French Phrase
Il va arriver quand, là ?
Meaning
Literally, “He’s going to arrive when, then?” It’s a casual way to ask for the exact time someone will show up, with the particle *là* adding a touch of impatience or emphasis.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal spoken French – with friends, family, or coworkers you’re comfortable with – when you need to know the precise moment someone will arrive, especially if you’re waiting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilvaarriverquandlà?
Subject pronoun (Il)
The third‑person singular pronoun used for masculine nouns or people.
Near‑future construction (va + infinitif)
‘Va’ (from *aller*) + infinitive expresses an action that will happen soon, similar to ‘going to’ in English.
Infinitive verb (arriver)
The base form of the verb ‘to arrive’; it follows the near‑future auxiliary without any conjugation.
Interrogative adverb (quand)
Means ‘when’; placed after the verb in spoken French to form a question.
Filler particle (là)
A colloquial particle that adds emphasis or a slight sense of impatience, roughly ‘then’ or ‘you know’ in English.
🗨In Conversation
Il va arriver quand, là ?
When is he going to arrive, then?
Vers dix heures, je crois.
Around ten o’clock, I think.
✕Common Mistakes
Il arrivera quand, là ?
In formal writing you’d use the simple future *arrivera*; the near‑future is informal.
Il va arriver quand là ?
The comma after *quand* is important; without it the phrase sounds rushed and can be mis‑heard as *quand là* (when there).
Il va arriver quand là?
Do not place *là* at the very end without a pause; it should be separated by a brief pause or a comma.
↔Alternatives
Il arrive quand ?
When does he arrive?
C’est quand qu’il arrive ?
When is he arriving?
Il sera là quand ?
When will he be here?
Cultural Tip
The particle *là* is a typical spoken‑French filler that conveys a slight sense of impatience or insistence. It’s perfectly natural in everyday conversation, but you should drop it in formal contexts (e.g., business emails or presentations). Also, note that the near‑future *va + infinitif* is more common in spoken French than the simple future *arrivera*.