French Phrase
En général, ça prend 3 à 5 jours ouvrés.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that, under normal circumstances, a process (like shipping, a refund, or a paperwork) usually lasts between three and five business days.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to give a realistic time estimate for a service, delivery, or administrative procedure, especially in customer‑service emails, phone calls, or face‑to‑face conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Engénéral,çaprend3à5joursouvrés.
En général
An adverbial phrase meaning 'generally' or 'usually', placed at the beginning for emphasis.
ça
Colloquial short form of 'cela', used in spoken French to refer to a situation or process.
prend
Third‑person singular of the verb *prendre* (to take), here meaning 'it takes'.
jours ouvrés
Literally 'working days'; counts only Monday‑Friday days, excluding weekends and public holidays.
🗨In Conversation
Combien de temps faut‑il pour recevoir le colis ?
How long does it take to receive the package?
En général, ça prend 3 à 5 jours ouvrés.
Generally, it takes 3 to 5 business days.
✕Common Mistakes
En général, ça prend 3 à 5 jours ouvrés.
In formal writing, replace the colloquial "ça" with "cela" or "cela prend".
En général, ça prend 3 à 5 jours ouvrables.
Do not confuse "jours ouvrés" with "jours ouvrables"; the latter also excludes Saturdays in some contexts.
En général, ça prend 3-5 jours ouvrés.
When writing the range in formal text, use spaces around the dash: "3 à 5" or write it out "trois à cinq".
↔Alternatives
En principe, cela prend 3 à 5 jours ouvrables.
In principle, it takes 3 to 5 working days.
Habituellement, il faut entre 3 et 5 jours ouvrés.
Usually, it takes between 3 and 5 business days.
Normalement, le délai est de 3 à 5 jours ouvrés.
Normally, the delay is 3 to 5 business days.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries, "jours ouvrés" excludes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. If you say "jours calendaires", you count every day, including weekends. Choose the term that matches the expectations of your audience, especially in formal business communication.