French Numbers: An Essential Guide for Learners

Numbers help us in daily life, from telling time to shopping for groceries. When you learn French numbers, you can communicate better with native speakers. Math tasks in another language become easier, and things like handling money get smoother. With this guide, you will learn how to count in French and use numbers in real-world settings.

Understanding the Basics: French Numbers 1-20

Like learning the French alphabet, numbers from 1 to 20 lay the groundwork for more advanced skills. Numbers 1 to 16 each have unique names in French, so memorization helps a lot here. Numbers beyond 16 combine the words for ten and a single-digit number, so you start to see a pattern. 

French Numbers 21-69

Numbers 21-69 are built on what you already know and help you form bigger numbers easily. Numbers 21-29 use vingt [vɛ̃] followed by a digit, while 31-69 follow a pattern with trente [trɑ̃t], quarante [kaʀɑ̃t], and soixante [swasɑ̃t] as the base.

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Numbers in French from 70 to 100

French numbers from 70 to 100 might seem tricky at first, but with some practice, they will become clear. For numbers 70 to 79, you mix the word for soixante [swasɑ̃t] (sixty) with the numbers ten through nineteen. Numbers 80 to 99 use quatre-vingts [katʁə vɛ̃] (four twenties) as the base.

Large Numbers: Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond

With some practice, numbers bigger than one hundred will become simple as well. When you’re counting in French in hundreds, remember cent [sɑ̃]. For example, 200 becomes deux cents [dø sɑ̃], and 300 is trois cents [tʁwa sɑ̃]. Use this pattern for other hundreds, like 600 or 700. When you want to express numbers with both hundreds and tens or units, say the hundred first. So 215 is deux cent quinze [dø sɑ̃ kɛ̃z].

For numbers in the thousands, use mille [mil]. For example, 1,000 is mille, and 2,000 becomes deux mille [dø mil]. This rule applies to larger numbers as well. Remember that you don’t need a plural form for mille. If you want to say 2453, you need to follow the sequence by saying the thousands, then hundreds, tens, and units. So it becomes deux mille quatre cent cinquante-trois [dø mil katʁə sɑ̃ kɛ̃kɑ̃t tʁwa].

For numbers like ten thousand, use dix mille [dis mil]. 20,000 is vingt mille [vɛ̃ mil], and the structure stays the same for other counts in thousands. Moving up to one hundred thousand, you use cent mille [sɑ̃ mil].

Larger numbers such as a million use million [miljɔ̃]. A basic example is 1,000,000, which is un million [œ̃ miljɔ̃]. When you go beyond a million to numbers like two million, it’s deux millions [dø miljɔ̃], with the "s" marking the plural. To express numbers including millions and smaller units, sequence them by saying the millions first, then thousands, and so on.

Learn French Numbers 1-100 and New Vocabulary with Promova

Start your French language journey with the Promova app and grow your vocabulary in a practical way. Our platform gives you all the tools to learn new words effectively. Whether for work, travel, or personal growth, it can open doors to many opportunities.

With interactive tasks and real-life examples, our lessons help you remember and use new words in everyday talks. It makes learning more relatable and enjoyable. You can see how these words fit into conversations, making them easier to recall when needed.

Check our blog for extra tips on language and cultural insights. You can find articles with a list of beginner French books or explore fun expressions, common phrases, and other nuggets of knowledge that enrich your language experience!

Conclusion

Learning French numbers 1-30 and above opens doors to better communication and makes daily tasks simpler. You can easily tell time, manage money, and handle many other situations. As these skills grow, things like French date formats and other advanced number uses become more accessible. So, keep practicing, and soon, you’ll be more confident speaking French anywhere you go.