Date and time notation in France

The 24-hour notation is used in writing with an h as a separator (h for heure, meaning "hour"). Example: 14 h 05 (1405 [14:05] hours or 2:05 pm). Though the correct^{[citation needed]} form includes spaces on both sides of the h, it is common to see them omitted: 14h05. The minutes are usually written with two digits; the hour numbers can be written with or without leading zero.

Generally speaking, French speakers also use the 24-hour clock when they speak. Sometimes the 12-hour clock is used orally, but only in informal circumstances. Since there is no one-to-one equivalent of "am" and "pm" in French, context must be relied on to figure out which one is meant. To clarify, people may use some sentences like "9 heures du matin" (literally "9 o'clock in the morning") or "9 heures du soir" (literally "9 o'clock in the evening")... but most French speakers would still find using the 24-hour clock a more convenient way of expressing time clearly.

• French Republican Calendar