French Phrase
Il y a des trains toutes les 5-10 minutes.
Meaning
There are trains every five to ten minutes. The phrase conveys an approximate, regular interval rather than an exact schedule.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone how often trains run, especially in a city or on a busy line. It’s handy for travelers, commuters, or when comparing transport options.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilyadestrainstoutesles5-10minutes.
Il y a
The impersonal expression 'Il y a' means 'there is/are' and is used to introduce the existence of something.
Des (indefinite article)
'Des' is the plural indefinite article, used before a plural noun when the exact number is not specified.
Toutes les + intervalle
The phrase 'toutes les' followed by a time interval expresses a regular frequency (e.g., every 5‑10 minutes).
Number range with hyphen
When indicating a range of minutes, write the numbers with a hyphen (5‑10) and treat it as a single unit.
Agreement with 'toutes'
'Toutes' agrees in gender and number with the plural feminine noun 'minutes', hence the extra 's' at the end.
🗨In Conversation
À quelle fréquence les trains passent‑ils à la gare ?
How often do the trains run at the station?
Il y a des trains toutes les 5‑10 minutes.
There are trains every 5‑10 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Il y a des trains tout les 5-10 minutes.
‘Tout’ must agree with the feminine plural noun ‘minutes’, so it becomes ‘toutes les’.
Il y a un train toutes les 5-10 minutes.
When using ‘toutes les’, the noun should stay plural: ‘trains’. Using singular creates a mismatch.
Il y a des trains toutes les 5 - 10 minutes.
Write the range with a hyphen and no spaces; otherwise it looks like two separate numbers.
↔Alternatives
Il y a un train toutes les 5 à 10 minutes.
There is a train every 5 to 10 minutes.
Les trains passent toutes les 5 à 10 minutes.
The trains run every 5 to 10 minutes.
Un train arrive toutes les 5 à 10 minutes.
A train arrives every 5 to 10 minutes.
Cultural Tip
In French timetables, especially in big cities like Paris, frequencies are often given as ranges (e.g., 'toutes les 5‑10 minutes') to reflect slight variations during rush hour. Using this phrase shows you understand the practical, on‑the‑ground way French speakers talk about public transport.