French Phrase
Ça prend combien de temps, un virement ?
Meaning
You are asking how long a bank transfer will take to be completed. The speaker is interested in the expected waiting period before the money appears in the recipient’s account.
When to use
Use this question when you are talking to a bank representative, a friend who has just sent you money, or a colleague who handles payments. It is perfectly natural in casual conversation, but in a formal email you would re‑order the sentence.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çaprendcombiendetemps,unvirement?
Ça (pronoun)
Informal demonstrative pronoun meaning “it/that”. In spoken French it often replaces a subject like “cela”.
prend (prendre)
Third‑person singular present of the verb *prendre* – “to take”. Here it means “to take (time)”.
combien de temps
Fixed expression used to ask about duration. It literally means “how much of time”.
un virement
Noun meaning “a transfer”, usually a bank transfer. It is masculine and singular in this sentence.
Word order
In informal spoken French the order “Ça prend combien de temps, X ?” is common; the more formal order is “Combien de temps prend X ?”.
🗨In Conversation
Ça prend combien de temps, un virement ?
How long does a transfer take?
En général, entre un et trois jours ouvrés.
Usually between one and three business days.
✕Common Mistakes
Ça prends combien de temps, un virement ?
The verb should be conjugated as *prend* (third‑person singular) because the subject is “ça”, not “je”.
Ça prend combien le temps, un virement ?
The correct expression is *combien de temps*; the preposition “de” is mandatory.
Ça prend combien de temps, un virement ?
In formal writing you would drop the comma and place the noun before the question: *Combien de temps prend un virement ?*
↔Alternatives
Quel est le délai d'un virement ?
What is the time frame for a transfer?
Combien de temps faut‑il pour un virement ?
How much time is needed for a transfer?
Un virement, ça prend combien de temps ?
A transfer, how long does it take?
Cultural Tip
The use of “ça” makes the sentence sound informal and conversational, which is typical in everyday French. In a formal setting—such as a written request to a bank—prefer the structure “Combien de temps prend un virement ?”. Also, note that French banks often differentiate between “virement SEPA” (European) and “virement international”, which can affect the time needed.