Learning numbers in any language is essential. We recommend that beginners aim to learn the numbers up to 100, as they'll get you through almost any everyday conversation with numbers. However, you don't have to learn 100 new vocabulary words. As you'll see, you can learn some smart patterns and you can learn the numbers up to 100, plus their pronunciation, by the end of this article.
Why You Should Learn the Numbers in French
Numbers are used in everyday communication by French speakers. From prices at shops or markets to dates, appointments, and the time, you'll hear them everywhere. Want to exchange phone numbers? You'll need numbers and French question words for that, and not just the numbers up to 10! Once you work out how French numbers are formed, you'll start recognising the patterns and be able to learn numbers easily.
Basic Vocabulary for 1–10
The first ten numbers are the building blocks af all the other numbers. We recommend that beginners start by learning these and other vocabulary groups of less than ten, like the days of the week. Say them aloud if you need. You'll find the rough pronunciation for them in square brackets, but we recommend listening to native speakers.
- 1 – un [uhn]
- 2 – deux [duh]
- 3 – trois [trwa]
- 4 – quatre [katr]
- 5 – cinq [sank]
- 6 – six [sees]
- 7 – sept [set]
- 8 – huit [wee]
- 9 – neuf [nurf]
- 10 – dix [dees]
to get by on your first forays into French.
Counting from 11 to 69
Once you've mastered 1-10, the next step is 11-20. Other than some of the later tens after sixty, which you'll get to momentarily, this is the last time you'll really need to learn a lot of new vocabulary. After 20, you can learn the names of the new tens and pretty much add them to the numbers 1 to 9.
Numbers 11–20 — Unique Words
- 11 – onze [onz]
- 12 – douze [dooz]
- 13 – treize [trez]
- 14 – quatorze [ka-torz]
- 15 – quinze [kanz]
- 16 – seize [sez]
- 17 – dix-sept [dees-set]
- 18 – dix-huit [dees-weet]
- 19 – dix-neuf [dees-nurf]
- 20 – vingt [van]
Tens & Units — 21 to 69
Once you learn the numbers for 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60, you'll comfortably be able to count up to 69. We'll get to why we haven't continued past 69 yet, but you'll see. Here are the numbers from 21-69. Once you've mastered these and the months in French, you'll have everything you need to talk about dates.
21–29
- 21 – vingt-et-un [van-ay-uhn]
- 22 – vingt-deux [van-duh]
- 23 – vingt-trois [van-trwa]
- 24 – vingt-quatre [van-katr]
- 25 – vingt-cinq [van-sank]
- 26 – vingt-six [van-sees]
- 27 – vingt-sept [van-set]
- 28 – vingt-huit [van-wee]
- 29 – vingt-neuf [van-nurf]
30–39
- 30 – trente [tront]
- 31 – trente-et-un [tront-ay-uhn]
- 32 – trente-deux [tront-duh]
- 33 – trente-trois [tront-trwa]
- 34 – trente-quatre [tront-katr]
- 35 – trente-cinq [tront-sank]
- 36 – trente-six [tront-sees]
- 37 – trente-sept [tront-set]
- 38 – trente-huit [tront-wee]
- 39 – trente-neuf [tront-nurf]
40–49
- 40 – quarante [ka-ront]
- 41 – quarante-et-un [ka-ront-ay-uhn]
- 42 – quarante-deux [ka-ront-duh]
- 43 – quarante-trois [ka-ront-trwa]
- 44 – quarante-quatre [ka-ront-katr]
- 45 – quarante-cinq [ka-ront-sank]
- 46 – quarante-six [ka-ront-sees]
- 47 – quarante-sept [ka-ront-set]
- 48 – quarante-huit [ka-ront-wee]
- 49 – quarante-neuf [ka-ront-nurf]
50–59
- 50 – cinquante [san-kont]
- 51 – cinquante-et-un [san-kont-ay-uhn]
- 52 – cinquante-deux [san-kont-duh]
- 53 – cinquante-trois [san-kont-trwa]
- 54 – cinquante-quatre [san-kont-katr]
- 55 – cinquante-cinq [san-kont-sank]
- 56 – cinquante-six [san-kont-sees]
- 57 – cinquante-sept [san-kont-set]
- 58 – cinquante-huit [san-kont-wee]
- 59 – cinquante-neuf [san-kont-nurf]
French numbers follow clear patterns, especially from 21 to 69. Compound numbers use hyphens (vingt-trois), and “et” only appears before un and onze in specific cases (vingt-et-un). The numbers 70, 80, and 90 use special constructions that combine base numbers with additions.
60–69
- 60 – soixante [swah-sont]
- 61 – soixante-et-un [swah-sont-ay-uhn]
- 62 – soixante-deux [swah-sont-duh]
- 63 – soixante-trois [swah-sont-trwa]
- 64 – soixante-quatre [swah-sont-katr]
- 65 – soixante-cinq [swah-sont-sank]
- 66 – soixante-six [swah-sont-sees]
- 67 – soixante-sept [swah-sont-set]
- 68 – soixante-huit [swah-sont-wee]
- 69 – soixante-neuf [swah-sont-nurf]
new linguistic patterns.
The Big Leap — 70 to 100
The numbers from 70 to 100 are where French gets weird. While some French-speaking regions and countries have words for 70, 80, and 90, most French speakers don't and instead build upon 60 (going sixty-ten, sixty-eleven, etc.) until it reaches 80.
There isn't a unique word for eighty that's commonly used in France, either. Instead, they go with four-twenty (quatre-vignt) and then follow the same rules as sixty up to one hundred, doing four-twenty-ten (for ninety), four-twenty-eleven (for ninety-one), etc.
Numbers 70–79
French uses 60 + (10–19) for the 70s:
- 70 – soixante-dix [swah-sont-dees]
- 71 – soixante-onze [swah-sont-onz]
- 72 – soixante-douze [swah-sont-dooz]
- 73 – soixante-treize [swah-sont-trez]
- 74 – soixante-quatorze [swah-sont-ka-torz]
- 75 – soixante-quinze [swah-sont-kanz]
- 76 – soixante-seize [swah-sont-sez]
- 77 – soixante-dix-sept [swah-sont-dees-set]
- 78 – soixante-dix-huit [swah-sont-dees-weet]
- 79 – soixante-dix-neuf [swah-sont-dees-nurf]
Numbers 80–89
- 80 – quatre-vingts [katr-van]
- 81 – quatre-vingt-un [katr-van-uhn]
- 82 – quatre-vingt-deux [katr-van-duh]
- 83 – quatre-vingt-trois [katr-van-trwa]
- 84 – quatre-vingt-quatre [katr-van-katr]
- 85 – quatre-vingt-cinq [katr-van-sank]
- 86 – quatre-vingt-six [katr-van-sees]
- 87 – quatre-vingt-sept [katr-van-set]
- 88 – quatre-vingt-huit [katr-van-wee]
- 89 – quatre-vingt-neuf [katr-van-nurf]
Numbers 90–100
French uses 80 + (10–19) for the 90s:
- 90 – quatre-vingt-dix [katr-van-dees]
- 91 – quatre-vingt-onze [katr-van-onz]
- 92 – quatre-vingt-douze [katr-van-dooz]
- 93 – quatre-vingt-treize [katr-van-trez]
- 94 – quatre-vingt-quatorze [katr-van-ka-torz]
- 95 – quatre-vingt-quinze [katr-van-kanz]
- 96 – quatre-vingt-seize [katr-van-sez]
- 97 – quatre-vingt-dix-sept [katr-van-dees-set]
- 98 – quatre-vingt-dix-huit [katr-van-dees-weet]
- 99 – quatre-vingt-dix-neuf [katr-van-dees-nurf]
And the final round number:
- 100 – cent [sahn]
Numbers in the 70s, 80s, and 90s follow unique patterns: soixante-dix (60+10), quatre-vingts (4×20), and quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10). Once you recognise these structures, the whole system becomes easier to remember.
Spelling and Hyphen Rules to Know
French numbers follow clear spelling patterns, but a few rules often confuse learners. These guidelines help you write numbers correctly and avoid the most common mistakes.
Pronunciation Tips for French Numbers
French only uses et between tens and un in specific numbers such as vingt-et-un, trente-et-un, and quarante-et-un. It does not appear in numbers like soixante-et-un or quatre-vingt-un.
Quick Reference Table of French Numbers 1-100
| Number | French | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | un | 1 | uhn |
| 2 | deux | 2 | duh |
| 3 | trois | 3 | trwa |
| 4 | quatre | 4 | katr |
| 5 | cinq | 5 | sank |
| 6 | six | 6 | sees |
| 7 | sept | 7 | set |
| 8 | huit | 8 | wee |
| 9 | neuf | 9 | nurf |
| 10 | dix | 10 | dees |
| 11 | onze | 11 | onz |
| 12 | douze | 12 | dooz |
| 13 | treize | 13 | trez |
| 14 | quatorze | 14 | ka-torz |
| 15 | quinze | 15 | kanz |
| 16 | seize | 16 | sez |
| 17 | dix-sept | 17 | dees-set |
| 18 | dix-huit | 18 | dees-weet |
| 19 | dix-neuf | 19 | dees-nurf |
| 20 | vingt | 20 | van |
| 21 | vingt-et-un | 21 | van-ay-uhn |
| 22 | vingt-deux | 22 | van-duh |
| 23 | vingt-trois | 23 | van-trwa |
| 24 | vingt-quatre | 24 | van-katr |
| 25 | vingt-cinq | 25 | van-sank |
| 26 | vingt-six | 26 | van-sees |
| 27 | vingt-sept | 27 | van-set |
| 28 | vingt-huit | 28 | van-wee |
| 29 | vingt-neuf | 29 | van-nurf |
| 30 | trente | 30 | tront |
| 31 | trente-et-un | 31 | tront-ay-uhn |
| 32 | trente-deux | 32 | tront-duh |
| 33 | trente-trois | 33 | tront-trwa |
| 34 | trente-quatre | 34 | tront-katr |
| 35 | trente-cinq | 35 | tront-sank |
| 36 | trente-six | 36 | tront-sees |
| 37 | trente-sept | 37 | tront-set |
| 38 | trente-huit | 38 | tront-wee |
| 39 | trente-neuf | 39 | tront-nurf |
| 40 | quarante | 40 | ka-ront |
| 41 | quarante-et-un | 41 | ka-ront-ay-uhn |
| 42 | quarante-deux | 42 | ka-ront-duh |
| 43 | quarante-trois | 43 | ka-ront-trwa |
| 44 | quarante-quatre | 44 | ka-ront-katr |
| 45 | quarante-cinq | 45 | ka-ront-sank |
| 46 | quarante-six | 46 | ka-ront-sees |
| 47 | quarante-sept | 47 | ka-ront-set |
| 48 | quarante-huit | 48 | ka-ront-wee |
| 49 | quarante-neuf | 49 | ka-ront-nurf |
| 50 | cinquante | 50 | san-kont |
| 51 | cinquante-et-un | 51 | san-kont-ay-uhn |
| 52 | cinquante-deux | 52 | san-kont-duh |
| 53 | cinquante-trois | 53 | san-kont-trwa |
| 54 | cinquante-quatre | 54 | san-kont-katr |
| 55 | cinquante-cinq | 55 | san-kont-sank |
| 56 | cinquante-six | 56 | san-kont-sees |
| 57 | cinquante-sept | 57 | san-kont-set |
| 58 | cinquante-huit | 58 | san-kont-wee |
| 59 | cinquante-neuf | 59 | san-kont-nurf |
| 60 | soixante | 60 | swah-sont |
| 61 | soixante-et-un | 61 | swah-sont-ay-uhn |
| 62 | soixante-deux | 62 | swah-sont-duh |
| 63 | soixante-trois | 63 | swah-sont-trwa |
| 64 | soixante-quatre | 64 | swah-sont-katr |
| 65 | soixante-cinq | 65 | swah-sont-sank |
| 66 | soixante-six | 66 | swah-sont-sees |
| 67 | soixante-sept | 67 | swah-sont-set |
| 68 | soixante-huit | 68 | swah-sont-wee |
| 69 | soixante-neuf | 69 | swah-sont-nurf |
| 70 | soixante-dix | 70 | swah-sont-dees |
| 71 | soixante-onze | 71 | swah-sont-onz |
| 72 | soixante-douze | 72 | swah-sont-dooz |
| 73 | soixante-treize | 73 | swah-sont-trez |
| 74 | soixante-quatorze | 74 | swah-sont-ka-torz |
| 75 | soixante-quinze | 75 | swah-sont-kanz |
| 76 | soixante-seize | 76 | swah-sont-sez |
| 77 | soixante-dix-sept | 77 | swah-sont-dees-set |
| 78 | soixante-dix-huit | 78 | swah-sont-dees-weet |
| 79 | soixante-dix-neuf | 79 | swah-sont-dees-nurf |
| 80 | quatre-vingts | 80 | katr-van |
| 81 | quatre-vingt-un | 81 | katr-van-uhn |
| 82 | quatre-vingt-deux | 82 | katr-van-duh |
| 83 | quatre-vingt-trois | 83 | katr-van-trwa |
| 84 | quatre-vingt-quatre | 84 | katr-van-katr |
| 85 | quatre-vingt-cinq | 85 | katr-van-sank |
| 86 | quatre-vingt-six | 86 | katr-van-sees |
| 87 | quatre-vingt-sept | 87 | katr-van-set |
| 88 | quatre-vingt-huit | 88 | katr-van-wee |
| 89 | quatre-vingt-neuf | 89 | katr-van-nurf |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | 90 | katr-van-dees |
| 91 | quatre-vingt-onze | 91 | katr-van-onz |
| 92 | quatre-vingt-douze | 92 | katr-van-dooz |
| 93 | quatre-vingt-treize | 93 | katr-van-trez |
| 94 | quatre-vingt-quatorze | 94 | katr-van-ka-torz |
| 95 | quatre-vingt-quinze | 95 | katr-van-kanz |
| 96 | quatre-vingt-seize | 96 | katr-van-sez |
| 97 | quatre-vingt-dix-sept | 97 | katr-van-dees-set |
| 98 | quatre-vingt-dix-huit | 98 | katr-van-dees-weet |
| 99 | quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | 99 | katr-van-dees-nurf |
| 100 | cent | 100 | sahn |
Pronunciation Tips for French Numbers
French numbers include nasal vowels, silent consonants, and vowel combinations that don’t exist in English, which can make them tricky at first. Numbers like un, cinq, six, huit, vingt, and the 70–99 group often challenge learners until they get used to the patterns and we haven't even started with grammatical gender for parts of the body. With focused listening and repetition, you can master the rhythm and sound changes that appear throughout the number system. These pronunciation tips will help you say numbers clearly and recognise them easily when spoken by native speakers.
Pronouncing Difficult Numbers
Common Pronunciation Mistakes
If you'd like to take your French further, why not work with a private tutor? You can find qualified and experienced French tutors all over Ireland and around the world on the Superprof website. Just search for "French" today!
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