French numbers up to 100 and beyond

To master the formation of numbers in French, it is important to first memorise the French numbers from 1 to 20. You simply have to memorise that there is no rule for this. From the number 21 onwards, you have to add "et un" (translated as "and one") because, for example, 21 becomes "vingt et un". All other numbers between 20 and 60 are formed by learning the tens and adding the ones with a hyphen (for example, 33 is called "trente-trois"). It is pronounced the way it is written. The two number words are simply pronounced one after the other.

With the tens 70, 80 and 90, you have to get used to an unusual rule for counting in French. In particular, the 70 is formed with 60 plus 10 (and therefore "soixante-dix"), the 80 is formed by counting four times 20 (and therefore "quatre-vingt"), while the 90 is formed with four times 20 plus 10 (and therefore "quatre-vingt-dix").

As you have probably seen, French counting by the number 100 follows a pattern. You simply have to put together the hundreds and the number you have learned based on the admittedly somewhat confusing rules between the numbers 1 and 100. The most challenging part of learning French numbers is understanding the rules within the first 100 numbers. However, once you understand and master French counting from 1 to 100, you can easily count to a thousand in French. By the way, the thousand in French is mille.

Would you like to learn French effectively and in a relaxed atmosphere? Then plan your next French language holiday with us in Nice or Morocco or visit our French courses in Frankfurt am Main or online as a French online language course!