French Phrase
Les vols prennent du retard.
Meaning
This sentence tells the listener that the scheduled flights are experiencing a delay. It is a neutral, factual statement often heard in airport announcements or when informing passengers about the current situation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inform someone—travelers, colleagues, or friends—about flight delays, either in a formal announcement at an airport or in casual conversation about travel plans.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesvolsprennentduretard.
Definite article (Les)
‘Les’ is the plural definite article used before masculine or feminine nouns in the plural.
Noun (vols)
‘vols’ means ‘flights’; it is a masculine plural noun.
Verb (prennent)
‘prennent’ is the third‑person plural present of ‘prendre’ (to take). Here it forms the idiom ‘prendre du retard’ = ‘to be delayed’.
Partitive article (du)
‘du’ = de + le, the partitive article used before uncountable nouns like ‘retard’ to indicate ‘some delay’.
Noun (retard)
‘retard’ means ‘delay’; in this expression it is not a countable noun, hence the partitive ‘du’.
🗨In Conversation
Les vols prennent du retard.
The flights are delayed.
Combien de temps devons‑nous attendre ?
How long do we have to wait?
✕Common Mistakes
Les vols sont retardés.
‘Retardés’ is a past participle that sounds like a permanent state; use the idiom ‘prendre du retard’ for a temporary delay.
Les vols sont en retard.
‘Être en retard’ is used for people being late, not for scheduled services like flights.
Les vols prennent du retardés.
The partitive article ‘du’ cannot be combined with a plural adjective; the correct form is ‘du retard’.
↔Alternatives
Les avions sont en retard.
The planes are late.
Il y a du retard sur les vols.
There is a delay on the flights.
Les départs sont retardés.
Departures are delayed.
Cultural Tip
In French airports, announcements are usually formal and use the verb ‘prendre du retard’ rather than ‘être en retard’. The phrase is neutral and avoids blaming any specific party, which aligns with the French preference for diplomatic language in public communications.