Numbers 1–20 and 21–100
What you'll be able to do
1–10 essential. Up to 69 mostly logical. 70/80/90 in France are math problems — memorise them.
- 1–10 are essential — drill them out loud.
- 11–16 are unique words; 17–19 are additive (dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf).
- 70 = soixante-dix, 80 = quatre-vingts, 90 = quatre-vingt-dix in France/Quebec.
Numbers 1–10: un (uhn), deux (duh), trois (twah), quatre (kat-ruh), cinq (sank), six (sees), sept (set), huit (weet), neuf (nuhf), dix (dees). Practice them out loud — they show up in prices, addresses, dates, phone numbers, and times.
11–16 are their own words: onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize. From 17 on, French goes additive: dix-sept (10+7), dix-huit (10+8), dix-neuf (10+9), then vingt (20).
21–69 are mostly regular: vingt et un (21), vingt-deux (22), trente (30), quarante (40), cinquante (50), soixante (60). Then France gets weird:
• 70 = soixante-dix ("sixty-ten")
• 80 = quatre-vingts ("four-twenties")
• 90 = quatre-vingt-dix ("four-twenty-ten")
• 99 = quatre-vingt-dix-neuf ("four-twenty-nineteen")
In Belgium and Switzerland (and to some extent Quebec, though less rigidly), 70 = septante and 90 = nonante — much simpler. Quebec mostly uses the France versions but understands both. Memorise the France pattern; you'll be understood everywhere.
Key points
- 1–10 are essential — drill them out loud.
- 11–16 are unique words; 17–19 are additive (dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf).
- 70 = soixante-dix, 80 = quatre-vingts, 90 = quatre-vingt-dix in France/Quebec.
- Septante / nonante exist in Belgium & Switzerland — recognise but don't rely on them in France.
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