French Phrase
C'est l'heure de la pause ?
Meaning
Literally, "It is the hour of the break?" In everyday speech it means "Is it break time?" or "Time for a break?" The speaker is checking whether a scheduled pause (e.g., coffee break, study break) should start now.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal or semi‑formal settings such as classrooms, offices, or cafés when you want to confirm that a scheduled break is about to begin. It works well among colleagues, classmates, or friends who share a common timetable.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estl'heuredelapause?
C'est = ce + est
The contraction "C'est" combines the demonstrative pronoun "ce" (this/it) with the verb "être" (to be) and means "it is" or "this is".
l'heure (feminine)
"heure" is a feminine noun; the definite article "la" contracts to "l'" before a vowel sound.
de la (partitive article)
"de la" introduces a noun that is not quantified, here meaning "of the" or "for the" break.
Question intonation
Even without a question word, raising the pitch at the end of the sentence signals a yes‑no question in spoken French.
🗨In Conversation
C'est l'heure de la pause ?
Is it break time?
Oui, on se retrouve à la machine à café dans cinq minutes.
Yes, we'll meet at the coffee machine in five minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est l'heure du pause ?
"Pause" is feminine, so the correct partitive article is "de la", not "du" (masculine).
C'est l'heure de pause ?
The noun needs the definite article "la"; omitting it sounds unnatural.
C'est l'heure de la pause.
When you intend a question, you need either a rising intonation or a question mark; otherwise it reads as a statement.
↔Alternatives
Il est temps de faire une pause.
It's time to take a break.
C'est le moment de la pause.
It's the moment of the break.
On fait une pause maintenant ?
Shall we take a break now?
Cultural Tip
In France, many workplaces and schools have a "pause café" (coffee break) around 10 am and a longer lunch break at midday. Asking "C'est l'heure de la pause ?" is a polite way to signal respect for the shared schedule. In more formal settings you might use "Nous allons prendre une pause" rather than the informal question form.