In this free audio lesson, Iâm going to help you conquer French numbers. Youâll see, itâs easy when you study the right way!
Most students âcalculateâ their numbers in French: they think âtwentyâ and âfiveâ to make âtwenty fiveâ.
But that is not how a French native would think. A native is so accustomed to numbers that âtwenty fiveâ is one piece of information and one sound.
Learn your French numbers this way, and youâll see, big or small, numbers in French will no longer be a challenge!
This article features audio recordings. Click the blue text next to the headphone to hear me say that word or sentence in French.
Note that when applicable, I used a modern spoken French pronunciation.
Learn How to Count From 0 to 19 in French
Please press on the audio player to hear the audio recording for the French numbers 0 to 19.
Now letâs see the pronunciation of each number individually. This time you may look at the way they are spelled so you memorize the spelling at the same time.
- un or une (if you are counting something feminine)
- deux
- trois
- quatre
- cinq
- six
- sept
- huit
- neuf
- dix
- onze
- douze
- treize
- quatorze
- quinze
- seize
- dix-sept
- dix-huit
- dix-neuf
âUnâ to âdix-neuf â are weird numbers. You really need to know them inside out if you want to eventually understand and handle large French numbers.
In my experience, students have problems with large numbers not because of the âbigâ part (100.000) but because of the smaller âlastâ part that they donât understand fast enough.
0 to 19 in French Explained
Zero in French
Click the blue text next to the headphone to hear me say that word or sentence in French.
- The number for âzeroâ is âzeÌroâ â watch out, âzeÌâ, not âziâ!
- âUn chiffreâ is a digit, âun nombreâ is a number.
Donât forget to put the noun that follows in the plural if you have more than one:
- Une fille (singular so no s)
- Sept filles (plural therefore with a silent s at filles)
â ïž Cinq, Six, Huit et Dix
When pronouncing these four digits, you usually drop their final consonant in front of a word starting with a consonant (but not alwaysâŠ)
- cinq minutes = sin minut (no K sound at the end of sin)
- six minutes = si minut (so S sound at the end of si)
- huit minutes = ui minut (no T sound at the end of ui)
- dix minutes = di minut (no S sound of the end of di)
This is particularly important since this pronunciation will apply in larger numbers, when 5, 6, 8 and 10 are followed by hundred (cent) thousand (mille), million (million) milliard (billion) etcâŠ
Audio Exercises
0-19 French Number Audio Exercises
To learn numbers efficiently, always learn them out of order. (Just like when you drill with the French irregular verbs⊠When you learn in order, your brain prioritizes the info: first most important, last: less important.)

Train your verb memory with short 6-minute drills in 25 different forms and tenses
0-19 Audio Exercise â Slower
Letâs test your French numbers with this out of order drill. Weâll start with a a slower number drill. Please press play on the audio player to hear my recording.
Answers to the French number audio drill
14, 12, 1, 3, 4, 0, 7, 18, 4, 14, 2, 19, 17, 16, 3, 6, 16, 19, 2, 5, 3, 15, 5, 8, 3, 18, 9, 16, 12, 16, 6, 13, 12, 2, 0, 1, 17.
0-19 Audio Exercise â Faster
Now letâs drill our French numbers at a faster speed.
Answers to the French number audio drill
1, 6, 8, 3, 9, 17, 3, 19, 12, 3, 2, 1, 9, 10, 0, 14, 18, 3, 5, 7, 18, 13, 12, 18, 11, 10, 16, 13, 19, 3, 5, 15, 13, 17, 13, 12.
French Number Free Quiz
Before starting this lesson, you may want to check your present understanding of French numbers.
Iâve developed a fast and fun quiz for French numbers: the test has 10 questions and will take you about 8 minutes to complete. Youâll see how different itâs to take a test based on audio recordings and not written French!
Now letâs dive into this rather long lesson about French numbers! You donât have to do it all in one sitting! Take your time, bookmark this page and come back often!
20 to 59 Free French Number Lesson
How to Count from 20 to 29 in French?
Please press play on the audio player to hear my recording.
20 Vingt
21 Vingt et un (or vingt et une if feminine)
22 Vingt-deux
23 Vingt-trois
24 Vingt-quatre
25 Vingt-cinq
26 Vingt-six
27 Vingt-sept
28 Vingt-huit
29 Vingt-neuf
Watch out with vingt â donât say the T when itâs alone, but do say the T when itâs followed by another number.
How to Count from 30 to 39 in French
30 Trente
31 Trente et un/une
32 Trente-deux
33 Trente-trois
34 Trente-quatre
35 Trente-cinq
36 Trente-six
37 Trente-sept
38 Trente-huit
39 Trente-neuf
How to Count from 40 to 49 in French
40 Quarante
41 Quarante et un/une
42 Quarante-deux
43 Quarante-trois
44 Quarante-quatre
45 Quarante-cinq
46 Quarante-six
47 Quarante-sept
48 Quarante-huit
49 Quarante-neuf
How to Count from 50 to 59 in French
50 Cinquante
51 Cinquante et un/une
52 Cinquante-deux
53 Cinquante-trois
54 Cinquante-quatre
55 Cinquante-cinq
56 Cinquante-six
57 Cinquante-sept
58 Cinquante-huit
59 Cinquante-neuf
These French numbers 20 to 59 seem easier and therefore are often overlooked by students.
Big mistake! You need to train with them as much as with the other numbers â they are part of telling the time in French, and are very important.
As with everything in French, repetition is the key. Take you time to go through these numbers: bookmark this page and come back often to train on your French numbers!
Audio Exercises
20-59 Audio Exercise â Slower
Answers to the French number audio practice
21, 38, 59, 33, 46, 22, 53, 33, 41, 55, 34, 39, 24, 32, 28, 41, 50, 33, 53, 26, 22, 40, 39, 25.
20-59 Audio Exercise â Faster
Now letâs train with French numbers out of order at the faster speed. Please press play on the audio player to hear my recording.
Answers to the French numbers audio practice
44, 32, 57, 40, 36, 28, 59, 41, 25, 34, 46, 20, 48, 59, 21, 45, 34, 22, 27, 30, 44, 52, 49, 45.
Check out my French number audiobook. Over four hours of clear explanations, and random number drills recorded at several speeds. Click on the link for more info, a full list of content and audio samples.

Master All Numbers From 0 To 999 999 999! The most in-depth audiobook about French numbers anywhere
This 4+ hours audiobook goes in-depth on how to construct the numbers and how to pronounce them properly with all the modern glidings and elisions that can sometimes completely change the number from its written form!
I also cover many French expressions that use numbers as well as the many ways to tell the time and say prices.
All throughout the audiobook, you will find extensive audio drills recorded at 3 different speeds and featuring numbers out of order so you really get a true workout!
As with all my French audiobooks, itâs available on all platforms with a single purchase and comes with 100% money-back.
60 to 99 â Free French Number Lesson
60 â Sixty in French
60 Soixante
61 Soixante-et-un/une
62 Soixante-deux
63 Soixante-trois
64 Soixante-quatre
65 Soixante-cinq
66 Soixante-six
67 Soixante-sept
68 Soixante-huit
69 Soixante-neuf
70 â Seventy in French
70 Soixante-dix
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
80 â Eighty in French
Please press play on the audio player to hear my recording.
80 Quatre-vingts
81 Quatre-vingt-un
82 Quatre-vingt-deux
83 Quatre-vingt-trois
84 Quatre-vingt-quatre
85 Quatre-vingt-cinq
86 Quatre-vingt-six
87 Quatre-vingt-sept
88 Quatre-vingt-huit
89 Quatre-vingt-neuf
90 â Ninety in French
90 Quatre-vingt-dix
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
100 Cent
60 to 99 Free French Number Lesson
These French numbers are really ridiculous, but itâs essential that you donât âbuildâ them but learn them phonetically 99 = [katreuvindizneuf].
The problem is that most students think Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf = four â twenty â ten â nine and therefore âbuild upâ their French numbers.
It may work when you are taking a written test, but not if you are learning French to communicate, and need to understand prices and numbers in a conversation.
Eighty and Ninety in French
Note that eighty in French â quatre-vingts ends on a silent S, but not the following numbers (quatre-vingt-un).
Note also that eighty one in French â quatre-vingt-un and ninety in French quatre-vingt-onze donât have an âetâ. As if it was not difficult enough!!
Septante, Octante, Nonante⊠So Much Simpler French Numbers
Some French speaking regions (Switzerland, BelgiumâŠ) have found a solution for these pathetic numbers: they use:
- âseptanteâ (70 seventy: âsoixante-dixâ in French)
- âoctanteâ (or huitante) (80 eighty: âquatre-vingtsâ in French)
- and ânonanteâ (90 ninety: âquatre-vingt-dixâ in French)
which, in my opinion, makes so much sense!!
Unfortunately, we donât use these numbers at all in France.
Audio Exercises
60-90 Audio Exercises â Slower
And now letâs mix-up the French numbers sixty to ninety-nine and test your understanding of them out of order.
Answers to the French Numbers Audio Quiz
87, 65, 96, 73, 90, 62, 76, 82, 72, 94, 85, 91, 69, 90, 87, 65, 76, 75, 81, 90, 83, 99, 66, 70, 93, 83, 77.
60-90 Audio Exercises â Faster
And now letâs mix-up the French numbers sixty to ninety-nine and test your understanding of them out of order at a faster speed. You will need to hit pause if you are writing down these numbers in words.
Answers to the French Numbers Audio Quiz
79, 90, 87, 70, 72, 94, 85, 61, 87, 99, 81, 94, 66, 99, 66, 70, 93, 83, 76, 73, 80, 77, 69, 91, 85, 61, 94.
Check out my French number audiobook. Over four hours of clear explanations, and random number drills recorded at several speeds. Click on the link for more info, a full list of content and audio samples.
100 to 999 Free French Number Lesson
- Cent
- Deux-cents
- Trois-cents
- Quatre-cents
- Cinq-cents
- Six-cents
- Sept-cents
- Huit-cents
- Neuf-cents
French Numbers Above 100 Explained
Since larger numbers are going to be grouped in three digits, you need to be comfortable with numbers in the hundreds to be able to understand all large French numbers fast.
When talking about âone hundredâ in French, we donât say the âoneâ, so just âcentâ, not âun centâ.
However, we do say âdeux-centsâ, âtrois-centsâ etcâŠ
S or no S After Cent in French?
When âcentâ is not followed by any other number, youâll add an S starting at âdeux-centsâ.
Trois-cents, cinq-centsâŠ
However, if it is followed by another number, then there is no S.
Trois-cent-quarante-deux.
The S would be silent, but pronounced Z in liaison if followed by a vowel or a mute h.
Huit-cents ans.
Pronunciation of Cinq Cents, Six Cents, Huit Cents
Just like I explained before, the French digits 5, 6, 8 and 10 drop their final consonant sound before another consonant.
This rule applies to the pronunciation of French numbers in the hundreds, so with cent:
- 500 â cinq-cents â the q is silent
- 600 â six-cents â the x is silent
- 800 â huit -ents â the t is silent
Confusing Cent et Centimes
Watch out. Do not mistake the English word âcent or centsâ with the French word âcentâ.
- âCentâ means hundred.
- âUn centimeâ means a cent.
Audio Exercises
100 to 999 Audio Exercise â Slower
Letâs test your understanding of French numbers in the hundreds with this French number audio exercise. First, letâs drill at a slower speed.
Answers to the French Numbers Audio Exercise
103, 377, 836, 937, 820, 662, 192, 205, 199, 208, 193, 384, 782, 338, 284, 572, 740, 839, 439, 203, 835, 667, 982, 746, 485, 920, 933, 745, 234, 435, 937, 194.
100 to 999 Audio Exercise â Faster
Answers to the French Numbers Audio Exercise
783, 279, 248, 292, 197, 908, 385, 685, 115, 930, 385, 395, 997, 142, 653, 823, 972, 979, 295, 673, 456, 293, 837, 345, 657, 869, 887, 386, 904, 848, 264, 491.
Thousands & Above in French
- Mille
- Deux-mille
- Trois-mille
- Quatre-mille
- Cinq-mille
- Six-mille
- Sept-mille
- Huit-mille
- Neuf-mille
- Dix-mille
- Onze-mille
- Vingt-mille
- Quatre-vingt-dix-sept-mille
- Cent-mille
- Deux-cent-cinquante-trois mille-quatre-cent-vingt-cinq
- Un-million-quatre-cent-trente-trois-mille-six-cent-quatre-vingt-deux.
How To Say Huge Numbers in French?
- 1000 â mille (remember, no âunâ thereâŠ)
- 1 000 000 â un million
- 1 000 000 000 â un milliard (!! one billion in US/CA English)
- 1 000 000 000 000 â un billion
- 1 000 000 000 000 000 â un billiard
- 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 â un trillion
The final d â if any â is silent.
You have to be careful with the word âbillionâ that doesnât translate the same way in French, US/Canadian English and British/Australian EnglishâŠ
Note that these numbers, although written âillâ which usually makes a Y sound in French, keep the âilâ sound of the exceptions âmille villes tranquillesâ (see Secrets of French Pronunciation)
For even bigger numbers, I encourage you to check out wikipedia
Most people (myself included!) have trouble reading a number over six digits, so itâs normal to read it somewhat slowly.
French Large Numbers Free Lesson
Letâs see how to spell the numbers above a thousand in French.
One or No One Before Large French Numbers?
When talking about âone hundredâ or âone thousandâ in French, we donât say the âoneâ, we only say âcentâ and âmilleâ.
However when talking about âone millionâ, âone billionâ we do say the one: âun million, un milliardâ.
S or no S After The Large French Number?
Mille never takes an S.
Trois-mille.
When spelling million, milliard, billion, billiard, trillion, trilliard in French, add a silent S when itâs over 1.
Deux-billions dâEuros.
De or no de After Your French Number ?
When âmilleâ is followed by a noun, there is not âdeâ:
Deux-mille Euros.
Quatre-mille ans.
When million, milliard etc⊠are followed by a noun, there is a âdeâ (or a dâ).
Quatre-millions dâEuros.
Six-milliards dâannĂ©es.
Five, Six, Eight and Ten with French Numbers
Just like I explained before, the French digits 5, 6, 8 and 10 drop their final consonant sound before another consonant.
This rule applies to larger French numbers: cent, mille, million, milliard, billion, billiard, trillion, trilliardâŠ
- Cinq-mille-six-cents â No q sound at cinq
- Dix-milliards dâEuros â No s sound at dix
Understanding The Logic Of Larger French Numbers
The logic of big numbers is exactly the same between French and English
You group your number by digits of 3, dividing your groups with the words mille, million, milliardâŠ
So you need to develop your ear to focus on these âseparatingâ words so you can get the whole number.
- Trois-milliards-deux-cent-vingt-cinq-millions-trois-cent-quatre-vingt-six-mille-sept-cent-huit = 3 225 386 708
So, if you want to master very large French numbers, you need to drill a lot on numbers of three digits (so up to 999) since these numbers will form the blocks for larger numbers.
Audio Exercises
French Large Numbers Audio Test â Slow
Answers to the French Large Numbers Audio test
15 937, 2 737, 33 984, 82 755, 103 942, 1 813, 52 972, 93 484, 77 283, 69 487, 92 174, 86 931, 56 237, 3 372, 1 840, 87 669, 9 375, 28 159.
French Large Numbers Audio Test â Faster
Answers to the French Large Numbers Audio test
90 385, 2 973, 6 837, 1 948, 1 704, 101 743, 3 846, 9 927, 774 388, 3 640, 82 839, 2 744, 3 049, 19 938, 2 940, 38 098, 980 283.
French Huge Numbers Audio Test
Now letâs train with French numbers over one million!
Answers to the French huge numbers audio test
16 458 350
10 845 858
895 456 123 127
45 000 135
89 145 687
16 789 456 698
103 000 000
456 128 137
758 168 238
78 456 128 684
794 135 498 759
32 124 138
How To Learn French Numbers
Use my audio recordings to memorize the numbers in French.
- First, play the recording in order. Repeat WITHOUT READING so the letters do not fool you into a wrong pronunciation.
- Repeat until the numbers donât feel foreign to you and you can count in order on your own.
Then, if youâd like to memorize the spelling play the audio again and read out loud as you memorize the spelling. - Use the same recording but instead of repeating, say the number and then use the recording to check your pronunciation.
- Use the recording as a dictation to write the numbers in letters, and check your spelling.
- Finally, use the audio exercises to test yourself â keep it fun!
How to Write French Numbers?
Hyphen and French Numbers
The rule has changed in 1990. Before, an hyphen was used only between some numbers.
Now, you may write hyphens between all the digits of one number, although both spellings are still accepted (source http://www.question-orthographe.fr/question/le-trait-dunion-dans-les-nombres)
Comma Period and French Numbers
Here again, the rule has changed.
A period was used to separate the digits of larger French numbers.
Exemple: 300.000.000
Because it was so confusing for English speakers, we changed the rule: now, we use a space: 300 000 000.
However, we still use a comma where a period is used in English, like for prices.
5.25 in English = 5,25 in French
Uppercase or Lowercase For French Numbers?
French numbers are written using lowercase, unless the first letter starts the sentence.
Soixante-dix-neuf-mille-quatre-cent-vingt-huit.
VoilĂ . I hope this lesson helped you. Check out my French number audiobook. Over four hours of clear explanations, and random number drills recorded at several speeds â including much faster speeds than in this lesson. As with all my French audiobooks, itâs available on all platforms with a single purchase and comes with 100% money-back.
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