Learning to count in French can be an exciting journey into the language. Whether you’re traveling, learning French for school, or just expanding your linguistic skills, mastering French numbers is essential. This guide will help you understand and use French numbers with ease.
Basic Numbers: 0 to 10
Let’s start with the basics. Here are the numbers from 0 to 10 in French:
- 0: zéro
- 1: un (masculine) / une (feminine)
- 2: deux
- 3: trois
- 4: quatre
- 5: cinq
- 6: six
- 7: sept
- 8: huit
- 9: neuf
- 10: dix
These numbers form the foundation for counting and are the first step in learning more complex numbers.
Numbers 11 to 20
Once you’ve mastered 0 to 10, the next step is to learn 11 to 20:
- 11: onze
- 12: douze
- 13: treize
- 14: quatorze
- 15: quinze
- 16: seize
- 17: dix-sept
- 18: dix-huit
- 19: dix-neuf
- 20: vingt
Tens and Units
French numbers follow a logical pattern. After 20, numbers are formed by combining the tens and units. For example:
- 21: vingt et un
- 22: vingt-deux
- 30: trente
- 31: trente et un
- 40: quarante
- 50: cinquante
- 60: soixante
Numbers 70 to 99
This is where French numbers get interesting. Instead of having a unique word for 70, 80, and 90, French uses a combination of smaller numbers:
- 70: soixante-dix (literally “sixty-ten”)
- 71: soixante et onze (literally “sixty and eleven”)
- 80: quatre-vingts (literally “four twenties”)
- 81: quatre-vingt-un
- 90: quatre-vingt-dix (literally “four twenties ten”)
Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond
For larger numbers, the pattern continues:
- 100: cent
- 101: cent un
- 200: deux cents
- 1000: mille
- 2000: deux mille
Special Cases
French numbers have a few special cases to be aware of:
- When adding one: After 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60, “et un” is used (e.g., vingt et un).
- Agreement in plural: For round hundreds, the “cent” becomes “cents” (e.g., deux cents), but if followed by another number, it stays “cent” (e.g., deux cent un).
- Numbers 80 and 90: Instead of separate words, French combines smaller numbers to form these (e.g., quatre-vingts).
Practice Makes Perfect
Here are a few tips to help you practice:
- Counting objects: Practice by counting everyday items around you.
- Listening and repeating: Listen to French audio resources and repeat the numbers.
- Using apps: Utilize language learning apps that focus on numbers.
Conclusion
Mastering French numbers is a fundamental part of learning the language. By understanding the patterns and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to count in French with confidence. Bon courage!