French Phrase
Ça te va à 15h ?
Meaning
This phrase is a common and informal way to ask if a specific time or arrangement is suitable or convenient for someone. 'Ça te va' literally means 'that goes for you' but is understood as 'does that suit you?' or 'is that okay with you?'. The 'à 15h' specifies the time, 3 PM.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to propose a time for a meeting, a call, or any activity, and you want to check if it's convenient for the other person. It's suitable for informal contexts with friends, family, or colleagues you have a casual relationship with.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çatevaà15h?
Ça
'Ça' is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'it'. It's very common in spoken French and often replaces 'cela' or 'ceci'.
te
'te' is the informal direct or indirect object pronoun for 'you'. It corresponds to 'tu' (you, informal subject pronoun).
va (from aller)
'va' is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'aller' (to go). In this context, 'ça va' means 'it goes' or 'it suits'.
à
The preposition 'à' is used to indicate a specific time, similar to 'at' in English. For example, 'à 15h' means 'at 3 PM'.
15h
French typically uses the 24-hour clock (military time). '15h' means 15:00, which is 3 PM. 'h' stands for 'heures' (hours).
🗨In Conversation
On pourrait se retrouver pour le café demain. Ça te va à 15h ?
We could meet for coffee tomorrow. Does 3 PM work for you?
Oui, parfait ! À demain alors.
Yes, perfect! See you tomorrow then.
✕Common Mistakes
Est-ce que ça te va à 15h ?
While not strictly incorrect, 'Est-ce que' is often redundant with 'Ça te va?' as the question is already implied by the rising intonation. It can sound a bit clunky in informal speech.
Ça te va pour 15h ?
When referring to a specific time, the preposition 'à' is almost always used in French, not 'pour'.
Ça vous va à 15h ?
This is not a mistake if you intend to be formal or speak to multiple people. However, if you're speaking to a single friend or family member, 'te' (informal 'you') is the correct pronoun.
↔Alternatives
Est-ce que 15h te convient ?
Does 3 PM suit you?
Tu es libre à 15h ?
Are you free at 3 PM?
Ça vous va à 15h ?
Does 3 PM work for you? (formal/plural)
On se voit à 15h ?
Shall we meet at 3 PM?
Cultural Tip
French communication can be quite direct when it comes to practical arrangements like scheduling. Using 'Ça te va à...?' is a very common and natural way to propose and confirm times. While 'vous' is used for formality, 'tu' is widely used among peers, even in professional settings if the relationship is casual. Always consider your relationship with the person when choosing between 'te' and 'vous'.