Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are used to express quantity or identify a specific position in a numbered series. They are the foundation of any number-related vocabulary in French. Here are the French cardinal numbers from one to ten:
- 1 – Un(e): The starting point of every counting journey.
- 2 – Deux: The number representing a pair or a couple.
- 3 – Trois: The third number.
- 4 – Quatre: The number associated with four corners.
- 5 – Cinq: A number that rhymes with “saint”.
- 6 – Six: Combining sounds associated with the letters ‘s’ and ‘ix’.
- 7 – Sept: Similar to its English counterpart ‘seven’.
- 8 – Huit: The number pronounced similarly to the word ‘wheat’.
- 9 – Neuf: A single syllable number.
- 10 – Dix: The final number in this series.
Now that you have a grasp of the French numbers from one to ten, let’s move on to larger numbers.
Numbers Beyond Ten
Once you’ve memorized the cardinal numbers up to ten, you’ll be able to construct larger numbers more easily. In French, numbers from eleven to sixteen follow a particular pattern:
- 11 – Onze
- 12 – Douze
- 13 – Treize
- 14 – Quatorze
- 15 – Quinze
- 16 – Seize
From 17 onwards, the formula changes slightly. Here’s a list of French numbers from seventeen to twenty:
- 17 – Dix-sept
- 18 – Dix-huit
- 19 – Dix-neuf
- 20 – Vingt
For numbers beyond twenty, the French language adopts a different counting system. Twenty-one, for example, is expressed as “vingt et un” or “twenty and one”. Let’s see a few more examples:
- 30 – Trente
- 40 – Quarante
- 50 – Cinquante
- 60 – Soixante
- 70 – Soixante-dix
- 80 – Quatre-vingts
- 90 – Quatre-vingt-dix
- 100 – Cent
Now that you have a solid understanding of how to say French numbers, you’re ready to practice and expand your knowledge further. Remember that numbers play a crucial role in everyday conversations, so mastering them will greatly contribute to your language skills.
We hope this guide has provided you with a helpful overview of French numeral vocabulary. Enjoy your journey into the wonderful world of French language and culture!