When learning a new language, counting is one of the first skills that new learners typically tackle. It's essential for ordering items in shops, sharing your age, discussing important dates, and more.
Counting in French can be tricky, especially after 60. In this article, we’ll delve into numbers from 1 to a billion (or however high you want to go!) so that you feel confident counting in French!
1. The Basics: Numbers 1 to 10
Let’s start with the basics. The numbers from 1 to 10 in French are all unique:
- Un (uh)
- Deux (duh)
- Trois (trwah)
- Quatre (katr)
- Cinq (sank)
- Six (sees)
- Sept (set)
- Huit (weet)
- Neuf (nuhf)
- Dix (dees)
Mastering these numbers is crucial since they lay the groundwork for everything that follows.
2. Numbers 11 to 20
As we move to the next set, numbers 11 to 20 begin to introduce some patterns, but each number is still distinct:
- Onze (onz)
- Douze (dooz)
- Treize (trez)
- Quatorze (ka-torz)
- Quinze (kanz)
- Seize (sez)
- Dix-sept (dees-set)
- Dix-huit (dees-weet)
- Dix-neuf (dees-nuhf)
- Vingt (van)
From 11 to 16, you’ll notice that they are all unique, but from 17 onward, you’ll see a pattern forming with "dix" (ten) added to the units. For example, 17 is "dix-sept" (ten-seven), 18 is "dix-huit" (ten-eight), and 19 is "dix-neuf" (ten-nine).
3. The Tens: 20 to 100
Next, let’s look at the tens:
- 20: Vingt (van)
- 30: Trente (trahnt)
- 40: Quarante (kah-rahnt)
- 50: Cinquante (sank-ahnt)
- 60: Soixante (swah-sont)
- 70: Soixante-dix (swah-sont-dees, literally "sixty-ten")
- 80: Quatre-vingts (katr-vahn, literally "four-twenties")
- 90: Quatre-vingt-dix (katr-vahn-dees, literally "four-twenty-ten")
- 100: Cent (sahn)
Regional Variations: Counting in Belgium and Switzerland
It’s important to note that counting can differ in regions like Belgium and French Switzerland. In these areas, the numbers are expressed as follows:
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70: Septante (sep-tahnt)
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80: Huitante (wee-tahnt in Belgium)
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90: Nonante (noh-nahnt)
4. Forming Numbers Beyond 20
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start forming numbers beyond 20. Here are some examples:
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21: Vingt et un (van eh uh)
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22: Vingt-deux (van duh)
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32: Trente-deux (trahnt duh)
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45: Quarante-cinq (kah-rahnt sank)
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72: Soixante-douze (swah-sont-dooz)
For numbers like 21 and 31, remember to use "et" (and) before the unit.
5. Hundreds and Thousands
Now, let’s tackle hundreds and thousands:
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100: Cent (sahn)
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200: Deux cents (duh sahn)
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300: Trois cents (trwah sahn)
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1,000: Mille (meel)
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2,000: Deux mille (duh meel)
6. Large Numbers: Millions and Billions
Finally, let’s cover the big numbers:
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1,000,000: Un million (uh meel-yon)
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2,000,000: Deux millions (duh meel-yon)
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1,000,000,000: Un milliard (uh meel-yahr)
7. Practice Makes Perfect
To really get the hang of counting in French, practice is essential. Count objects around you, recite numbers out loud, or use apps and resources to reinforce your skills. With these basics, you’re on your way to counting like a pro! If you're interested in learning French, please feel free to book a free trial lesson with me. During our session, we can discuss your goals and create a plan tailored to your specific needs.
