French Phrase
L'attente dure environ 15 minutes.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the period they will have to wait is roughly fifteen minutes. It is a neutral, factual statement that can be used in many everyday situations where timing matters.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone about the length of a wait – at a restaurant, a doctor's office, a train station, or when giving directions to a service desk. It works both in formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
L'attentedureenviron15minutes.
L'attente
Feminine noun ‘attente’ (wait) preceded by the elided article l' because it begins with a vowel.
dure
Third‑person singular present of the verb ‘durer’ (to last). No subject pronoun needed because the noun before it is the subject.
environ
Adverb meaning ‘approximately, about’. It modifies the whole time expression that follows.
15 minutes
Number + plural noun. In French the number is written without a space before the noun, and the noun ‘minutes’ stays plural after a number greater than one.
🗨In Conversation
Excusez‑moi, combien de temps faut‑il attendre ?
Excuse me, how long do we have to wait?
L'attente dure environ 15 minutes.
The wait lasts about 15 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
L'attente dure environner 15 minutes.
‘Environner’ is a verb meaning ‘to surround’; the adverb you need is ‘environ’.
L'attente d'environ 15 minutes.
The verb ‘durer’ is not followed by ‘de’; simply say ‘dure environ’.
L'attente dure environ 15 minute.
After a number greater than one, the noun must stay plural: ‘minutes’.
↔Alternatives
L'attente est d'environ 15 minutes.
The wait is about 15 minutes.
Il faut compter environ 15 minutes d'attente.
You should count on about 15 minutes of waiting.
Vous devrez attendre environ 15 minutes.
You will have to wait about 15 minutes.
Cultural Tip
In France punctuality is valued, especially in professional settings. When you’re told a wait is ‘environ 15 minutes’, expect it to be close to that time, but be prepared for a few extra minutes, especially in busy cafés or at popular tourist sites. Using the polite form (vous) shows respect, while ‘tu’ can be used with friends or in very informal contexts.