Learn 1-30 Numbers In French With Easy Exercises

Learn 1-30 Numbers In French With Easy Exercises

Alphabets and counting are the base of any language. If you are on this fantastic journey of learning French, it is time you start paying attention to the numbers in french.

Counting in French is way too complex than in an easy language, say English.

The first obstacle is reading the numbers, followed by memorizing them correctly. Then, at last, you are left with the pronunciation.

Doing everything all at once can make learning overwhelming for you. 

As a non-French speaker, you must understand that French comes with its rules for its numbers, and you must follow them to master the language.

To ensure you have the absolute hold, you should be able to recognize written numbers in French, read them out loud correctly, and easily translate them.

Thus, to help you take your French learning to the next step, learn numbers in french 1-30 with detailed, helpful exercises.

Explore The Numbers In French

There are two main types of numbers you must know in French. 

There are Ordinal numbers and Cardinal numbers. And it would be best if you learned what they are and how they differ from each other.

1. Cardinal Numbers

The cardinal numbers are the ones that tell us the quantity of the noun. Or, in other words, how many are there.

For Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, & so on.

Another Example: Thirty people came to my birthday party.

2. Ordinal Numbers

The ordinal numbers are the ones that tell us the order of the noun concerning the other numbers, or in other words, they tell us the position.

For Example: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on.

Another Example: The thirtieth person joined the party.

Did You See The Difference?

When you say the 30 as thirty, you are simply telling the quantity and thus using it as a cardinal number.

However, when you say 30 as the thirtieth, you are telling the position and thus using it as an ordinal number.

Suggestion: 9 Best French Grammar Books For French Learners To Consider

Today in this blog, we will be talking about numbers in words in french from 1 to 30. Master the easy ones first, then move on to the harder ones.

You can check out our free download number in french 1-30 pdf to get a better idea.

Cardinal Numbers In French 1-10

Now that you are clear on the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers in French, we begin learning the first thirty cardinal numbers.

To help you understand better, we have put the numbers in the table. Column 1 denotes the number, column 2 signifies their french spelling, and column 3 represents their accurate pronunciation.

Zero is the beginner of numbers. In French, the french equivalent of zero is Zéro, pronounced as eh-zee-ho.

Learn how to read, write, & pronounce the first ten numbers in French from the table below:

NumberFrench NumberApprox. Pronunciation
1Unun (ah-m)
2Deuxdeu
3Troistrwa (th-uh-wa)
4Quatrekat
5Cinqsank (sa-en-k)
6Sixsees
7Septset (sa-e-t)
8Huitweet (u-we-et)
9Neufnuff (n-au-f)
10Dixdees

Practice the table more with numbers in french 1-10 pdf download here.

Cardinal Numbers In French 11-20

The set of numbers from 11 to 20 in French comprises two types: Independent & Composed.

The 11-20 are the “teens” of English numbers. It means the numbers for which we use the “teen” suffix. For example, thirteen, fifteen, & more.

French also has an equivalent to the suffix “-teen” starting from 13. The only difference is that the “teen” suffix begins in English from 13 to 19.

However, in French, the first “teen” word is 13, and then you have to wait until 17 to use the suffix again.

As you go down the table of numbers 11 to 20, you will see HYPHEN use.

In French, when there are multiple words to form a number, they are connected by hyphens. Do not get alarmed. You will learn about the usage of hyphens later in this article.

See how to count numbers 11 to 20 in french with the help of the table below:

NumberFrench NumberApprox. Pronunciation
11onzeOhnz (oh-hn)
12douzeDooz (du-uh-z)
13treizeTrayz (tre-ez)
14quatorzekae-tuh-oz
15quinzekae-nz
16seizesae-ez
17dix-septdee-sae-et
18dix-huitdee-zwee-et
19dix-neufdeez-neu-uf
20vingtva-ang

To get better with these numbers written in french, download the practice exercises here.

Cardinal Numbers In French 21-30

Twenty in French is pronounced as VINGT. And when you get past 20 in the counting, you must add the additional number after it.

For example, 22 is “vingt-deux” in French.

However, there is one exception you need to remember. For the numbers ending with “1,” you have to add the word “un” at the end & the word “and” (et) in the middle.

Examine the table below to see how to write and pronounce the 21-30 numbers in French.

NumberFrench NumberApprox. Pronunciation
21vingt-et-unva-ng-tay-UNG
22vingt-deuxva-ng-DEU
23vingt-troisva-ng-th-uh-wa
24vingt-quatrevan-gt-kat
25vingt-cinqva-ngt-sa-ient
26vingt-sixva-ng-sees
27vingt-septva-ng-sae-t
28vingt-huitva-ng-u-we-et
29vingt-neufva-ngt-n-au-f
30trentet-uh-on-gt

Practice more with our pdf that will help you pronounce &translate numbers in frencheffortlessly.

Some Crucial Rules To Remember In French Cardinal Numbers

If you have come this far, you now understand the number system in French up to 30.

Counting in French is as simple or complex as you make it. With consistency and practice, you can become a master in no time.

Suggestion: DELF A1 Listening Sample Papers PDF with Answers | DELF A1 Past Papers

Although we have covered almost everything related to the first thirty numbers, there are still a few rules every learner must know about.

Explore them here.

  • Use of ‘Hyphens’ & ‘et’

When spelling out the numbers in french, for the numbers with more than one word, we use either et or hyphens to connect them.

While it may seem easy, there are exceptions to how to use them. For instance, you use ‘hyphens’ when spelling numbers 17, 18, 19, 22 – 29, 32 – 39 up to 79, and then 80 – 99

You will use ‘et’ for the spelling of numbers 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, & 71.

  • Knowing When To Use Figures When Writing Cardinal Numbers

In most scenarios, you will be spelling out the cardinal numbers. However, there are some scenarios where you will require to use the figures.

Dates, Prices, Weights & Measurements, Mathematical Usage, Percentages, Addresses & Telephone Numbers are the scenarios where you will use the numbers in their figurative form.

  • Say The Approximate Of The Numbers

In English, we usually use expressions about or around to show the approximation or guess about the numbers given under any situation.

For Example, You will say about ten people were sleeping on the floor. Here the use of ‘about’ will tell the listener that you are not sure about the actual number, but it falls near 10.

Similarly, In the sentence, We should drink around four glasses of water a day; the word ‘around’ tells the uncertainty about the quantity, and it can be relatively a little above or below the four.

But in French, the approximation of numbers is made much more accessible. You simply need to add the “-aine” suffix to the numbers.

For Example: 

  • About/Around Ten– unedizaine
  • About/Around Twenty– une vingtaine

FAQs Translate Numbers in French

Is French a harsh language?

No. The FSI has ranked the language in “Category I.” All the terminologies in this category are considered among the easiest for native English to learn.

So, if you are fluent in English, you will have it easy to learn French compared to someone with another language as their base.

How do you say the numbers in french?

The first ten numbers in French are un(1), deux(2), trois(3), quatre(4), cinq(5), six(6), sept(7), huit(8), neuf(9), dix(10).

The Zero in French is written as zéro(0), which pronounces eh-zee-ho.

How can I learn French faster?

If you are learning a new skill, no matter what, regular practice and consistency are the keys.

You must dedicate a particular amount of your day to learning French. Revise the previously known things well before moving on to the next.

Also, practice, practice, & practice. Doing regular written and verbal exercises with your learning will help you immensely.

However, one crucial thing you should practice is to refrain from translating. At the beginning of the learning, it is understandable that you must decipher to understand.

But as you progress, avoid translating and try to think in French. This way, you will get better. 

Translation will stun your growth; saying something in a language and reading its translation are two different things.

With translation, you miss the real essence. So, be consistent, practice, and absorb your language to understand it like a native speaker.

How to write numbers in french?

To write the numbers in French, you must first understand that the numbers are written differently from how they are pronounced.

Most of the time, a number is written entirely differently from how it is pronounced.

So, suppose you find yourself contemplating how do you count 1-10 french numbers. In that case, you need to focus immensely on writing & pronouncing.

For example, 19 is written as “dix-neuf” but is pronounced as “deez-neu-uf.” Also, 21 is written as “vingt-et-un” but is pronounced as “va-ng-tay-UNG.”

See how you can not write a number how you pronounce it. You have to focus on both processes individually.

How can I memorize French numbers faster?

One of the best ways to memorize the numbers as you learn them is to practice them creatively.

Practice reading, writing, and identifying the numbers by spelling with the help of numerous exercises. You can find great practice sets online. And if you have a book, go for its activities.

In addition, several mobile applications can help you practice & learn in innovative ways.

Furthermore, you can make flashcards and have someone quiz you. For example, the flashcard shows the number 30, you have to spell it in French, or there is a spelling of a number, you have to identify which one it is, and more.

Why is pronunciation so crucial in French?

If you are a newbie or someone who just started with the language, you must know that pronunciation is an integral part of the language.

So whether it is about the alphabet or numbers, pronunciation plays a significant role.

French is not a phonetic language. It means that what you pronounce is not what you write. So, it would be best if you were clear on pronunciation as it will guide you to write correctly.

Without the proper pronunciation knowledge, you will not be able to communicate with fellow French speakers. You won’t be able to understand them and vice versa.

Thus, apart from all reading, writing, and memorizing, you need to pay special attention to pronunciation.

Are numbers in French complex?

French is an easy language, but when compared to English, it is known to make you dizzy.

And when it comes to numbers, they are nothing that we learn in English. The numbers in French get complicated as we move from standard counting to the mathematical part.

But to ensure you are ready, pick the learning slowly and increase the teaching as you feel confident.

We suggest you begin learning the first ten numbers, 1-10. Learn their French names, learn to write & pronounce well, and then move to the next ten, and so forth.

Also, there are a few exceptions to the writing & reading numbers in French. You must ensure you are aware of them. Refrain from avoiding them, as they can mess up your learning process.

Conclusion

French is an exotic language that requires patience and regularity to conquer. We hope you begin your learning of the numbers in French with our segment focusing on numbers 1 to 30.

Consistent focus on writing, reading & pronunciation is the only way to move forward on the number line.

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