Understanding how to count and express numbers in French is fundamental for everyday communication. Whether you’re planning a trip to France, learning the language for academic purposes, or simply expanding your linguistic skills, this guide provides a thorough and approachable explanation of French numbers.
From basic counting to more complex numerical expressions, this article will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently navigate numerical situations in French. This guide is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced students seeking to refine their understanding and usage of French numbers.
Mastering this aspect of French grammar opens doors to various practical applications, enhancing your overall fluency and comprehension.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of French Numbers
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of French Numbers
French numbers are the system used to represent numerical values in the French language. They encompass cardinal numbers (one, two, three), ordinal numbers (first, second, third), fractions, decimals, and more.
The structure of French numbers can sometimes be complex, particularly in the higher ranges, due to the unique ways certain numbers are formed. Understanding the rules and patterns is crucial for accurate communication and comprehension.
Mastering French numbers allows you to discuss quantities, dates, times, prices, and various other numerical concepts with confidence.
The function of French numbers is to quantify and express amounts, order, and proportions. They are used in a wide variety of contexts, from simple everyday conversations to complex financial and scientific discussions.
The ability to use French numbers correctly is essential for anyone seeking to achieve fluency in the language.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of French numbers can be broken down into several key ranges and patterns. Understanding these patterns is crucial for mastering the system as a whole.
Let’s examine the structure of French numbers in detail, from the basic numbers to more complicated constructions.
Numbers 0-20
The foundation of French numbers lies in the numbers 0 through 20. These numbers are unique and must be memorized.
They form the building blocks for constructing larger numbers. Understanding the numbers 0-20 is absolutely crucial before moving on to the more complex patterns.
- 0 – zéro
- 1 – un
- 2 – deux
- 3 – trois
- 4 – quatre
- 5 – cinq
- 6 – six
- 7 – sept
- 8 – huit
- 9 – neuf
- 10 – dix
- 11 – onze
- 12 – douze
- 13 – treize
- 14 – quatorze
- 15 – quinze
- 16 – seize
- 17 – dix-sept
- 18 – dix-huit
- 19 – dix-neuf
- 20 – vingt
Numbers 21-69
Numbers 21 through 69 follow a more predictable pattern. They are constructed by combining the tens (vingt, trente, quarante, cinquante, soixante) with the numbers 1 through 9. The word “et” (and) is used between the tens and “un” in numbers ending in one (e.g., 21, 31, 41, 51, 61). It’s important to note the consistent pattern within this range.
- 21 – vingt et un
- 22 – vingt-deux
- 23 – vingt-trois
- 30 – trente
- 31 – trente et un
- 40 – quarante
- 50 – cinquante
- 60 – soixante
- 69 – soixante-neuf
Numbers 70-79
Numbers 70 through 79 are where things start to get a little quirky. Instead of having a separate word for “seventy,” the French use “soixante-dix,” which literally means “sixty-ten.” The numbers 71 through 79 are then formed by adding the numbers 11 through 19 to soixante.
- 70 – soixante-dix
- 71 – soixante et onze
- 72 – soixante-douze
- 73 – soixante-treize
- 79 – soixante-dix-neuf
Numbers 80-99
The numbers 80 through 99 continue the somewhat unusual pattern. Eighty is “quatre-vingts,” which literally means “four twenties.” The number 81 is “quatre-vingt-un,” and so on until 89, “quatre-vingt-neuf.” For 90, the French use “quatre-vingt-dix” (four twenties ten), and then continue adding the numbers 11 through 19 to form 91 through 99.
- 80 – quatre-vingts
- 81 – quatre-vingt-un
- 82 – quatre-vingt-deux
- 90 – quatre-vingt-dix
- 91 – quatre-vingt-onze
- 99 – quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
Hundreds
Hundreds are formed by placing the number of hundreds before the word “cent.” For example, 200 is “deux cents,” 300 is “trois cents,” and so on. The “s” at the end of “cents” is only added when it is not followed by another number.
This is an important rule to remember.
- 100 – cent
- 200 – deux cents
- 300 – trois cents
- 450 – quatre cent cinquante
- 999 – neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
Thousands
Thousands are formed similarly to hundreds, using the word “mille.” For example, 1,000 is “mille,” 2,000 is “deux mille,” and so on. “Mille” is invariable, meaning it never takes an “s” at the end, regardless of whether it is followed by another number or not.
- 1,000 – mille
- 2,000 – deux mille
- 5,000 – cinq mille
- 10,000 – dix mille
- 15,500 – quinze mille cinq cents
Millions and Billions
Millions and billions follow a similar pattern to thousands and hundreds. A million is “un million,” and a billion is “un milliard.” The plural forms, “millions” and “milliards,” take an “s” at the end.
Note that, unlike “mille,” “million” and “milliard” are followed by “de” when followed by another noun.
- 1,000,000 – un million
- 2,000,000 – deux millions
- 1,000,000,000 – un milliard
- 2,500,000,000 – deux milliards cinq cents millions
Types and Categories
French numbers can be categorized into several types, each with its specific function and usage. The main categories include cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, and fractions and decimals.
Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are used to count and indicate quantity. They answer the question “how many?”. Examples include un (one), deux (two), trois (three), and so on. These are the most basic and commonly used type of number.
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order in a sequence. They answer the question “which one?”. Examples include premier (first), deuxième (second), troisième (third), and so on. These numbers often require agreement in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Fractions and Decimals
Fractions and decimals are used to represent parts of a whole. In French, fractions are typically expressed using ordinal numbers for the denominator (e.g., un tiers – one third). Decimals are indicated using the word “virgule” (comma) to separate the whole number from the decimal part (e.g., 3,5 – trois virgule cinq).
Examples
To illustrate the usage of French numbers, let’s look at some examples categorized by type. These examples will help solidify your understanding of how each type of number is used in different contexts.
Cardinal Number Examples
Cardinal numbers are the most straightforward and commonly used. The following table provides a wide range of examples to illustrate their usage.
| Number | French | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | un | J’ai un frère. | I have one brother. |
| 2 | deux | Nous avons deux chats. | We have two cats. |
| 3 | trois | Il y a trois livres sur la table. | There are three books on the table. |
| 4 | quatre | Elle a quatre enfants. | She has four children. |
| 5 | cinq | J’ai cinq euros. | I have five euros. |
| 6 | six | Il est six heures. | It is six o’clock. |
| 7 | sept | Nous sommes sept à table. | There are seven of us at the table. |
| 8 | huit | J’ai mangé huit biscuits. | I ate eight cookies. |
| 9 | neuf | Il a neuf ans. | He is nine years old. |
| 10 | dix | J’ai dix doigts. | I have ten fingers. |
| 11 | onze | Il est onze heures. | It is eleven o’clock. |
| 12 | douze | J’ai acheté douze œufs. | I bought twelve eggs. |
| 13 | treize | Il y a treize personnes. | There are thirteen people. |
| 14 | quatorze | J’ai quatorze ans. | I am fourteen years old. |
| 15 | quinze | Il a quinze euros. | He has fifteen euros. |
| 16 | seize | Elle a seize ans. | She is sixteen years old. |
| 17 | dix-sept | Il est dix-sept heures. | It is seventeen o’clock. |
| 18 | dix-huit | J’ai dix-huit ans. | I am eighteen years old. |
| 19 | dix-neuf | Il a dix-neuf euros. | He has nineteen euros. |
| 20 | vingt | J’ai vingt ans. | I am twenty years old. |
| 35 | trente-cinq | Il a trente-cinq ans. | He is thirty-five years old. |
| 50 | cinquante | J’ai cinquante euros. | I have fifty euros. |
| 72 | soixante-douze | Elle a soixante-douze ans. | She is seventy-two years old. |
| 99 | quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | Il a quatre-vingt-dix-neuf ans. | He is ninety-nine years old. |
| 100 | cent | J’ai cent euros. | I have one hundred euros. |
Ordinal Number Examples
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate order or position. The following table provides examples of ordinal numbers in French, along with their English translations and example sentences.
| Number | French | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | premier/première | Il est le premier de la classe. / Elle est la première de la classe. | He is the first in the class. / She is the first in the class. |
| 2nd | deuxième | C’est le deuxième étage. | It’s the second floor. |
| 3rd | troisième | Il est le troisième dans la file. | He is the third in line. |
| 4th | quatrième | C’est la quatrième fois. | It’s the fourth time. |
| 5th | cinquième | C’est le cinquième jour du mois. | It’s the fifth day of the month. |
| 6th | sixième | Il habite au sixième étage. | He lives on the sixth floor. |
| 7th | septième | C’est la septième merveille du monde. | It’s the seventh wonder of the world. |
| 8th | huitième | C’est sa huitième victoire. | It’s his eighth victory. |
| 9th | neuvième | C’est le neuvième mois de l’année. | It’s the ninth month of the year. |
| 10th | dixième | C’est la dixième fois que je le dis. | It’s the tenth time I’ve said it. |
| 11th | onzième | C’est le onzième commandement. | It’s the eleventh commandment. |
| 12th | douzième | C’est le douzième jour de Noël. | It’s the twelfth day of Christmas. |
| 13th | treizième | C’est le treizième chapitre. | It’s the thirteenth chapter. |
| 14th | quatorzième | C’est le quatorzième amendement. | It’s the fourteenth amendment. |
| 15th | quinzième | C’est le quinzième anniversaire. | It’s the fifteenth anniversary. |
| 16th | seizième | C’est le seizième roi. | It’s the sixteenth king. |
| 17th | dix-septième | C’est le dix-septième siècle. | It’s the seventeenth century. |
| 18th | dix-huitième | C’est le dix-huitième trou. | It’s the eighteenth hole. |
| 19th | dix-neuvième | C’est le dix-neuvième étage. | It’s the nineteenth floor. |
| 20th | vingtième | C’est le vingtième anniversaire. | It’s the twentieth anniversary. |
| 21st | vingt et unième | C’est le vingt et unième siècle. | It’s the twenty-first century. |
| 30th | trentième | C’est son trentième anniversaire. | It’s his thirtieth birthday. |
Fractions and Decimals Examples
Fractions and decimals are essential for expressing parts of a whole. The following table provides examples of how to express fractions and decimals in French.
| Number | French | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | un demi | J’ai mangé un demi gâteau. | I ate half a cake. |
| 1/3 | un tiers | Il a bu un tiers du jus. | He drank one-third of the juice. |
| 1/4 | un quart | Elle a mangé un quart de la pizza. | She ate a quarter of the pizza. |
| 2/3 | deux tiers | Deux tiers des étudiants sont présents. | Two-thirds of the students are present. |
| 3/4 | trois quarts | J’ai bu trois quarts du verre d’eau. | I drank three-quarters of the glass of water. |
| 1.5 | un virgule cinq | La température est de un virgule cinq degrés. | The temperature is one point five degrees. |
| 2.75 | deux virgule soixante-quinze | Le prix est de deux virgule soixante-quinze euros. | The price is two point seventy-five euros. |
| 0.25 | zéro virgule vingt-cinq | La probabilité est de zéro virgule vingt-cinq. | The probability is zero point twenty-five. |
| 5.1 | cinq virgule un | Il a couru cinq virgule un kilomètres. | He ran five point one kilometers. |
| 10.99 | dix virgule quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | Cela coûte dix virgule quatre-vingt-dix-neuf euros. | That costs ten point ninety-nine euros. |
Usage Rules
Understanding the rules that govern the usage of French numbers is crucial for avoiding errors and communicating effectively. These rules cover agreement, hyphenation, and special cases.
Agreement Rules
The most important agreement rule involves the word “cent.” As mentioned before, “cent” takes an “s” in the plural only when it is not followed by another number. For example, “deux cents” (200) but “deux cent cinquante” (250).
The number “vingt” in “quatre-vingts” (80) also follows this rule: it takes an “s” because it’s multiplied and not followed by another number.
Hyphenation Rules
French numbers generally use hyphens to connect the tens and units, except when “et” is used. For example, “trente-deux” (32) but “trente et un” (31).
However, the newer spelling reform recommends using hyphens for all compound numbers.
Special Cases
There are some special cases to be aware of, particularly with the numbers 70-99. As explained earlier, these numbers use a combination of addition and multiplication, which can be confusing for learners.
Practice and memorization are key to mastering these numbers.
Common Mistakes
Several common mistakes are frequently made by learners of French numbers. Being aware of these mistakes can help you avoid them.
- Incorrect Agreement of “cent”: Forgetting to drop the “s” when “cent” is followed by another number.
- Incorrect: deux cents cinquante
- Correct: deux cent cinquante
- Incorrect Hyphenation: Incorrectly using or omitting hyphens in compound numbers.
- Incorrect: trente et un (with a hyphen)
- Correct: trente et un (without a hyphen; though the reformed spelling would include hyphens)
- Confusion with 70-99: Misunderstanding the structure of numbers between 70 and 99.
- Incorrect: septante (for 70)
- Correct: soixante-dix
Practice Exercises
To test your understanding of French numbers, try these practice exercises. Answers are provided at the end of the section.
| Question | Your Answer | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Write 42 in French. | quarante-deux | |
| Write 67 in French. | soixante-sept | |
| Write 75 in French. | soixante-quinze | |
| Write 88 in French. | quatre-vingt-huit | |
| Write 91 in French. | quatre-vingt-onze | |
| Write 115 in French. | cent quinze | |
| Write 250 in French. | deux cent cinquante | |
| Write 500 in French. | cinq cents | |
| Write 1,000 in French. | mille | |
| Write 2,345 in French. | deux mille trois cent quarante-cinq |
Answers: Check your answers against the correct answers in the table above.
Advanced Topics
Beyond the basics, there are more advanced topics related to French numbers, such as expressing dates, time, and phone numbers.
Dates
In French, dates are typically written in the order of day, month, and year. The day is usually expressed as an ordinal number, except for the first day of the month, which is expressed as “premier.” For example, “le 1er mai” (May 1st) and “le 2 juin” (June 2nd).
The year is expressed as a cardinal number.
For Example:
- January 1st, 2024: le 1er janvier 2024
- July 14th, 1789: le 14 juillet 1789
Time
Time in French is expressed using a 24-hour clock. To express the time, use “heure(s)” (hour(s)).
For example, “il est deux heures” (it is two o’clock). Minutes are added after the hour.
“Et quart” (and a quarter) is used for 15 minutes past the hour, “et demi” (and a half) for 30 minutes past the hour, and “moins le quart” (quarter to) for 45 minutes past the hour.
For Example:
- 2:00 PM: Il est quatorze heures
- 3:15 PM: Il est quinze heures et quart
- 6:30 PM: Il est dix-huit heures et demie
Phone Numbers
French phone numbers consist of 10 digits and are usually written in pairs separated by spaces. The first digit indicates the region or type of number.
For example, a mobile phone number typically starts with 06 or 07.
For Example:
- 06 12 34 56 78
- 01 23 45 67 89
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about French numbers.
- Why are the numbers 70-99 so complicated in French?
The numbers 70-99 are based on historical counting systems. The French language retained some vestiges of older counting methods where numbers were grouped in twenties (vigesimal system), which explains the “quatre-vingts” (four twenties) for 80. This system has persisted and become a unique feature of the French language.
- How do I know when to use “premier” versus “un” for “first”?
“Premier” is used as an ordinal number to indicate position in a sequence (e.g., “le premier jour” – the first day). “Un” is used as a cardinal number to indicate quantity (e.g., “un livre” – one book). The choice depends on whether you are indicating order or quantity.
- Do I always need to use hyphens in French numbers?
The traditional rule is to use hyphens for numbers 21-69, except when “et” is used. However, the newer spelling reform recommends using hyphens for all compound numbers. It’s best to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
- How do I say a number like 1,234,567 in French?
You would say “un million deux cent trente-quatre mille cinq cent soixante-sept.” Note the use of “mille” (thousand) and “million” with the appropriate spacing.
- What’s the difference between “billion” in English and “billion” in French?
A “billion” in English is 1,000,000,000 (one thousand million). In French, “un milliard” is 1,000,000,000. The French “billion” (“un billion”) is 1,000,000,000,000 (one million million), which is a “trillion” in English. This is a common source of confusion, so be careful when translating large numbers.
- How do I express percentages in French?
Percentages are expressed using “pour cent” (per cent). For example, 50% is “cinquante pour cent.”
- Is it “quatre-vingt” or “quatre-vingts”?
It’s “quatre-vingts” (with an “s”) when it stands alone or is followed by a word that is not a number. However, it’s “quatre-vingt” (without an “s”) when followed by another number, such as in “quatre-vingt-dix.”
- How are phone numbers spoken in French?
French phone numbers are typically spoken by stating each digit pair. For example, 06 1
2 34 56 78 would be spoken “zéro six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit”.
Conclusion
Mastering French numbers is an essential step in achieving fluency in the French language. While the system may seem complex at first, particularly with the numbers 70-99, understanding the underlying structure and rules will make it much easier to learn and use.
By practicing regularly and paying attention to common mistakes, you can confidently navigate numerical situations in French. Whether you are counting, telling time, expressing dates, or discussing prices, a solid understanding of French numbers will greatly enhance your communication skills and overall comprehension of the language.
Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using French numbers becomes second nature!