French Phrase
J'essaie de me coucher avant 23h.
Meaning
I try to go to bed before 11 p.m. The verb "coucher" is used reflexively (me coucher) to indicate the act of going to sleep, and the time is expressed with the 24‑hour clock.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about your sleep routine, setting personal goals, or giving advice about healthy habits. It works well in casual conversation, health‑related discussions, or when planning a day’s schedule.
✦Grammar Breakdown
J'essaiedemecoucheravant23h.
J' (Je)
Subject pronoun "je" contracts to "j'" before a vowel or mute h.
essaie
Present tense of the verb "essayer" (to try); conjugated for "je".
de + infinitive
"de" introduces the infinitive that follows a verb of trying, wanting, etc.
me coucher
Reflexive infinitive meaning "to go to bed"; the reflexive pronoun matches the subject.
avant
Preposition meaning "before" when referring to time.
23h
24‑hour clock notation for 11 p.m.; commonly used in written French.
🗨In Conversation
Tu te couches tard ces jours‑ci ?
Are you going to bed late these days?
Oui, j'essaie de me coucher avant 23h.
Yes, I try to go to bed before 11 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
J'essaie de coucher avant 23h.
The verb must be reflexive here; you need the pronoun "me" to mean "go to bed".
J'essaie de me coucher à 23h.
"à" means "at"; the sentence calls for "avant" (before).
J'essayer de me coucher avant 23h.
When followed by an infinitive, "essayer" contracts to "essaie" for "je"; using the infinitive form "essayer" is incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Je tente de me coucher avant 23h.
I’m trying to go to bed before 11 p.m.
Je m'efforce d'aller au lit avant 23h.
I make an effort to go to bed before 11 p.m.
Je veux me coucher avant 23h.
I want to go to bed before 11 p.m.
Cultural Tip
In France dinner is often served around 8 p.m., but many people still aim to be in bed by 23h, especially on weekdays. The 24‑hour clock (23h) is the standard in written French, while spoken French may also say "vingt‑trois heures" or simply "vingt‑trois".