Cardinal Numbers in French

How to count in French

The French cardinal numbers (les nombres cardinaux) are the basic numbers. We use them to count, make calculations and say how many of something there is.

Examples:
J’ai deux soeurs.I have two sisters.

Contents

How to spell French numbers

Take a look at the table below to learn how to spell the French cardinal numbers.

1 un 11 onze 21 vingt et un 31 trente et un
2 deux 12 douze 22 vingt-deux 40 quarante
3 trois 13 treize 23 vingt-trois 50 cinquante
4 quatre 14 quatorze 24 vingt-quatre 60 soixante
5 cinq 15 quinze 25 vingt-cinq 70 soixante-dix
6 six 16 seize 26 vingt-six 80 quatre-vingts
7 sept 17 dix-sept 27 vingt-sept 90 quatre-vingt-dix
8 huit 18 dix-huit 28 vingt-huit 100 cent
9 neuf 19 dix-neuf 29 vingt-neuf 1 000 mille
10 dix 20 vingt 30 trente 1 000 000 un million

Remember!

If the number un (1) refers to a feminine noun, we use the feminine version: une.

Example:
un chiendog
une tablea table
quarante et une chaisesforty-one tables

Tens

Les dizaines are numbers that are divisible by ten (20, 30, 40, etc.). When the number un (1) follows a ten, we connect them using et (and). Note: we do not use hyphens in this case.

Examples:
21 – vingt et un
131 – cent trente et un

The numbers 81 and 91 are exceptions. Here, we use hyphens instead of et.

Examples:
81 – quatre-vingt-un
91 – quatre-vingt-onze

When the number un follows a hundred, we do not use et or hyphens.

Examples:
101 – cent un
601 – six cent un

Be careful with the following numbers. Their form can be tricky for English speakers.

71 – soixante et onze
72 – soixante-douze
73 – soixante-treize
74 – soixante-quatorze
75 – soixante-quinze
76 – soixante-seize
77 – soixante-dix-sept
78 – soixante-dix-huit
79 – soixante-dix-neuf
91 – quatre-vingt-onze
92 – quatre-vingt-douze
93 – quatre-vingt-treize
94 – quatre-vingt-quatorze
95 – quatre-vingt-quinze
96 – quatre-vingt-seize
97 – quatre-vingt-dix-sept
98 – quatre-vingt-dix-huit
99 – quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

Hundreds

Les centaines are numbers divisible by one hundred (200, 300, etc.).

The hundreds from 200 to 900 are written in plural by adding an -s to cent: cents. However, this is only in the case for the whole hundreds; when cent is followed by another number it does not take an -s.

Examples:
100 – cent
300 – trois cents
304 – trois cent quatre

Thousands and millions

Thousands (les milliers) only have one form in French.

Examples:
1 000 – mille
3 000 – trois mille

Millions (les millions) have both a singular and a plural form.

Examples:
1 000 000 – un million
2 000 000 – deux millions

Info

In French, we separate groups of three numbers with a space, not with a comma or decimal point like in other languages.

Examples:
1 250 (not 1,250)
5 620 477 (not 5,620,477)