Mastering French Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide (2023)

French Numbers 1 to 100

Learning French numbers can be a challenging yet essential task for anyone diving into the language. In this comprehensive guide, we break down the intricacies of counting from 1 to 100 in French.

Starting from 0 to 10

The foundational numbers in French are straightforward and independent. Memorizing them is the first step to mastering French counting.

1. Zero to Ten:
   • 0 — Zéro
   • 1 — Un
   • 2 — Deux
   • 3 — Trois
   • 4 — Quatre
   • 5 — Cinq
   • 6 — Six
   • 7 — Sept
   • 8 — Huit
   • 9 — Neuf
   • 10 — Dix

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French Numbers 11 to 19

Moving on to the teens in French introduces both independent and composed numbers.

2. 11 to 19:
   • 11 — Onze
   • 12 — Douze
   • 13 — Treize
   • 14 — Quatorze
   • 15 — Quinze
   • 16 — Seize
   • 17 — Dix-sept
   • 18 — Dix-huit
   • 19 — Dix-neuf

Audio:

When to use Hyphens in French Numbers

Understanding the use of hyphens in composed numbers is crucial for accurate French counting.

French Numbers 20 to 69

Counting from 20 to 69 in French mirrors the English numbering system, with specific rules for each set.

3. 20-69 Rules:
   • Independent numbers: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60
   • 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 follow the rule: "vingt/trente/quarante/cinquante/soixante" plus "et un"
   • Other numbers replace "et" with "-"

Summary Image:

French Numbers 70 to 79

The pattern shifts at 70, introducing a new structure based on "soixante" (60).

4. 70-79 Addition:
   • 70 — Soixante-dix (sixty-ten)
   • 71 — Soixante-et-onze (sixty-and-eleven)
   • 72 — Soixante-douze (sixty-twelve)
   • 73 — Soixante-treize (sixty-thirteen)
   • 74 — Soixante-quatorze (sixty-fourteen)
   • 75 — Soixante-quinze (sixty-fifteen)
   • 76 — Soixante-seize (sixty-sixteen)
   • 77 — Soixante-dix-sept (sixty-ten-seven)
   • 78 — Soixante-dix-huit (sixty-ten-eight)
   • 79 — Soixante-dix-neuf (sixty-ten-nine)

French Numbers 80 to 100

Continuing from 80 to 100 involves adding 1-19 to 80, with a notable exception.

5. 81-100 Rules:
   • 80 — Quatre-vingts (four-twenties)
   • 81 — Quatre-vingt-un (four-twenty-one) (no "et")
   • 82 — Quatre-vingt-deux (four-twenty-two)
   • ...
   • 99 — Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf (four-twenty-ten-nine)
   • 100 — Cent (one hundred)

Note: "Quatre-vingt-un" is an exception without an extra "et" before "un".

Fun Facts About Numbers in French

Delve into the uniqueness of the French counting system, rooted in Gaulish and shared with languages like Welsh and Scottish.

6. Gaulish Influence:
   • Explanation of the vigesimal numeral system
   • Comparison with counting systems in Welsh and Scottish

French Numbers: What happens After 100?

Understanding how French handles hundreds is essential for a complete grasp of the counting system.

7. Hundreds in French:
   • 100 — Cent
   • 200 — Deux-cents
   • ...
   • 900 — Neuf-cents
   • 1000 — Mille

Examples:

French Numbers: Above Thousands

Explore how French handles thousands, millions, and billions.

8. Thousands in French:
   • 1000 — Mille
   • 2000 — Deux-mille
   • ...
   • 500,000 — Cinq-cent-mille

Audio:

Reading Years in French

Learn to read years in French by breaking them down into thousands, hundreds, tens, and units.

9. Reading Years:
   • 1952 — Mille-neuf-cent-cinquante-deux
   • 1879 — Mille-huit-cent-soixante-dix-neuf

Your Turn: Practice Reading Years!

Mathematics in French

For a comprehensive understanding, familiarize yourself with basic mathematical operations.

10. Math Operations:
    • Addition: "plus"
    • Subtraction: "moins"
    • Multiplication: "fois" or "multiplié par"
    • Division: "divisé par"
    • Equal: "Est égal à"

Fractions in French

Decode the world of French fractions with fixed expressions and patterns.

11. Reading Fractions:
    • Usual Fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, etc.)
    • Other Fractions: "(number) sur (number)"
    • Decimals: Pronunciation and Separation

Percentages in French

Learn the straightforward method of reading percentages in French.

12. Reading Percentages:
    • Example: 15% — Quinze pourcents

How to Read Phone Numbers in French

Master the skill of reading French phone numbers, a practical aspect of daily life.

13. Reading Phone Numbers:
    • Typical Format: 0x xx xx xx xx
    • Reading Pairs or Hundreds

Conclusion: Mastering French Numbers

In conclusion, mastering French numbers is a foundational step in language learning. This comprehensive guide equips you with the knowledge needed to confidently count in French. Practice regularly, and soon, the intricacies of French numbers will become second nature. Au revoir et à bientôt!