French Numbers Chart
French numbers follow a simple pattern up to 69: learn 0–20 and the tens, then join them with a hyphen. From 70 the system counts in twenties: 70 is soixante-dix (60 + 10), 80 is quatre-vingts (4 × 20) and 90 is quatre-vingt-dix (4 × 20 + 10). Use et only for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71.
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In the TEF / TCF Canada exam
Listening tasks love numbers: prices, dates, times and phone numbers. Train your ear on 70–99, where most mistakes happen.
French Numbers Chart: the full chart as text
0 to 20: learn these by heart
| # | French | # | French | # | French |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | zéro | 7 | sept | 14 | quatorze |
| 1 | un / une | 8 | huit | 15 | quinze |
| 2 | deux | 9 | neuf | 16 | seize |
| 3 | trois | 10 | dix | 17 | dix-sept |
| 4 | quatre | 11 | onze | 18 | dix-huit |
| 5 | cinq | 12 | douze | 19 | dix-neuf |
| 6 | six | 13 | treize | 20 | vingt |
From 17, numbers are built: dix-sept = 10 + 7.
The tens
| # | French | Logic |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | vingt | |
| 30 | trente | |
| 40 | quarante | |
| 50 | cinquante | |
| 60 | soixante | |
| 70 | soixante-dix | 60 + 10 |
| 80 | quatre-vingts | 4 × 20 |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | 4 × 20 + 10 |
71 to 99: count on from 60 or 80
| # | French |
|---|---|
| 71 | soixante et onze |
| 72 | soixante-douze |
| 77 | soixante-dix-sept |
| 80 | quatre-vingts |
| 81 | quatre-vingt-un |
| 91 | quatre-vingt-onze |
| 96 | quatre-vingt-seize |
Et or a hyphen?
Use et for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71 only. Everything else under 100 takes a hyphen. Since 1990, hyphens everywhere are also correct.
- vingt et un, soixante et onze21, 71
- quarante-deux, quatre-vingt-un42, 81 (no et)
- vingt-et-un, deux-cent-trois1990 spelling, also correct
Hundreds and big numbers
| # | French |
|---|---|
| 100 | cent |
| 200 | deux cents |
| 210 | deux cent dix |
| 1 000 | mille |
| 2 000 | deux mille |
| 1 000 000 | un million |
| 1 000 000 000 | un milliard |
Vingt and cent take -s only when multiplied and nothing follows. Mille never does. Un million de personnes.
Ordinals: add -ième
| French | Short | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | premier / première | 1er / 1re |
| 2nd | deuxième | 2e |
| 3rd | troisième | 3e |
| 4th | quatrième | 4e |
| 5th | cinquième | 5e |
| 9th | neuvième | 9e |
| 21st | vingt et unième | 21e |
Drop a final -e (quatre), add u to cinq, change f to v in neuf.
Years, prices, times and scores
- 1995 : mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinzeYears: say the full number
- 2026 : deux mille vingt-sixYears after 2000
- le 1er mars : le premier marsDates: premier for the 1st only
- 14,50 $ : quatorze dollars cinquantePrices: a comma before the cents
- 17 h 45 : dix-sept heures quarante-cinqOfficial times use the 24-hour clock
- 10/20 : dix sur vingtScores: sur = out of
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Questions
French counts in twenties from 60 upwards: 80 is literally four twenties. Then 90 is quatre-vingt-dix (four twenties plus ten), and 99 is quatre-vingt-dix-neuf. The -s on quatre-vingts drops as soon as another number follows, as in quatre-vingt-un.
Only in 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71: vingt et un, soixante et onze. 81 and 91 have no et: quatre-vingt-un, quatre-vingt-onze. Since the 1990 spelling reform, writing vingt-et-un with hyphens is also correct.
Say the full number: 1995 is mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze and 2026 is deux mille vingt-six. You may also hear dix-neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze for years in the 1900s. Both are understood.
