Mastering French Numbers 1-10 for A1

Learning numbers in any language is a foundational skill, and in French, numbers are essential for everyday communication. Whether you’re telling time, discussing prices, giving your age, or counting objects, numbers play a crucial role. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about French numbers from 1 to 100. We’ll provide clear explanations, practical examples, and tips to help you master these numbers with ease. By the end of this article, you will have a solid understanding of French vocabulary numbers and be able to use them confidently in various contexts.

Why Learning Numbers Is Important

Numbers are ubiquitous in daily life. Being able to understand and use them correctly in French will help you navigate a wide range of situations, from shopping and dining out to traveling and socializing. At the A1 level, mastering numbers is one of the first steps toward building your vocabulary and improving your communication skills in French.

The French Alphabet

French Numbers 1-10: The Basics

Let’s start with the numbers 1 to 10. These form the building blocks for all other numbers, so it’s crucial to learn them well.

1. Un (One)
2. Deux (Two)
3. Trois (Three)
4. Quatre (Four)
5. Cinq (Five)
6. Six (Six)
7. Sept (Seven)
8. Huit (Eight)
9. Neuf (Nine)
10. Dix (Ten)

Examples of Using Numbers 1-10:

1. J’ai deux frères. (I have two brothers.)
2. Elle a trois chiens. (She has three dogs.)
3. Il y a cinq pommes sur la table. (There are five apples on the table.)
4. Le numéro de ma maison est huit. (My house number is eight.)

French Numbers 11-20: The Next Step

Numbers 11 to 20 have unique forms, so it’s important to memorize them as well.

11. Onze (Eleven)
12. Douze (Twelve)
13. Treize (Thirteen)
14. Quatorze (Fourteen)
15. Quinze (Fifteen)
16. Seize (Sixteen)
17. Dix-sept (Seventeen)
18. Dix-huit (Eighteen)
19. Dix-neuf (Nineteen)
20. Vingt (Twenty)

Examples of Using Numbers 11-20:

1. Elle a quatorze ans. (She is fourteen years old.)
2. Il y a dix-sept élèves dans la classe. (There are seventeen students in the class.)
3. Le film commence à vingt heures. (The movie starts at eight o’clock.)

Counting by Tens: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90

Next, let’s look at the multiples of ten. These numbers are key because they form the basis for many of the numbers that follow.

• Vingt (20)
• Trente (30)
• Quarante (40)
• Cinquante (50)
• Soixante (60)
• Soixante-dix (70)
• Quatre-vingts (80)
• Quatre-vingt-dix (90)

Examples of Using Multiples of Ten:

1. Il a trente ans. (He is thirty years old.)
2. Le restaurant est à quarante minutes d’ici. (The restaurant is forty minutes from here.)
3. J’ai acheté quatre-vingts crayons. (I bought eighty pencils.)

Numbers 21-69: Combining Digits

From 21 to 69, numbers are formed by combining the tens with the units (e.g., 22 is “vingt-deux,” 35 is “trente-cinq”).

Examples:

• Vingt et un (21)
• Vingt-deux (22)
• Trente-trois (33)
• Quarante-cinq (45)
• Cinquante-huit (58)
• Soixante-neuf (69)

Examples of Using Numbers 21-69:

1. Il a vingt-cinq euros. (He has twenty-five euros.)
2. Mon numéro de téléphone est trente-trois, quarante-deux, cinquante-cinq. (My phone number is 33, 42, 55.)
3. La fête commence à soixante-dix heures. (The party starts at 7 PM – “soixante-dix” is a humorous way to say 7 PM, literally “seventy hours.”)

Numbers 70-99: The Unique French Counting System

The numbers 70-99 follow a unique pattern in French. For 70-79, you add the digits 1-9 to sixty (e.g., 71 is “soixante et onze,” 72 is “soixante-douze”). For 80-99, the number system becomes even more interesting: 80 is “quatre-vingts” (literally “four twenties”), and 90 is “quatre-vingt-dix” (four twenties and ten).

Examples:

• Soixante-et-onze (71)
• Soixante-douze (72)
• Quatre-vingt-trois (83)
• Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf (99)

Examples of Using Numbers 70-99:

1. Il y a quatre-vingt-cinq invités à la fête. (There are eighty-five guests at the party.)
2. Ma grand-mère a quatre-vingt-dix ans. (My grandmother is ninety years old.)
3. Je me réveille à soixante-dix heures. (I wake up at 7 AM – a playful use of the French numbering system.)

Reaching 100: The Century Mark

Finally, the number 100 in French is “cent.” It’s a straightforward number, but it’s important to note how it combines with other numbers.

Examples:

• Cent (100)
• Cent un (101)
• Cent vingt-cinq (125)

Examples of Using 100 and Beyond:

1. Le livre coûte cent euros. (The book costs one hundred euros.)
2. Il y a cent trente élèves dans l’école. (There are one hundred and thirty students in the school.)
3. Mon père a vécu cent ans. (My father lived to be one hundred years old.)

Practical Uses of Numbers 1-100 in Everyday Situations

Understanding numbers is essential for many daily activities. Here are some common situations where knowing French numbers is important:

1. Telling Time:

• Quelle heure est-il ? (What time is it?)
• Il est trois heures. (It’s three o’clock.)
• Le film commence à sept heures. (The movie starts at seven o’clock.)

2. Shopping and Prices:

• Combien ça coûte ? (How much does it cost?)
• Ça coûte dix euros. (It costs ten euros.)
• Je voudrais acheter cinq pommes. (I would like to buy five apples.)

3. Giving Your Age:

• Quel âge as-tu ? (How old are you?)
• J’ai vingt ans. (I am twenty years old.)
• Elle a trente-cinq ans. (She is thirty-five years old.)

4. Discussing Dates:

• Nous sommes le dix juillet. (Today is July 10th.)
• Mon anniversaire est le vingt-cinq décembre. (My birthday is December 25th.)
• Nous partons le quinze août. (We leave on August 15th.)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mixing Up the Tens and Units:

• Incorrect: Vingt-trois (23) when you meant Trente-deux (32).
• Correct: Make sure to pronounce each number clearly and double-check your counting.

1. Forgetting the Unique Patterns for 70-99:

• Incorrect: Soixante-dix-huit (78) as Septante-huit (used in Belgium and Switzerland, but not in France).
• Correct: Remember that France uses “soixante-dix” for 70 and “quatre-vingt-dix” for 90.

1. Confusing “Cent” with Other Numbers:

• Incorrect: Cent un (101) as Un cent (not a number in French).
• Correct: “Cent” stands alone as 100, and “cent un” follows naturally as 101.

Practice Exercises

Here are some exercises to help reinforce your understanding of French numbers:

1. Translate the Following Numbers into French:

• 17
• 45
• 72
• 88
• 99 Answers:
• Dix-sept
• Quarante-cinq Soixante-douze
• Quatre-vingt-huit
• Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

2. Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Number in French:

• Il y a __ (23) élèves dans la classe.
• Je me lève à __ (6) heures.
• Le numéro de ma maison est __ (14).
• Nous avons __ (78) euros. Answers:
• Il y a vingt-trois élèves dans la classe.
• Je me lève à six heures.
• Le numéro de ma maison est quatorze.
• Nous avons soixante-dix-huit euros.

3. Match the French Number with Its English Equivalent:

• Vingt-cinq
• Trente-huit
• Quatre-vingt-onze
• Soixante-trois
• Cinquante-quatre Answers:
• Vingt-cinq – 25
• Trente-huit – 38
• Quatre-vingt-onze – 91
• Soixante-trois – 63
• Cinquante-quatre – 54

Conclusion

Mastering French vocabulary numbers from 1 to 100 is a fundamental skill for any French vocabulary A1-level learner. These numbers are essential for everyday conversations, from shopping and telling time to discussing dates and prices. By practicing regularly and using the examples and exercises provided in this guide, you will gain confidence in using French numbers accurately and fluently.

Remember, numbers are not just about memorization; they are a key part of communication in French. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use French numbers naturally in any context. Bonne chance (good luck) on your journey to mastering French numbers!