French Phrase
Les week-ends, c'est du temps pour soi.
Meaning
Literally, "Weekends, it's some time for oneself." The sentence stresses that weekends are meant to be personal, restorative time, not just a slot for errands or work.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to explain why you keep your weekends free, talk about the importance of self‑care, or contrast weekend leisure with a busy weekday schedule.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesweek-ends,c'estdutempspoursoi.
Les (definite article, plural)
Used before a plural noun to indicate "the"; here it introduces the plural noun "week-ends".
week-ends (borrowed noun)
A masculine plural noun borrowed from English; pluralized with an "s".
c'est (ce + est)
A fixed expression meaning "it is"; used before a noun or noun phrase to identify or describe something.
du (partitive article)
Combines "de" + "le"; used before an uncountable noun like "temps" to mean "some" or "a portion of".
pour soi (preposition + reflexive pronoun)
Means "for oneself"; "soi" is an impersonal reflexive pronoun used after prepositions.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est‑ce que tu fais ce week‑end ?
What are you doing this weekend?
Les week‑ends, c'est du temps pour soi.
Weekends are time for myself.
✕Common Mistakes
Les week‑ends, c’est du temps pour vous.
Using "vous" changes the meaning to "for you (plural or formal)"; the original phrase is about personal time in general, not addressing someone.
Les week‑ends, c’est du temps pour soi‑même.
While grammatically correct, "soi‑même" is more emphatic and slightly formal; beginners often over‑use it when the simpler "soi" suffices.
Les week‑ends, c’est du temps pour mon.
"Mon" is a possessive adjective and cannot stand alone; you need a noun after it (e.g., "mon temps").
↔Alternatives
Le week‑end, c'est du temps pour moi.
The weekend is time for me.
Le week‑end, c'est du temps pour soi‑même.
The weekend is time for oneself.
Le week‑end, c'est du temps personnel.
The weekend is personal time.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking cultures, the weekend (samedi‑dimanche) is traditionally a period for family meals, leisurely activities, and personal hobbies. The phrase "temps pour soi" reflects a growing awareness of self‑care, especially in urban areas where work‑life balance is a hot topic.