French phrase
Combien de temps cela prend-il ?
Meaning
How long does it take?
When to use it
Asks how much time something requires. The formal inversion sounds slightly polished and suits practical time estimates.
Example dialogue
Combien de temps cela prend-il ?
How long does it take?
Pour le gâteau, environ 45 minutes.
For the cake, about 45 minutes.