Counting in French

Learn to count in French

Learning Numbers Is Important!

Numbers are everywhere! Learning numbers is an important part of communicating in a foreign language. We need numbers for describing things (e.g., how many family members), for shopping, for understanding distances, and for telling the time.

Here are two tools (one for 0-99 and one for 1,000-9,999) and a game for each to help you learn numbers in French or teach them to beginners.

Learn 0-99

Click on a number to see its spelling. You can toggle the sound on and off.

Learn Bigger Numbers

Use this widget to help you learn or teach numbers English numbers up to 9,999. Use the arrows to choose a number then click on audio button to hear how the number is said in full.

Listening Practice for the Numbers 0-99

It's time to practise the numbers 0-99. Press start then click on the number you hear.

Listening Practice for Large Numbers

Press start then write out the number you hear.

The Rules for Counting in French

The numbers 0–16

(unique words)

• 0 = zéro
• 1–10 = un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix
• 11–16 = onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize

The numbers 17–19

(dix + [unit])

• 17 = dix-sept
• 18 = dix-huit
• 19 = dix-neuf

The numbers 20–69

([tens] + [unit])

• Multiples of ten: vingt, trente, quarante, cinquante, soixante
• Most other numbers: [tens]-[unit]
• Numbers ending in 1 use et un: 21, 31, 41, 51 and 61.

For example: 21 = vingt et un, 32 = trente-deux, 48 = quarante-huit, 61 = soixante et un

The numbers 70–79

(soixante + 10–19)

• 70 = soixante-dix (literally "sixty-ten")
• 71 = soixante et onze
• 72–79 = soixante + [12–19]

For example: 72 = soixante-douze, 75 = soixante-quinze, 79 = soixante-dix-neuf

The numbers 80–99

(based on quatre-vingts, literally "four twenties")

• 80 = quatre-vingts
• 81–89 = quatre-vingt + [unit] (without the final s)
• 90–99 = quatre-vingt + [10–19]
• 81 and 91 do not use et.

For example: 81 = quatre-vingt-un, 89 = quatre-vingt-neuf, 90 = quatre-vingt-dix, 91 = quatre-vingt-onze, 99 = quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

The numbers 100–199

• 100 = cent (never "un cent")
• 101–199 = cent + [rest]

For example: 101 = cent un, 135 = cent trente-cinq, 199 = cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

The numbers 200–999

([unit] + cent + [rest])

• Multiples of 100: deux cents, trois cents, quatre cents, cinq cents, six cents, sept cents, huit cents, neuf cents
• cent takes an s when multiplied and nothing follows it.
• If another number follows, the s is dropped: deux cent un, not "deux cents un".

For example: 200 = deux cents, 256 = deux cent cinquante-six, 999 = neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

The numbers 1000–9999

(i.e., the thousands)

• 1000 = mille (never "un mille")
• Multiples of 1000: [unit] + mille (e.g., 2000 = deux mille)
• Others: [unit] + mille + [rest]
• mille does not take an s when multiplied.

For example: 2345 = deux mille trois cent quarante-cinq, 7001 = sept mille un

Summary

• 0–16: unique names
• 17–19: dix + [unit]
• 20–69: [tens] + [unit]; numbers ending in 1 normally use et un
• 70–79: soixante + [10–19]
• 80: quatre-vingts ("four twenties")
• 81–99: quatre-vingt + [rest]
• 100: cent
• 200–900: [unit] + cent; add s to cent only when nothing follows
• 1000–9999: [unit] + mille + [rest]; 1000 is simply mille

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