Learning the numbers to 100 in French can be done systematically. It is very important to master the numbers 1-20 because you will see these numbers used again and again.
Learning how to say the numbers in French is important for countless reasons.
Numbers 1-20
Un – 1
Deux – 2
Trois – 3
Quatre – 4
Cinq – 5
Six – 6
Sept – 7
Huit – 8
Neuf – 9
Dix – 10
Onze – 11
Douze – 12
Treize – 13
Quatorze – 14
Quinze – 15
Seize – 16
Dix-sept – 17
Dix-huit – 18
Dix-neuf – 19
Vingt – 20
Numbers 21-69
Create the numbers 21*-69 by adding together the tens (listed below) with the numbers 2-9.
Examples:
Vingt – 20 Vingt-deux = 22
Trente – 30 Trente-quatre = 34
Quarante – 40 Quarante-six = 46
Cinquante – 50 Cinquante-huit = 58
Soixante – 60 Soixante-neuf = 69
*To write the numbers 21, 31, 41, 51, and 61: add et un (“and one”) to the numbers above.
Example:
41 = quarante et un = which literally means “forty and one”
Numbers 70-99
A lot of math goes into the formation of French numbers. Pay close attention to how these remaining numbers add up (literally).
70 – soixante-dix
71 – soixante et onze
80 – quatre-vingts
81 – quatre-vingt-un
90- quatre-vingt-dix
91 – quatre-vingt-onze
72 – soixante-douze 82 – quatre-vingt-deux 92 – quatre-vingt-douze
Etc… Etc… Etc…
Think: Think: Think:
“sixty+ten, sixty+eleven…” “four twenties, four twenties + one…” “four twenties + ten, four twenties + eleven…”
Notice how these combinations of numbers are added together. Think of the hyphens as French plus signs.
Use these patterns to form the remaining numbers up to 99.
Learn the French numbers and how to count to 100. The numbers in French 1-100 are much more complex than un, deux trois (one, two, three). While counting from 1-20 is very straightforward, the numbers 70-99 become much more complicated.