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Numbers are undeniably important when it comes to interacting with other people, from telling someone how old you are, to finding out how
much something in a store costs, to maybe even exchanging numbers with that cute Frenchie you’ve been chatting with.
Numbers in French aren’t quite as easy as they are in English; at a certain level, they actually require you to do a little math.
But like any other kind of vocabulary, once you’ve memorized and practiced them, they will get easier. I promise.
Contents
1 The numbers 0-10 in French
2 The numbers 11-20 in French
3 The numbers 21-69 in French
4 The numbers 70-79 in French
5 The numbers 80-89 in French
6 The numbers 90-99 in French
7 The French numbers from 100-1000, and beyond!
8 The comma and period switcheroo
9 The big numbers in French
10 Are French numbers also used in Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg?
11 Which number system to use, or Can I take the easy way out?
12 How to memorize French numbers
12.1 A simple exercice to help you learn French numbers
12.2 When you’ve mastered the numbers, you’ll forget the rules
12.3 From pain in the butt, to a reminder that you kick butt!
0 zéro
1 un
2 deux
3 trois
4 quatre
5 cinq
6 six
7 sept
8 huit
9 neuf
10 dix
Try getting to know these numbers by repeating them a few times every day until you’ve got them down.
If you’re one of those people who finds your Zen by counting to ten, why not try doing it in French next time?
Here goes:
11 – onze
12 – douze
13 – treize
14 – quatorze
15 – quinze
16 – seize
17 – dix-sept
18 – dix-huit
19 – dix-neuf
20 – vingt
Let’s look at how to write some of the numbers from 21-69 in French:
21 – vingt-et-un
22 – vingt-deux
23 – vingt-trois
24 – vingt-quatre
25 – vingt-cinq
26 – vingt-six
27 – vingt-sept
28- vingt-huit
29 – vingt-neuf
30 – trente
31 – trente-et-un
32 – trente-deux….
40 – quarante
41 – quarante-et-un
42 – quarante-deux….
50- cinquante
51 – cinquante-et-un
52- cinquante-deux….
60 – soixante
61 – soixante-et-un
62 – soixante-deux…
Pop quiz: How do you say “54” in French? Take a guess, then check it with whatever method you prefer. Did you get it right?
BUT, as we’ve seen with some French numbers, the form that ends in “0” has to be pluralized, since it’s suggesting how many sets of 100 there
are. So, for example, 300 is trois-cents. How do you say “700”? That’s right: sept -cents.
When you want to add a one or ten, it’s also pretty straightforward. Just add the number after “cent”. You don’t even have to add “et” with one.
And, you no longer have to agree cent with the number of hundreds before it.
When you reach 1000, things are even easier because the French decided to throw out the idea of pluralizing mille when there are multiple
thousands.
So, 1000 is mille, and 9000 is neuf-mille. How would you write “6000”? That’s right: six-mille.
The rule continues with the 10,000’s and 100,000’s. 10,000 is written as dix-mille. 100,000 is cent mille.
These big numbers are fairly easy once you get the hang of them. Just remember that every digit has to be accounted for.
For example, write down how you would say the number 1.879.060.
That would be: un-million-huit-cent-soixante-dix-neuf-mille-soixante
Did you get it right?
Another thing to be aware of is that these larger numbers can sometimes be false cognates, so be sure you don’t get them confused with their
English equivalents. This chart can give you some additional insights.
This crazy number system comes from their ancestors, the Gauls, who measured things by twenties.
As a general rule, any country or territory that adopted French due to colonization (Quebec, Algeria, Senegal, New Caledonia….), uses this
number system.
But French-speaking countries and territories that were not colonized by the French are much more reasonable when it comes to numbers.
Here is how the numbers 70-90 work in Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as certain other areas that were either colonized by
Belgium, or simply go against the grain (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jersey, a small portion of southern Quebec….):
90 – nonante
91 – nonante-et-un
92 – nonante-deux
…
Pop quiz: What is “99” in this form of French? That’s right: nonante-neuf. Isn’t that fun to say?
Which number system to use, or Can I take the easy way out?
So, can you just forgo all that math, and use these simpler numbers instead? If you’re focusing on the French spoken in the places that use
them, the answer is, Pourquoi pas? (Why not?).
But if you want to speak French like a French person, or a French-Canadian, or, well, most of the French-speaking population of the world, the
more complex option is the most used and recognized, so it’s best to stick with that.
There’s also the fact that, as I mentioned in the list above, most French speakers recognize the French-from-France numbers, since they’re
found in books, TV shows, movies, etc.
This being said, if you’re really in a bind in a conversation, your mind is blank, but suddenly, you remember septante, many French-speakers will
understand you.
However, outside the areas where they’re normally used, these simplified terms for the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s are perceived as a bit strange or
even silly.
As an American, the reaction they seem to get is similar to what would happen if one of my countrymen (or -ladies) said “Cheerio!” Most
Americans know what that means, but it’s such a British word that it sounds weird coming from one of us, and it would be hard to take the
person seriously.
Then, say or write down what each one is called. Check your answer with the list of numbers written in this article, by searching online for
“[number] en français,” or with this nifty site that lets you type a number in digits into the search bar, revealing the correct name and spelling with
a simple click of the “OK” button. See if the result matches your answer.
For one thing, another tough French rule – that of not pronouncing an s at the end of a plural word – is an asset here.
I’ve been living in France and speaking fluent French for over a decade, and although I use and say numbers pretty much every day, I had
forgotten that many of them have an s at the end.
One numbers-related challenge I do encounter in everyday life in France is that you have to be sure you’re articulating when it comes to
numbers that sound similar.
I usually have to pause and really concentrate on deux and douze. Focusing on their different endings isn’t enough; French people seem to
need you to really take the time to articulate the vowel combinations, as well.
But really, it’s fine. The way to master French numbers isn’t by obsessing over how they’re spelled or why so much math is involved. It’s about
memorizing and, most importantly, using them.
Take a chance by trotting them out in the next French conversation you have (well, if it makes sense to do so, of course), and keep practicing
with the French Together course and the other methods I suggested. These things will really help.
As you start to get the hang of French numbers, you’ll probably still be a little nervous about using them for a while. And then one day, you’ll
suddenly feel all right. It happened to me, and it’s happened for all of my non-native French speaking friends.
Mastering the French numbers makes things a lot easier – and in a way, more exciting.
Here’s the thing: when the average French speaker uses numbers in conversation, they feel nothing.
But most of us non-native speakers feel a sense of triumph any time we do things like give someone our phone number without getting jittery, or
effortlessly rattle off a meeting time. It’s been years since I’ve been able to do these things, and I often still feel a little thrill.
If you’re thinking that this is proof that the French numbers are hard, it’s actually something I’ve seen my non-native English-speaking friends
experience with numbers in my native language, as well.
As a general rule, numbers in any foreign language are tricky, for many reasons. But like any non-native speaker, you’ll become a pro at them,
with practice.
What are you most looking forward to about mastering French numbers?