Những Điều Cơ Bản
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15 min
Numbers in French
Learn to count in French from 0 to 1,000 — including the quirky logic behind 70, 80 and 90.
Numbers in French (Les Nombres)
Knowing numbers is essential for shopping, telling time, and giving your phone number. French numbers are mostly logical — with a few surprising exceptions!
0 – 20 (Zero to Twenty)
| Number | French | Pronunciation guide |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | zéro | ZAY-roh |
| 1 | un / une | uhn / oon |
| 2 | deux | duh |
| 3 | trois | twah |
| 4 | quatre | KAH-truh |
| 5 | cinq | sank |
| 6 | six | seece |
| 7 | sept | set |
| 8 | huit | weet |
| 9 | neuf | nuhf |
| 10 | dix | deece |
| 11 | onze | onz |
| 12 | douze | dooz |
| 13 | treize | trez |
| 14 | quatorze | kah-TORZ |
| 15 | quinze | kanz |
| 16 | seize | sez |
| 17 | dix-sept | dee-SET |
| 18 | dix-huit | deez-WEET |
| 19 | dix-neuf | deez-NUHF |
| 20 | vingt | van |
Tens: 30 – 60 (Regular)
| Number | French | Logic |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | trente | simple word |
| 40 | quarante | simple word |
| 50 | cinquante | simple word |
| 60 | soixante | simple word |
⚠️ The Tricky Part: 70, 80, 90
Unlike Vietnamese where numbers follow a logical pattern, French uses a mathematical system for these three numbers:
| Number | French | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | soixante-dix | sixty + ten |
| 71 | soixante et onze | sixty + eleven |
| 72 | soixante-douze | sixty + twelve |
| 80 | quatre-vingts | four × twenty |
| 81 | quatre-vingt-un | four × twenty + one |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | four × twenty + ten |
| 99 | quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | four × twenty + nineteen |
🇻🇳 Note for Vietnamese speakers: In Vietnamese, 70 = bảy mươi (7×10), 80 = tám mươi — very logical! French is different here, so these three numbers need extra practice.
100 and Beyond
- 100 — cent
- 200 — deux cents (note the S on cent)
- 201 — deux cent un (no S when followed by more numbers)
- 1,000 — mille (never takes an S)
- 1,000,000 — un million
Practice: Read These Numbers Aloud
17 → 48 → 73 → 91 → 100 → 256 → 1,984
Answers: dix-sept / quarante-huit / soixante-treize / quatre-vingt-onze / cent / deux cent cinquante-six / mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-quatre