How do you say “The eleventh hour” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is À la dernière minute, which literally means “At the last minute”. English speakers use the eleventh hour to mean the last possible moment before a deadline or an important event. The common choice for a decision or event just before a deadline. It is neutral and common in everyday French.
Closest natural French
À la dernière minute
/a la dɛʁ.njɛʁ mi.nyt/
- Literal meaning
- “At the last minute”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
93 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
English uses an hour and French uses the final minute. Both place the event very close to being too late.
The French phrase is more everyday and less dramatic. “In extremis” better captures a last possible rescue.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
Au dernier moment
Literally: “At the last moment”
A close everyday alternative.
In extremis
Literally: “At the extremes”
More dramatic, for something achieved only just in time.
Don't translate it literally
À la onzième heure
This may be understood in a religious or translated context, but is not the usual everyday deadline phrase.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.
In context
English
They reached an agreement at the eleventh hour.
French
Ils ont trouvé un accord à la dernière minute.
English
Help arrived at the eleventh hour.
French
Les secours sont arrivés au dernier moment.
Related expressions
- What “The eleventh hour” means in English
- Miss the boat, To be too late for an opportunity.
- By the skin of your teeth, Just barely managing to succeed or escape danger.
Last reviewed 2026-09-12