Learning to count in a foreign language can be surprisingly challenging, yet it’s a fundamental skill for travel, communication, and understanding the culture. Knowing how to say numbers like 47 in French is more than just memorization; it’s about grasping the underlying structure of the French number system.
This article breaks down the process of saying “47” in French, explains the rules governing number formation, and provides ample examples and practice exercises to solidify your understanding. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate French numbers with ease.
This article is designed for anyone learning or teaching French, from absolute beginners to those looking to refine their numerical fluency. It covers the pronunciation, spelling, and grammatical nuances of French numbers, specifically focusing on the number 47.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to accurately say and understand “47” in French, as well as apply the principles learned to other numbers.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition: “Forty-Seven” in French
- Structural Breakdown of “Quarante-Sept”
- Pronunciation Guide
- Usage Rules for Numbers in French
- Examples of Using 47 in French
- Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics: Nuances of French Numbers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition: “Forty-Seven” in French
In French, the number 47 is written as “quarante-sept.” This compound number is formed by combining the number 40 (quarante) with the number 7 (sept). Understanding how this combination works is crucial for mastering other French numbers as well.
The French number system, up to a certain point, is relatively straightforward. However, it has some unique characteristics, especially when dealing with numbers above 69. The number 47 falls into a simpler category, making it a good starting point for understanding French number formation. It’s essential to note the hyphen between quarante and sept, as this is a standard convention for numbers between 21 and 69 (excluding the tens).
The number 47 functions just like any other cardinal number in French. It is used for counting, indicating quantities, ages, dates, addresses, and more.
Mastering its pronunciation and spelling is a foundational step in learning French.
Structural Breakdown of “Quarante-Sept”
The number “quarante-sept” is a combination of two distinct elements. Breaking down these elements clarifies the structure and logic behind the number.
Components of “Quarante-Sept”
- Quarante: This is the French word for “forty.” It is derived from the Latin word “quadraginta.”
- Sept: This is the French word for “seven.” It is derived from the Latin word “septem.”
The hyphen (-) that connects “quarante” and “sept” is significant. It indicates that these two words are combined to form a single numerical value.
This hyphen is required for all compound numbers between 21 and 69 (except the tens like 30, 40, 50, etc.).
Therefore, “quarante-sept” literally translates to “forty-seven.” This structure highlights a key aspect of the French number system: the additive nature of combining tens and units.
Understanding the Role of Each Component
The “quarante” component establishes the “tens” place value, indicating that the number is in the forties. The “sept” component then specifies the exact unit value, adding seven to the forty.
This additive principle is consistent throughout the French number system, making it relatively easy to learn once the basic building blocks (numbers 1-20 and the tens) are mastered.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronouncing “quarante-sept” correctly involves understanding the individual sounds of each component and how they blend together. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Phonetic Breakdown
- Quarante: Pronounced approximately as /ka.ʁɑ̃t/.
- /ka/: Similar to the “ca” in “car.”
- /ʁɑ̃/: A nasal vowel sound. The “r” is a guttural sound produced in the back of the throat.
- /t/: A “t” sound, but often silent at the end of “quarante” when it stands alone.
- Sept: Pronounced approximately as /sɛt/.
- /sɛ/: Similar to the “se” in “set.”
- /t/: A “t” sound, which is pronounced.
Putting It Together
When combined, “quarante-sept” is pronounced as /ka.ʁɑ̃t.sɛt/. The “t” at the end of “quarante” is usually silent when it’s not followed by a word starting with a vowel or a silent “h.” However, in “quarante-sept,” the “t” sound is often linked to the “s” of “sept” in fluent speech, creating a subtle liaison.
This liaison makes the pronunciation smoother.
Tips for Pronunciation
- Practice the Nasal Sound: The /ʁɑ̃/ sound can be tricky for English speakers. Practice saying words like “restaurant” and “enfant” to get a feel for it.
- Pay Attention to Liaisons: In French, liaisons are common, especially in formal speech. Listen carefully to native speakers to hear how they link words together.
- Use Online Resources: Many websites and apps offer audio recordings of French words and phrases. Use these resources to practice your pronunciation.
Usage Rules for Numbers in French
Understanding the rules governing the use of numbers in French is crucial for accuracy. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:
Hyphenation
As mentioned earlier, numbers between 21 and 69 (except the tens) require a hyphen. This rule applies to “quarante-sept.”
Agreement
Numbers generally do not change based on gender or number. However, there are a few exceptions:
- Un (1): Agrees in gender. Un (masculine) and une (feminine). For example: un garçon (a boy), une fille (a girl).
- Vingt (20) and Cent (100): When multiplied and not followed by another number, they take an “s” in the plural. For example: quatre-vingts (eighty), quatre cents (four hundred). However, quatre-vingt-un (eighty-one) and quatre cent dix (four hundred ten) do not take an “s.”
Placement
Numbers typically precede the noun they modify. For example: quarante-sept livres (forty-seven books).
Ordinal Numbers
To express “forty-seventh,” you would use the ordinal number quarante-septième. Ordinal numbers indicate position or order in a sequence.
Examples of Using 47 in French
To fully grasp the usage of “quarante-sept,” it’s helpful to see it in various contexts. Here are some examples:
Age
When expressing age, you use the phrase “avoir [number] ans” (to be [number] years old).
Here’s a table showing examples of expressing age using “quarante-sept”:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’ai quarante-sept ans. | I am forty-seven years old. |
| Elle a quarante-sept ans. | She is forty-seven years old. |
| Il a quarante-sept ans. | He is forty-seven years old. |
| Nous avons quarante-sept ans. | We are forty-seven years old. |
| Vous avez quarante-sept ans. | You are forty-seven years old. |
| Ils ont quarante-sept ans. | They are forty-seven years old. |
| Ma grand-mère a quarante-sept ans de plus que moi. | My grandmother is forty-seven years older than me. |
| Ce chêne a environ quarante-sept ans. | This oak tree is about forty-seven years old. |
| Le film a été tourné il y a quarante-sept ans. | The movie was filmed forty-seven years ago. |
| Elle a célébré son quarante-septième anniversaire. | She celebrated her forty-seventh birthday. |
| Il travaille dans cette entreprise depuis quarante-sept ans. | He has been working in this company for forty-seven years. |
| Nous vivons dans cette maison depuis quarante-sept ans. | We have been living in this house for forty-seven years. |
| Vous semblez beaucoup plus jeune que quarante-sept ans. | You look much younger than forty-seven. |
| Ils se sont mariés il y a quarante-sept ans. | They got married forty-seven years ago. |
| Ce livre a été publié il y a quarante-sept ans. | This book was published forty-seven years ago. |
| Le monument a été érigé il y a quarante-sept ans. | The monument was erected forty-seven years ago. |
| Elle a commencé à peindre à l’âge de quarante-sept ans. | She started painting at the age of forty-seven. |
| Il a pris sa retraite à l’âge de quarante-sept ans. | He retired at the age of forty-seven. |
| Nous avons visité Paris il y a quarante-sept ans. | We visited Paris forty-seven years ago. |
| Vous avez l’air en pleine forme pour quelqu’un de quarante-sept ans. | You look in great shape for someone who is forty-seven. |
| Ils ont acheté leur première maison il y a quarante-sept ans. | They bought their first house forty-seven years ago. |
| La découverte a été faite il y a quarante-sept ans. | The discovery was made forty-seven years ago. |
| Elle a reçu son diplôme à l’âge de quarante-sept ans. | She received her degree at the age of forty-seven. |
| Il a commencé son entreprise à l’âge de quarante-sept ans. | He started his business at the age of forty-seven. |
Quantity
Here are examples of using “quarante-sept” to express quantity:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’ai acheté quarante-sept pommes. | I bought forty-seven apples. |
| Il y a quarante-sept étudiants dans la classe. | There are forty-seven students in the class. |
| Nous avons quarante-sept bouteilles de vin. | We have forty-seven bottles of wine. |
| Elle a collectionné quarante-sept timbres différents. | She has collected forty-seven different stamps. |
| Il a planté quarante-sept arbres dans son jardin. | He planted forty-seven trees in his garden. |
| Nous avons visité quarante-sept pays différents. | We have visited forty-seven different countries. |
| Vous avez quarante-sept minutes pour terminer l’examen. | You have forty-seven minutes to finish the exam. |
| Ils ont vendu quarante-sept voitures ce mois-ci. | They sold forty-seven cars this month. |
| Le livre contient quarante-sept chapitres. | The book contains forty-seven chapters. |
| Le restaurant a quarante-sept places assises. | The restaurant has forty-seven seats. |
| Elle a reçu quarante-sept lettres d’amour. | She received forty-seven love letters. |
| Il a parcouru quarante-sept kilomètres à vélo. | He cycled forty-seven kilometers. |
| Nous avons besoin de quarante-sept votes pour gagner. | We need forty-seven votes to win. |
| Vous avez quarante-sept amis sur Facebook. | You have forty-seven friends on Facebook. |
| Ils ont trouvé quarante-sept pièces d’or. | They found forty-seven gold coins. |
| La recette demande quarante-sept grammes de sucre. | The recipe calls for forty-seven grams of sugar. |
| Elle a résolu quarante-sept problèmes de maths. | She solved forty-seven math problems. |
| Il a regardé quarante-sept épisodes de la série. | He watched forty-seven episodes of the series. |
| Nous avons cueilli quarante-sept fleurs dans le jardin. | We picked forty-seven flowers in the garden. |
| Vous avez gagné quarante-sept euros au loto. | You won forty-seven euros in the lottery. |
| Ils ont construit quarante-sept maisons dans le quartier. | They built forty-seven houses in the neighborhood. |
| Le musée expose quarante-sept sculptures. | The museum exhibits forty-seven sculptures. |
| Elle a peint quarante-sept tableaux. | She painted forty-seven paintings. |
| Il a écrit quarante-sept poèmes. | He wrote forty-seven poems. |
Other Contexts
Here are some examples of “quarante-sept” used in other contexts:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| C’est le numéro quarante-sept. | It’s number forty-seven. |
| L’autobus numéro quarante-sept arrive. | Bus number forty-seven is arriving. |
| La température est de quarante-sept degrés Celsius. | The temperature is forty-seven degrees Celsius. |
| Nous sommes en l’an quarante-sept avant Jésus-Christ. | We are in the year forty-seven before Christ. |
| La page quarante-sept contient la réponse. | Page forty-seven contains the answer. |
| C’est l’article quarante-sept de la constitution. | It’s article forty-seven of the constitution. |
| L’événement a eu lieu il y a quarante-sept jours. | The event took place forty-seven days ago. |
| Le vol numéro quarante-sept est annulé. | Flight number forty-seven is cancelled. |
| Il habite au quarante-sept rue de la Paix. | He lives at 47 Peace Street. |
| Le code postal est 47000. | The postal code is 47000. |
| Elle a gagné le prix numéro quarante-sept. | She won prize number forty-seven. |
| Le concours a quarante-sept participants. | The contest has forty-seven participants. |
| Le livre a quarante-sept illustrations. | The book has forty-seven illustrations. |
| Il a marqué son quarante-septième but de la saison. | He scored his forty-seventh goal of the season. |
| L’entreprise célèbre son quarante-septième anniversaire. | The company celebrates its forty-seventh anniversary. |
| Le musée a ouvert ses portes il y a quarante-sept ans. | The museum opened its doors forty-seven years ago. |
| Elle a traduit quarante-sept livres. | She translated forty-seven books. |
| Il a composé quarante-sept chansons. | He composed forty-seven songs. |
| Nous avons visité quarante-sept monuments historiques. | We visited forty-seven historical monuments. |
| Vous avez quarante-sept secondes pour répondre. | You have forty-seven seconds to answer. |
| Ils ont récolté quarante-sept tonnes de blé. | They harvested forty-seven tons of wheat. |
| La conférence a duré quarante-sept minutes. | The conference lasted forty-seven minutes. |
| Elle a couru quarante-sept kilomètres. | She ran forty-seven kilometers. |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learning a new language involves making mistakes. Recognizing common errors and understanding how to correct them is an important part of the learning process.
Here are some common mistakes when using “quarante-sept” and how to avoid them:
Incorrect Spelling
Mistake: Quarante sept (missing hyphen)
Correction: Quarante-sept
Explanation: Remember to include the hyphen between “quarante” and “sept,” as it’s required for numbers between 21 and 69 (excluding the tens).
Incorrect Pronunciation
Mistake: Pronouncing the “t” at the end of “quarante” when it’s not linked.
Correction: /ka.ʁɑ̃t.sɛt/ (with a subtle liaison between the “t” and “s”)
Explanation: The “t” at the end of “quarante” is usually silent unless it’s followed by a word starting with a vowel or a silent “h.” In “quarante-sept,” a liaison often occurs, linking the “t” to the “s” of “sept.”
Incorrect Usage in Context
Mistake: Using “quarante et sept” instead of “quarante-sept.”
Correction: “Quarante-sept”
Explanation: The conjunction “et” (and) is not used between the tens and units in numbers like 47. It’s a direct combination with a hyphen.
Forgetting Agreements
Mistake: Not using the correct form of “un” (1) when needed.
Correction: Using “un” (masculine) or “une” (feminine) as appropriate.
Explanation: While “quarante-sept” doesn’t require agreement, remember that “un” agrees in gender with the noun it modifies. This is a general rule for all numbers.
Practice Exercises
These exercises will help you solidify your understanding of “quarante-sept” in French.
Exercise 1: Translation
Translate the following sentences into French, using “quarante-sept” where appropriate.
| English | French (Answer) |
|---|---|
| I have forty-seven books. | J’ai quarante-sept livres. |
| She is forty-seven years old. | Elle a quarante-sept ans. |
| There are forty-seven students in the class. | Il y a quarante-sept étudiants dans la classe. |
| He lives at number forty-seven. | Il habite au numéro quarante-sept. |
| We need forty-seven votes. | Nous avons besoin de quarante-sept votes. |
| They bought forty-seven apples. | Ils ont acheté quarante-sept pommes. |
| You have forty-seven minutes. | Vous avez quarante-sept minutes. |
| It’s article forty-seven. | C’est l’article quarante-sept. |
| The bus number is forty-seven. | Le numéro du bus est quarante-sept. |
| I will be forty-seven next year. | J’aurai quarante-sept ans l’année prochaine. |
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of “quarante-sept.”
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| J’ai __________ ans. | quarante-sept |
| Il y a __________ maisons dans cette rue. | quarante-sept |
| Elle a acheté __________ fleurs. | quarante-sept |
| Nous avons __________ invités à la fête. | quarante-sept |
| Vous avez __________ secondes pour répondre. | quarante-sept |
| Ils ont __________ pièces d’or. | quarante-sept |
| Le livre a __________ pages. | quarante-sept |
| Le vol a __________ passagers. | quarante-sept |
| J’ai vu __________ oiseaux dans le ciel. | quarante-sept |
| Elle a chanté __________ chansons. | quarante-sept |
Exercise 3: Pronunciation Practice
Record yourself saying “quarante-sept” and compare it to an audio recording of a native French speaker. Pay attention to the sounds and liaisons.
Repeat until you feel comfortable with the pronunciation.
Advanced Topics: Nuances of French Numbers
While mastering the basics of numbers like “quarante-sept” is essential, there are more advanced topics that can further enhance your understanding and fluency.
Numbers Above 69
The French number system becomes more complex after 69. Instead of creating new words for each ten (like seventy, eighty, ninety in English), French uses combinations involving 60 (soixante) and 20 (vingt).
- 70 (soixante-dix): Literally “sixty-ten”
- 80 (quatre-vingts): Literally “four-twenties”
- 90 (quatre-vingt-dix): Literally “four-twenty-ten”
Understanding this system requires practice and familiarity. It’s different from many other languages and can be challenging for learners.
Regional Variations
In some French-speaking regions, particularly in Switzerland and Belgium, alternative number systems are used that simplify the numbers 70-99. For example:
- 70: Septante (instead of soixante-dix)
- 80: Huitante or Octante (instead of quatre-vingts)
- 90: Nonante (instead of quatre-vingt-dix)
While “septante,” “huitante/octante,” and “nonante” are considered more straightforward, it’s still important to understand the standard French system, as it’s widely used and understood.
Mathematical Operations
Knowing how to express basic mathematical operations in French is useful. Here are a few examples:
- 47 + 5 = 52: Quarante-sept plus cinq égale cinquante-deux.
- 47 – 10 = 37: Quarante-sept moins dix égale trente-sept.
- 47 x 2 = 94: Quarante-sept fois deux égale quatre-vingt-quatorze.
- 47 / 2 = 23.5: Quarante-sept divisé par deux égale vingt-trois virgule cinq.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about French numbers:
- Why is there a hyphen in “quarante-sept”?
The hyphen is used to connect the tens and units in numbers between 21 and 69 (excluding the tens themselves). This is a standard convention in French.
- How do I pronounce the “t” at the end of “quarante”?
The “t” is usually silent unless it’s followed by a word starting with a vowel or a silent “h.” In “quarante-sept,” a liaison often occurs, linking the “t” to the “s” of “sept,” but this is subtle.
- What are the regional variations for numbers like 70, 80, and 90?
In Switzerland and Belgium, “septante,” “huitante/octante,” and “nonante” are used instead of “soixante-dix,” “quatre-vingts,” and “quatre-vingt-dix,” respectively. However, the standard French forms are widely understood.
- How do I say “forty-seventh” in French?
You would say “quarante-septième.” This is the ordinal number form.
- Do French numbers change based on gender?
Generally, no. The exception is “un” (1), which agrees in gender (un masculine, une feminine).
- How do I avoid making mistakes when saying numbers in French?
Practice regularly, pay attention to the rules of hyphenation and agreement, and listen to native speakers to improve your pronunciation. Also, focus on understanding the structure of the French number system.
- Are there any resources to help me practice French numbers?
Yes, many websites, apps, and textbooks offer exercises and audio recordings for practicing French numbers. Consider using online language learning platforms or working with a French tutor.
- Why is the French number system so complicated after 69?
The French number system after 69 uses a vigesimal system (based on 20) for some numbers, which is a historical artifact. While it can be challenging, understanding its origins can make it easier to remember.
Conclusion
Mastering French numbers, including how to say “quarante-sept,” is a fundamental step in learning the language. This article has provided a comprehensive guide to understanding the structure, pronunciation, and usage of this number.
By breaking down the components, providing examples, and addressing common mistakes, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate French numbers effectively.
Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to the nuances of pronunciation, and familiarize yourself with the rules governing number formation. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently use numbers in various contexts and further enhance your French language skills.
Don’t be discouraged by the complexities; embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey of learning a new language.