Learning numbers is one of the fundamental steps in mastering any language, and French is no different.

Whether you're ordering food, telling time, or giving your phone number, knowing how to count in French is essential. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll break down French numbers, provide pronunciation tips, and give you practical examples to help you master them with ease.

Why Are French Numbers Important?

Numbers are everywhere. You’ll need them to:

• Tell the time
• Discuss prices
• Count objects
• Understand dates
• Give your phone number or address

Mastering numbers is not just about memorizing them—it's about integrating them into your daily conversations.

How to Count in French: 1-20

Let’s start with the basics. The numbers from 1 to 20 are crucial because they form the foundation for many other numbers in French.

Quick Tips for Pronunciation:

• The nasal sound /ɛ̃/ in un and cinq can be tricky for beginners. Try practicing with words like pain (bread) or vin (wine).
• The numbers 11 through 16 are unique, but starting at 17, they follow a pattern: "ten" (dix) + the number (e.g., dix-sept = 10 + 7).

French Numbers: 21-69

Once you’ve mastered 1-20, the rest becomes a lot easier. French numbers between 21 and 69 follow a regular pattern.

For numbers 21 to 29:

• 21 = Vingt et un
• 22 = Vingt-deux
• 23 = Vingt-trois
• And so on…

For 30, 40, 50, and 60:

• 30 = Trente
• 40 = Quarante
• 50 = Cinquante
• 60 = Soixante

Each of these numbers is followed by the numbers from 1-9 to create the full range:

• 31 = Trente et un
• 32 = Trente-deux
• 41 = Quarante et un
• 42 = Quarante-deux
• …and so on up to 69 (Soixante-neuf).

Noteworthy Patterns:

• Unlike English, French does not always use the word “and” (et) between numbers. It is only used with 21, 31, 41, 51, and 61 (e.g., vingt et un, trente et un).

The "Complex" French Numbers: 70-99

This is where things start to get a bit tricky. French numbers above 69 use combinations of earlier numbers in a unique way.

For numbers 70 to 79:

• 70 = Soixante-dix (literally: sixty-ten)
• 71 = Soixante-et-onze (sixty and eleven)
• 72 = Soixante-douze (sixty-twelve)
• And so on, up to 79.

For numbers 80 to 89:

• 80 = Quatre-vingts (literally: four twenties)
• 81 = Quatre-vingt-un
• 82 = Quatre-vingt-deux
• And so on.

For numbers 90 to 99:

• 90 = Quatre-vingt-dix (four twenties plus ten)
• 91 = Quatre-vingt-onze (four twenties plus eleven)
• 92 = Quatre-vingt-douze (four twenties plus twelve)
• And so on.

Why Are These Numbers Tricky?

Unlike English, French numbers in the 70s and 90s don’t follow a simple linear pattern. The French language reuses previous numbers to form these higher figures. Practice makes perfect here—be patient with yourself!

Big Numbers: 100 and Beyond

Now that you have a handle on numbers up to 99, let's look at the bigger numbers.

Notice how the word cent adds an “s” when it’s plural (for example, deux cents = 200), but the plural form drops if followed by another number (e.g., deux cent cinq = 205).

Examples of Larger Numbers:

• 100 = Cent
• 325 = Trois cent vingt-cinq
• 1,450 = Mille quatre cent cinquante
• 2,500,000 = Deux millions cinq cent mille

Practical Tips for Learning French Numbers

1. Practice in Daily Situations: Use numbers when asking for prices, telling time, or asking for directions. The more you use them, the more familiar they’ll become.
2. Listen to French Audio: Pay attention to how numbers are used in conversations, on the radio, or in podcasts. This will help you grasp the rhythm and pronunciation.
3. Flashcards: Use flashcards to test yourself on numbers. Start with the basics and gradually work your way up to the more complex numbers.
4. Group Numbers: Break down large numbers into groups of two or three digits, which makes them easier to understand and pronounce.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up 15 and 50: Quinze (15) and cinquante (50) sound different, but many beginners confuse them. Practice distinguishing these two.
• Skipping the "et" in numbers like 21, 31, etc.: Remember that et is only used with 1 in compound numbers (e.g., vingt et un = 21).
• Forgetting liaison: Liaison (linking) is important in French pronunciation. In numbers like deux ans (two years), the "x" in deux is pronounced as a "z" when followed by a vowel.

Conclusion

Mastering French numbers may seem daunting at first, but with practice and patience, you'll be counting with ease in no time! The key is repetition and application—use these numbers in your everyday conversations and practice with native speakers whenever possible.

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