French Phrase
La piscine est ouverte à quelles heures ?
Meaning
This phrase is used to inquire about the operating hours of a swimming pool. It directly asks for the specific times when the pool is accessible to the public. It's a practical question for planning a visit or checking availability.
When to use
You would use this phrase when you want to know the opening and closing times of a swimming pool, whether it's at a hotel, a public facility, or a gym. It's a polite and direct way to get information about when you can use the facilities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
La piscineestouverteà quelles heures
La piscine
'La' is the definite feminine singular article, used with 'piscine' (pool), which is a feminine noun. Always pay attention to noun gender in French.
Est (être)
'Est' is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'être' (to be). It's used here to describe the state of the pool, similar to 'is' in English.
Ouverte
This is the past participle of 'ouvrir' (to open), used as an adjective. It must agree in gender and number with 'la piscine' (feminine singular), hence 'ouverte'.
À quelles heures
This is a common interrogative phrase meaning 'at what times'. 'À' means 'at', and 'quelles' is the feminine plural interrogative adjective agreeing with 'heures' (hours), which is a feminine plural noun.
🗨In Conversation
Bonjour, la piscine est ouverte à quelles heures ?
Hello, at what times is the pool open?
Bonjour ! Elle est ouverte de 9h à 20h tous les jours.
Hello! It's open from 9 AM to 8 PM every day.
✕Common Mistakes
Quand est la piscine ouverte?
While 'quand' means 'when', 'à quelles heures' is more specific for asking about time slots or schedules, implying a range of hours rather than a single point in time.
La piscine est ouvert à quelles heures?
'Piscine' is a feminine noun, so the adjective 'ouvert' (open) must agree in gender and number, becoming 'ouverte'.
↔Alternatives
Quels sont les horaires d'ouverture de la piscine ?
What are the pool's opening hours?
À quelle heure ouvre la piscine ?
At what time does the pool open?
À quelle heure ferme la piscine ?
At what time does the pool close?
Cultural Tip
In France, it's customary to greet staff with 'Bonjour' before asking a question like this. While 'à quelles heures' is direct, adding a 's'il vous plaît' (please) makes it more polite. Public pools often have specific schedules for different activities (e.g., lap swimming, public access, lessons), so be prepared for a detailed answer.