La pronunciation of numbers in French It is one of the first essential lessons when you learn the language, as its use is fundamental in everyday life: from counting and telling time, to calculating prices, dates and quantities. In this article we will teach you not only how to write numbers in French, but also how to pronounce them correctly through a detailed explanation and a complete educational videoThis guide will help you not only with numbers from 1 to 100, but also with larger numbers like one thousand and one million.
Basic rules for the pronunciation of numbers in French
While some French numbers may sound very similar to English, there are many key differences you need to be aware of to pronounce them correctly. Here are the basic rules:
- Numbers 0 to 19: In this first series of numbers, each number has its own unique word and does not follow a predictable pattern. It is very important to memorize these numbers separately.
- As of 20: The numbers are beginning to follow patterns, but they also show some irregularities. For example, numbers like 21, 31, 41, and 51 have the conjunction “et” (and) in their written form (vingt et un, trente et un), while the rest of the numbers in the tens row are written with a hyphen (vingt-deux, trente-deux).
- From 70 onwards: The numbers get a little more complicated, since instead of a new word for 70, the French word “soixante” (sixty) is used and the numbers 10 to 19 are added in their original form. For example, seventy is “soixante-dix” (sixty-ten).
- On April 80ndIt is further complicated by the fact that it uses a formula that has no equivalent in Spanish, literally meaning "four twenties" (quatre-vingts).
List of numbers in French from 1 to 100
Below is a complete list of how to write numbers in French and examples of their use in everyday sentences.
- 1 — a
- 2 — deux
- 3 — trois
- 4 — four
- 5 — five
- 6 — six
- 7 — Sept.
- 8 — huit
- 9 — new
- 10 — said
Numbers from 11 to 20
- 11 — eleven
- 12 — douze
- 13 — thirteen
- 14 — fourteen
- 15 — fifteen
- 16 — seize
- 17 — dix-sept
- 18 — said-huit
- 19 — dix-neuf
- 20 — vingt
The pronunciation of these numbers tends to be simple for Spanish speakers, but it is essential to practice their pronunciation.
Numbers from 21 to 69
Once you reach the number 21, it is important to remember that the pattern for forming numbers includes dashes between the tens and the numbers from 1 to 9, with a few exceptions such as 21. Here are some examples:
- 21 — twenty and one
- 22 — twenty-two
- 23 — twenty-three
- 30 — thirty
- 31 - thirty and one
- 32 — thirty-two
This section is where many of the numbers from 1 to 9 are repeated, only the ten changing.
Numbers from 70 onwards
Now we come to one of the more complex sections of French numbers. Starting with 70, you'll notice that the logic changes. Here's how numbers work starting with 70:
70 — soixante-dix: Instead of a single word for 70, "soixante" (60) is used followed by "dix" (10) forming sixty-ten.
- 71 — soixante et onze (sixty-eleven)
- 72 — soixante-douze (sixty-twelve)
- 80 — quatre-vingts (four twenties)
- 81 — quatre-vingt-un (four twenty-one)
- 90 — quatre-vingt-dix (four twenties and ten)
Remember that from 80 onwards the “quatre-vingts” structure is key to forming the number. Although it may seem complicated at first, once you have memorized it, you will be able to follow this pattern for all the numbers in this decade.
Examples of use in everyday life
To help you understand how to use numbers in French in everyday contexts, here are some examples:
- Date: «Nous sommes le 21 septembre.» (It's September 21).
- Time: "Il est dix-huit heures." (It's six in the afternoon).
- Telephone numbers: «My telephone number is zero six, soixante-treize, vingt-huit, dix-neuf.» (My phone number is 06, 73, 28, 19).
Practicing with these examples will help you understand not only the pronunciation, but also the correct application of numbers.
Pronunciation of large numbers
In addition to the numbers from 1 to 100, it is important to learn how to pronounce higher numbers, such as one thousand and one million, which are also essential in daily life.
- 1,000: thousand
- 1,000,000: a million
The pronunciation of these numbers follows a similar pattern, and you will notice that the word "thousand" is not pluralized in French, but "millions" is pluralized (un million, deux millions).
We know that learning the pronunciation of numbers in French can be a challenge at first, but with constant practice and using the right techniques, you'll quickly become fluent. Remember that numbers from 1 to 100 are just the first step, so feel free to move on to the bigger numbers!