A1 French GrammarNumbers 1-100
Master French numbers from 1 to 100. French counting has some unique patterns, especially in the 70s, 80s, and 90s which use a vigesimal (base-20) system inherited from Gaulish. Learn to count, use numbers in dates, prices, and everyday situations.
1Numbers 1-20
French numbers 1-16 are unique words that must be memorized. From 17-19, numbers follow the pattern dix-sept (10+7), dix-huit (10+8), dix-neuf (10+9). Twenty is 'vingt'. These foundational numbers are essential for all counting.
Numbers 1-20
| Number | French | Number | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | un/une | 11 | onze |
| 2 | deux | 12 | douze |
| 3 | trois | 13 | treize |
| 4 | quatre | 14 | quatorze |
| 5 | cinq | 15 | quinze |
| 6 | six | 16 | seize |
| 7 | sept | 17 | dix-sept |
| 8 | huit | 18 | dix-huit |
| 9 | neuf | 19 | dix-neuf |
| 10 | dix | 20 | vingt |
Examples
J'ai deux frères.
I have two brothers.
deux = two
Il a quinze ans.
He is fifteen years old.
quinze = fifteen
Le train part à dix-huit heures.
The train leaves at 18 hours.
dix-huit = eighteen
Nous avons vingt minutes.
We have twenty minutes.
vingt = twenty
2Numbers 21-69
From 21-69, French numbers follow a predictable pattern: tens word + units word, connected by 'et' for 1 (vingt-et-un) but hyphenated for others (vingt-deux). Note that 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 use 'et' before 'un'.
Tens and Pattern
| Tens | French | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | vingt | vingt-et-un | 21 |
| 30 | trente | trente-deux | 32 |
| 40 | quarante | quarante-trois | 43 |
| 50 | cinquante | cinquante-quatre | 54 |
| 60 | soixante | soixante-cinq | 65 |
Examples
J'ai trente-deux ans.
I am thirty-two years old.
trente-deux = thirty-two
Il y a quarante et une personnes.
There are forty-one people.
quarante et un(e) = forty-one
La maison coûte cinquante mille euros.
The house costs fifty thousand euros.
cinquante = fifty
Elle habite au numéro soixante-sept.
She lives at number sixty-seven.
soixante-sept = sixty-seven
3Numbers 70-99 (Vigesimal System)
French uses a vigesimal (base-20) system for 70-99. Seventy is 'soixante-dix' (60+10). Eighty is 'quatre-vingts' (4×20). Ninety is 'quatre-vingt-dix' (4×20+10). This is one of the trickiest aspects of French numbers.
70-99 Pattern
| Number | French | Literal | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | soixante-dix | 60+10 | start of vigesimal |
| 71 | soixante-et-onze | 60+11 | uses et with onze |
| 80 | quatre-vingts | 4×20 | note the -s |
| 81 | quatre-vingt-un | 4×20+1 | no -s, no et |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | 4×20+10 | no -s |
| 99 | quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | 4×20+19 | highest before 100 |
Examples
Ma grand-mère a soixante-quinze ans.
My grandmother is seventy-five years old.
soixante-quinze = 60+15 = 75
Il y a quatre-vingts élèves.
There are eighty students.
quatre-vingts with -s before noun
Le livre coûte quatre-vingt-dix euros.
The book costs ninety euros.
quatre-vingt-dix = 90
Nous avons quatre-vingt-dix-neuf problèmes.
We have ninety-nine problems.
quatre-vingt-dix-neuf = 99
4Using Numbers
Numbers in French are used for telling time, giving dates, prices, ages, and quantities. Note that 'un' becomes 'une' before feminine nouns. Hundred is 'cent' and takes -s only when multiplied and not followed by another number.
Number Usage Contexts
| Context | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| age | J'ai vingt ans. | I am 20 years old. |
| time | Il est trois heures. | It is 3 o'clock. |
| price | Ça coûte dix euros. | It costs 10 euros. |
| date | le quinze janvier | January 15th |
| quantity | deux kilos | two kilos |
Examples
J'ai une soeur et deux frères.
I have one sister and two brothers.
une (feminine) vs deux
Il est midi et demi.
It is half past noon.
demi = half (for time)
C'est le premier mai.
It is May 1st.
premier = first (only for 1st)
Cent euros, s'il vous plaît.
One hundred euros, please.
cent = 100 (no -s alone)