French Phrase
T'as un moment ?
Meaning
This is a highly common, informal way to ask if someone is free to talk or help. It is a contraction of 'Tu as un moment ?', reflecting how native French speakers naturally shorten words in casual conversation. The phrase implies that you only need a brief amount of their time.
When to use
Use this with friends, family, or close colleagues when you want to interrupt them briefly for a quick question. It is perfect for casual environments but should be avoided in formal professional settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asunmoment
L'élision (T')
The elision of 'tu' to 't' before a vowel is a hallmark of informal spoken French.
Avoir (as)
This is the second-person singular present form of 'avoir', meaning 'to have'.
🗨In Conversation
T'as un moment ?
Do you have a moment?
Oui, je t'écoute.
Yes, I'm listening.
✕Common Mistakes
T'as un temps ?
In French, 'temps' refers to time in a general sense or the weather, whereas 'moment' refers to a specific short duration.
Est-ce que t'as un moment ?
While grammatically fine, adding 'Est-ce que' to the contraction 'T'as' creates a clashing register of formal and informal speech.
↔Alternatives
Tu as une minute ?
Do you have a minute?
T'es dispo ?
Are you available?
Cultural Tip
In spoken French, the 'u' in 'tu' is almost always dropped before a vowel, turning 'tu as' into 't'as'. Mastering these contractions is essential for sounding natural and understanding native speakers in everyday life in France.