Numbers 31–100 (and the French System)
Master the unique French system: soixante-dix (60+10=70), quatre-vingts (4×20=80), quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10=90). Compare with Belgian/Swiss French.
A lesson of French A1 — Beginner, in Numbers & Time, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will count to 100 in French — including the unique counting system used for 70s, 80s, and 90s.
The Tens 30–60: Regular Pattern
Good news: 30 through 60 follow a simple pattern. Each decade + unit adds a hyphen (or et for 1s):
| Decade | French | 21-pattern (et un) | 22–29 pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | trente | trente et un | trente-deux, trente-trois… |
| 40 | quarante | quarante et un | quarante-deux… |
| 50 | cinquante | cinquante et un | cinquante-deux… |
| 60 | soixante | soixante et un | soixante-deux… |
Pronunciation: tronte, kah-rohnt, san-kohnt, swah-sohnt
The 70s: No Septante! (France)
France does not use septante (which would be logical). Instead, 70 is said as soixante-dix — "sixty-ten."
| Number | French | Literally |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | soixante-dix | sixty-ten |
| 71 | soixante et onze | sixty and eleven |
| 72 | soixante-douze | sixty-twelve |
| 73 | soixante-treize | sixty-thirteen |
| 74 | soixante-quatorze | sixty-fourteen |
| 75 | soixante-quinze | sixty-fifteen |
| 76 | soixante-seize | sixty-sixteen |
| 77 | soixante-dix-sept | sixty-seventeen |
| 78 | soixante-dix-huit | sixty-eighteen |
| 79 | soixante-dix-neuf | sixty-nineteen |
Belgian and Swiss French use septante for 70 — a more logical system. But if you're in France, use soixante-dix.