The study of numbers and counting in French begins with learning how to classify numbers which happens to be unusually complicated in French.The following article will list all numbers from 0 to 1000 and account for the often ignored orthographical nuances responsible for modifications of meanings.
Counting in French From 0 to 60
The initial numbers in French are the easiest to learn. Since most subsequent numbers are derivatives from those given below, it is important to pay attention to the way they are spelled or else it will be very difficult to proceed to more complex numbers.
- 1 – un (feminine une not to be confused with indefinite articles)
- 2 – deux
- 3 – trois
- 4 – quatre
- 5 – vingt
- 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
- 30 – trente
- 40 – quarante
- 50 – cinquante
- 60 – soixante
In the French language, in order to tell numbers in-between round numbers (such as 21, 22, 33, 34, 44, 45, etc.), the figures must be used together and they must be separated by a dash as shown below:
- 21 – vingt-et-un
- 22 – vingt-deux
- 33 – trente-trois
- 47 – quarante-sept
For numbers between 20 and 70 with 1 (un or une) "et" must be placed between them in order to make them easy to pronounce:
- Right: 61 – soixante-et-un
- Wrong: 61 – soixante-un
This rule doesn't apply to any other numbers in the French language:
- Right: 2001 – deux mille un
- Wrong: 2001 – duex mille-et-un, or duex-mille-et-un (relatively une)
Counting in French from 70 to 100
In the French language, numbers from 70 to 99 pose lots of difficulties to language learners, as they are composed of random combinations of lower numbers. After hundreds come into play – the rules aren't as complicated.
In French, numbers from 70 to 79 are created by adding numbers from 10 to 19 to 60. See below:
- 70 – soixante-dix (literally: sixty-ten)
- 71 – soixante-et-onze (as in 61 - soixante-un)
- 72 – soixante-douze
- 73 – soixante-treize
- 74 – soixante-quatorze
- 75 – soixante-quinze
- 76 – soixante-seize
- 77 – soixante-dix-sept
- 78 – soixante-dix-huit
- 79 – soixante-dix-neuf
In French, numbers from 80 to 89 are created by adding numbers from 20 to 29 to number 4, see below:
- 80 – quatre-vingts (vingts which stands for "twenties" is always in plural here as in "four twenties")
- 81 – quatre- vingt-et-un (at this point "vingt" loses its plural form and "s" is no longer added)
- 82 – quatre-vingt-deux
- 83 – quatre-vingt-trois
- 84 – quatre-vingt-quatre
- 85 – quatre-vingt-cinq
- 86 – quatre-vingt-six
- 87 – quatre-vingt-sept
- 88 – quatre-vingt-huit
- 89 – quatre-vingt-neuf
In French, numbers from 90 to 99 are created by combining number 4, 20, and numbers from 10 to 19, to make it simpler:
- 90 – quatre-vingt-dix
- 91 – quatre-vingt-onze
- 92 – quatre-vingt-douze
- 93 – quatre-vingt-treize
- 94 – quatre-vingt-quatorze
- 95 – quatre-vingt-quinze
- 96 – quatre-vingt-seize
- 97 – quatre-vingt-dix-sept
- 98 – quatre-vingt-dix-huit
- 99 – quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
Counting in French from 100 to 1000
Figures 200, 300, and 400 are written with an "s" at the end, but this only concerns round numbers:
- 200 – deux cents
- 202 – deux cent deux
It is never used with other hundreds or with thousands (mille).
- 100 – cent
- 200 – deux cents
- 300 – trois cents
- 400 – quatre cents
- 500 – cinq cent
- 600 – six cent
- 700 – sept cent
- 800 – huit cent
- 900 – neuf cent
- 1000 – mille
Counting in French seems complicated at first and French language learners are likely to make mistakes – especially in writing and listening comprehension exercises. The best way to master counting in French is to learn the numbers gradually, try free online exercises for French language beginner-level students, as well as free French audio pronunciation for numbers. Once you've learned how to count in French, you can proceed to prepositions of time in French.
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