Numbers and counting
Bienvenue! In this chapter, we'll explore numbers and counting in French. Understanding and using numbers is essential for various situations, from basic conversations to shopping, telling time, and more. Let's dive into the world of numbers and learn how to count in French!
Cardinal Numbers (Les Nombres Cardinaux)
Cardinal numbers are used to express quantity or count items. Here's a table showing the numbers from 0 to 20:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Zéro | Zero |
| Un | One |
| Deux | Two |
| Trois | Three |
| Quatre | Four |
| Cinq | Five |
| Six | Six |
| Sept | Seven |
| Huit | Eight |
| Neuf | Nine |
| Dix | Ten |
| Onze | Eleven |
| Douze | Twelve |
| Treize | Thirteen |
| Quatorze | Fourteen |
| Quinze | Fifteen |
| Seize | Sixteen |
| Dix-sept | Seventeen |
| Dix-huit | Eighteen |
| Dix-neuf | Nineteen |
| Vingt | Twenty |
Beyond twenty, the numbers in French follow a pattern where the tens (e.g., trente, quarante) are combined with the ones (e.g., et un, et deux) to form numbers such as trente et un (31), quarante-deux (42), and so on.
Ordinal Numbers (Les Nombres Ordinaux)
Ordinal numbers indicate the order or rank of something. Here are some examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Premier/ | First |
| Première | |
| Deuxième | Second |
| Troisième | Third |
| Quatrième | Fourth |
| Cinquième | Fifth |
| Sixième | Sixth |
| Septième | Seventh |
| Huitième | Eighth |
| Neuvième | Ninth |
| Dixième | Tenth |
| Vingtième | Twentieth |
| Trentième | Thirtieth |
| Centième | One hundredth |
| Milleième | One thousandth |
Counting Objects
When counting objects in French, use the cardinal numbers. Here's an example:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Une pomme | One apple |
| Deux oranges | Two oranges |
| Cinq livres | Five books |
| Dix-sept fleurs | Seventeen flowers |
Remember to match the gender and number of the noun with the appropriate form of the number.
Congratulations! You've learned the basics of numbers and counting in French. Practice these cardinal and ordinal numbers to become comfortable with expressing quantities and order. Remember to pay attention to the gender and number agreement when counting objects. In the next chapter, we'll explore telling time in French. À bientôt! (See you soon!)