How to Say ‘How long will it take?’ in French
Combien de temps cela va-t-il prendre?
kohm-BYEN duh tahng suh-lah va t il prohn-druh
[kohm-BYEN duh tahng suh-lah va t il prohn-druh]
💬 Usage Tip: [Combien de temps ... va-t-il prendre ?] is a formal question pattern with the verb flipped around. In everyday speech, many people would ask [Ça va prendre combien de temps ?]
🇫🇷 In France: A customer could say this in a boutique, but the flipped form sounds a bit more careful or polished than everyday spoken French. Staff would understand either version immediately.
Phrase Breakdown
Combien de temps
kohm-BYEN duh tahng
Words in this phrase
Combien
[kohm-BYEN]
How much
An inquiry about the quantity or extent of something.
Combien de temps durera la réparation?
How long will the repair take?
de
[duh]
Of
Indicates belonging or relation.
Combien de pièces de rechange sont nécessaires?
How many replacement parts are needed?
temps
[tahng]
Time
The measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues.
Polir la montre prend du temps.
Polishing the watch takes time.
cela
[suh-lah]
That
Refers to a specific thing already mentioned.
Cela va-t-il prendre longtemps pour arriver?
Will that take a long time to arrive?
Va-t-il prendre
va t il prohn-druh
Words in this phrase
va
[va]
Will
Used for future projection of actions.
La montre va-t-elle fonctionner après la réparation?
Will the watch work after the repair?
-t
[t]
It
Pronoun for objects and things.
Va-t-il bien s'ajuster sur votre poignet?
Will it fit well on your wrist?
-il
[il]
He
Pronoun used for males in subject positions.
Que va-t-il faire à propos de la montre?
What will he do about the watch?
prendre
[prohn-druh]
Take
To require a period for an action.
Cela va-t-il prendre toute la journée?
Will it take all day?
Guides for French learners
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer