voo foh-DRAY PRAHN-druh uhn noo-VOH tee-KAY ah-PRAY luh day-zhuh-NAY. You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.
A

Alors, je vais attendre pour l'instant, puisque je suis déjà ici.

ah-LOHR, zhuh vay ah-TAHN-druh poor lan-STAhn, PWEES-kuh zhuh swee day-ZHAH ee-SEE. Then I'll wait for now since I'm already here.
B

Gardez un œil sur l'écran, s'il vous plaît.

gar-DAY uhn NUH-yuh sewr lay-KRAHN, seel voo PLAY. Please keep an eye on the screen.

Word by Word

Excusez-moi “Excusez-moi” is the polite “excuse me” used to get someone’s attention. “Excusez” gives the request and “moi” identifies the speaker; use the whole expression when politely starting a question to a stranger or staff member.
quel “quel” asks what or which in “quel est le temps d'attente estimé ?”. It is used before the thing being asked about, such as a service detail in a public waiting area.
est “est” means “is” in “quel est le temps d'attente estimé ?”. It links the question word to the information being requested, and the same form is useful in questions about what something is.
le “le” means “the” in “le temps d'attente”, identifying the specific waiting-time information under discussion. Use it before a noun when referring to a particular thing or category.
temps “temps” means “time” in “le temps d'attente estimé”, referring here to the duration before service. Use it in a time expression when asking or talking about how long a wait lasts.
d'attente “d'attente” contributes the idea of waiting in “le temps d'attente estimé”, so the phrase specifies waiting time. Use this part after “temps” when describing a period spent waiting for a service.
estimé “estimé” means “estimated” in “le temps d'attente estimé”, showing that the duration is an approximation rather than a fixed fact. It is useful after a time expression when giving an approximate service time.
Environ “Environ” means “about” or “approximately” before “dix minutes”. Use it before a number when giving an estimate, such as an approximate waiting time.
minutes “minutes” names the units of the estimated wait in “dix minutes”. Use it after a number when stating a duration in a waiting-time or scheduling conversation.
peut-être “peut-être” means “maybe” and introduces uncertainty about “un peu plus”. “Peut” supplies the possibility and “être” completes the fixed expression; use the whole form when an estimate is not certain.
un “un” helps form the small quantity “un peu” in “un peu plus”. Use it with “peu” when referring to a small amount or degree.
peu “peu” means “a little” in “un peu plus”, indicating a small additional amount of time. Use “un peu” before an amount or description when the difference is small.
plus “plus” means “more” here, referring to more waiting time in “un peu plus”. Use it after an amount when saying that the actual duration may extend beyond the estimate.
J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” in “J'ai un autre rendez-vous après.” It introduces something belonging to the speaker’s schedule, so use it before a noun when mentioning an appointment or another obligation.
autre “autre” means “another” in “un autre rendez-vous”, pointing to an additional appointment besides the current situation. Use it before a noun when referring to one more item, event, or obligation.
rendez-vous “rendez-vous” means “appointment” in “un autre rendez-vous”. “Rendez” and “vous” are the two parts of this fixed expression, but the appointment meaning belongs to the whole noun; use the whole form for a scheduled meeting.
après “après” places the appointment later than the current situation in “J'ai un autre rendez-vous après.” Use it to establish a time relation between one event and a later event, especially when discussing a schedule.
Si “Si” means “if” and begins the condition “Si c'est trop tard”. Use “Si” before a clause when explaining what will happen under a particular condition, such as whether someone should return later.
c'est “c'est” means “it is” or “that is” in “Si c'est trop tard”, referring to the waiting situation being too late. Use it before a description when evaluating a situation.
trop “trop” means “too” in “trop tard”, showing that the time would be later than acceptable. Use it before a description when something exceeds a practical limit.
tard “tard” means “late” in “c'est trop tard”. Together with “trop”, it evaluates the waiting time; use it when deciding whether a time is still acceptable.
vous “vous” means “you” in the polite address to the adult in “vous pouvez revenir”. It can address one person politely or more than one person, and it appears before the verb in this sentence.
pouvez “pouvez” means “can” in “vous pouvez revenir”, expressing that the person has the option or ability to return. Use it with “vous” and an infinitive when offering or describing an available action.
revenir “revenir” means “come back” in “vous pouvez revenir après le déjeuner”. It is the action made possible by “pouvez”; use it after a verb of ability when someone returns to the same place.
Est-ce que “Est-ce que” introduces a yes-or-no question in “Est-ce que je garderais ma place si je revenais plus tard ?”. “Est-ce” and “que” work together as a question frame, which is useful when asking politely about a rule or possibility.
je “je” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “je garderais ma place”. Use it before the verb when describing your own action, situation, or possibility.
garderais “garderais” means “would keep” in “je garderais ma place”, expressing a hypothetical result. Use this form when asking what would happen to something you want to retain under a possible condition.
ma “ma” means “my” in “ma place”, marking the place as belonging to or being held by the speaker. Use it directly before a noun when referring to something associated with you.
place “place” means “place” or “spot” here, specifically the speaker’s position in the line in “garderais ma place”. Use it with a possessive expression when talking about keeping a position in a queue.
revenais “revenais” describes the possible return in “si je revenais plus tard”; the speaker is considering what would happen if they came back. Use it in a hypothetical condition about returning later.
Il “Il” does not refer to a person in “Il vous faudrait prendre un nouveau ticket”; it opens an impersonal expression about what would be needed. Use this kind of impersonal frame when stating a requirement.
faudrait “faudrait” means “would be needed” in “Il vous faudrait prendre un nouveau ticket”. It expresses a conditional requirement, useful when explaining what someone must do if a particular choice is made.
prendre “prendre” means “take” in “prendre un nouveau ticket”, referring to obtaining a ticket for a new turn. Use it before an object when describing the action of taking or getting something.
nouveau “nouveau” means “new” in “un nouveau ticket”, indicating that the ticket would not be the original one. Use it before a noun when identifying a replacement or additional item.
ticket “ticket” means “ticket” in “prendre un nouveau ticket”, referring to the numbered ticket used for the waiting process. Use it as the object of an action such as taking or getting a ticket.
déjeuner “déjeuner” means “lunch” in “après le déjeuner”, providing the time reference for returning. Use it after a time preposition when locating an action around the midday meal.
Alors “Alors” means “then” and marks the speaker’s decision in “Alors, je vais attendre”. Use it at the start of a response when drawing a conclusion from the information just given.
vais “vais” means “am going to” in “je vais attendre”, expressing the speaker’s immediate plan. Use it with an infinitive to state what you intend to do next.
attendre “attendre” means “wait” in “je vais attendre pour l'instant”. It is the planned action after “vais”; use it when deciding to remain until service or information is available.
pour “pour” contributes “for” to the time expression “pour l'instant”, which means “for now”. Use this expression when describing a temporary decision or situation that applies at the present moment.
l'instant “l'instant” means “the moment” in “pour l'instant”, and the whole phrase refers to now or the present period. Use “pour l'instant” when saying that a choice is temporary.
puisque “puisque” means “since” or “because” and introduces the reason “je suis déjà ici”. Use it before a reason that supports a decision, especially when the reason is already clear in the conversation.
suis “suis” means “am” in “je suis déjà ici”, describing the speaker’s current state and location. Use it after “je” before a location or description.
déjà “déjà” means “already” in “je suis déjà ici”, emphasizing that the speaker is in the waiting area now. Use it to show that a situation was true before the present decision.
ici “ici” means “here” and identifies the speaker’s current location in “je suis déjà ici”. Use it with a verb of being when referring to the place where the speaker is present.
Gardez “Gardez” gives the polite instruction “keep” or “watch” in “Gardez un œil sur l'écran”. It is useful at the beginning of a request telling someone to continue monitoring something.
œil “œil” literally means “eye”, but in “Gardez un œil sur l'écran” it is part of the expression for keeping watch. The whole expression means to monitor the screen; use the pattern “Gardez un œil sur” when directing attention to something.
sur “sur” means “on” in “un œil sur l'écran”, identifying the screen as the object being watched. Use it in this monitoring pattern to name what someone should keep an eye on.
l'écran “l'écran” means “the screen” in “Gardez un œil sur l'écran”, the display that the person should monitor. Use it after “sur” when directing someone’s attention to a screen.
s'il vous plaît “s'il vous plaît” means “please” and makes “Gardez un œil sur l'écran” a polite request. “S'il” combines the opening conditional words, “vous” refers to the person addressed, and “plaît” completes the fixed expression; use the whole phrase when making a courteous request.

Grammar Points

Il vous faudrait + infinitif

Il vous faudrait prendre un nouveau ticket.

eel voo foh-DRAY PRAHN-druh uhn noo-VOH tee-KAY.

You would need to get a new ticket.

“Il vous faudrait” uses the conditional to express a polite or hypothetical need.

Si + condition, ...

Si c'est trop tard, vous pouvez revenir après déjeuner.

SEE say troh TAR, voo poo-VAY ruh-vuh-NEER ah-PRAY day-zhuh-NAY.

If it is too late, you can come back after lunch.

“Si” introduces a condition; the result follows in the main clause.

French Vocabulary

autre det
OH-truh another; other

un autre rendez-vous

dix num
DEES ten

dix minutes

environ adv
ahn-vee-ROHN about; approximately

Environ dix minutes

estimé adj
es-tee-MAY estimated

le temps d'attente estimé

Excusez-moi phrase
ehk-skew-ZAY mwah Excuse me

Excusez-moi, quel est le temps d'attente estimé ?

peut-être adv
puh-TEHTR maybe; perhaps

peut-être un peu plus

quel det
KEL what; which

quel est le temps d'attente estimé

rendez-vous noun
rahn-day-VOO appointment

un autre rendez-vous

si conj
SEE if

Si c'est trop tard

temps d'attente phrase
tahn dah-TAHNT waiting time

le temps d'attente estimé

trop tard phrase
troh TAR too late

Si c'est trop tard

un peu plus phrase
uhn puh plew a little longer; a little more

peut-être un peu plus

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have another appointment after this.

Show AnswerJ'ai un autre rendez-vous après.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

what; which

Show Answerquel

about; approximately

Show Answerenviron

another; other

Show Answerautre

estimated

Show Answerestimé