Last updated on June 23rd, 2026 at 01:05 am
Numbers are useful for counting, but not only for that. You need French numbers for everyday situations: giving your phone number, your address, telling the time or paying at the bakery. Here is a clear guide to French numbers from 0 to 1000, with tables, plus how to use them in real life and a few idioms.
The short version
- French numbers 0 to 20 are individual words; from 21 they combine (vingt et un, vingt-deux…).
- 70, 80 and 90 are the tricky ones: soixante-dix, quatre-vingts and quatre-vingt-dix.
- Phone numbers are read in pairs (zéro-six, zéro-sept…).
- Ordinals add -ième: deuxième, troisième (premier / première is the exception).
- Numbers turn up everywhere: time, prices, addresses and idioms.
French numbers from 0 to 20
The numbers from 0 to 16 are words to learn by heart. From 17, they start to combine (dix-sept is literally ten-seven).
| Number | In French |
|---|---|
| 0 | zéro |
| 1 | un |
| 2 | deux |
| 3 | trois |
| 4 | quatre |
| 5 | cinq |
| 6 | six |
| 7 | sept |
| 8 | huit |
| 9 | neuf |
| 10 | dix |
| 11 | onze |
| 12 | douze |
| 13 | treize |
| 14 | quatorze |
| 15 | quinze |
| 16 | seize |
| 17 | dix-sept |
| 18 | dix-huit |
| 19 | dix-neuf |
| 20 | vingt |
Tens, hundreds and thousands
From 20, you build numbers by combining the tens with the units, for example vingt et un (21), trente-deux (32), quarante-cinq (45).
| Number | In French |
|---|---|
| 10 | dix |
| 20 | vingt |
| 30 | trente |
| 40 | quarante |
| 50 | cinquante |
| 60 | soixante |
| 70 | soixante-dix (60 + 10) |
| 80 | quatre-vingts (4 × 20) |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix (4 × 20 + 10) |
| 100 | cent |
| 1000 | mille |
Watch out: 70, 80 and 90 are built by addition: soixante-dix (60+10), quatre-vingts (4×20) and quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10). Add « et un » for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71 (vingt et un, soixante et onze), but not for 81 or 91 (quatre-vingt-un, quatre-vingt-onze).
Ordinal numbers in French
Ordinal numbers show order. Eddy Merckx, a Belgian hero, wore the yellow jersey (le maillot jaune) 96 times at the Tour de France because he came first (premier). It is not bad to arrive second (deuxième) or third (troisième) either.
| Order | In French |
|---|---|
| 1st | premier / première |
| 2nd | deuxième (or second) |
| 3rd | troisième |
| 4th | quatrième |
| 5th | cinquième |
| 10th | dixième |
| 21st | vingt et unième |
How to say a phone number in French
French phone numbers are read two digits at a time. For 06.07.45.22.40 you say: zéro-six / zéro-sept / quarante-cinq / vingt-deux / quarante. If a pair is below 10, start with « zéro ».
Mobile numbers start with 06 (« zéro six ») or 07 (« zéro sept »). Landline numbers start with 01 to 05 depending on the region. The country code for France is 0033 (« zéro zéro trente-trois »).
Giving your address and zip code
For your address, just read the street number: Nous habitons au 42 (quarante-deux) de la rue des Fleurs.
For the zip code, you may hear French people say 68600 as « soixante-huit six cents », but you can also say it the regular way: « soixante-huit mille six cents ».
Telling the time in French
To tell the time, you mainly need le quart (a quarter) and la demie (a half):
- 1:15 → il est une heure et quart
- 1:45 → il est deux heures moins le quart
- 1:30 → il est une heure et demie
Numbers in everyday situations
At the café or restaurant: « un demi » is a 25 cl beer, and « un quatre-quarts » is a cake made of a quarter flour, a quarter sugar, a quarter butter and 3 eggs.
At the bakery: a chocolate croissant (un pain au chocolat) costs about 1€10. You will be asked to pay « un euro dix » or simply « un dix ».
French idioms with numbers
French is full of expressions built around numbers. Here are a few common ones.
| Expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| Se plier en quatre | To bend over backwards, to give your absolute best to succeed. |
| Avoir le moral à zéro | To feel really down, almost depressed. |
| Un « tiens » vaut mieux que deux « tu l’auras » | A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| Ne pas y aller par quatre chemins | To get straight to the point, to be direct. |
| Mettre les bouchées doubles | To put in twice the effort to get something done. |
Practise French numbers with a teacher
The fastest way to get comfortable with numbers is to use them out loud and get corrected. With a native French teacher you can practise numbers and many other topics in online French classes over Zoom. Start with a free trial lesson to discuss your goals with one of our teachers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count from 1 to 10 in French?
One to ten is: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix. These are individual words you simply learn by heart.
Why is 70 « soixante-dix » in French?
Standard French builds 70 to 99 by addition: soixante-dix is 60 + 10, quatre-vingts is 4 × 20, and quatre-vingt-dix is 4 × 20 + 10. In Belgium and Switzerland you also hear septante (70), huitante (80) and nonante (90).
How do you say a phone number in French?
Read the digits in pairs. 06 07 45 22 40 becomes zéro-six, zéro-sept, quarante-cinq, vingt-deux, quarante. Mobile numbers start with 06 or 07.
What are ordinal numbers in French?
They show order. The first is premier or première, then you add -ième: deuxième, troisième, quatrième. Watch out for cinq → cinquième and neuf → neuvième.
How can I practise French numbers?
Use them in real situations such as prices, the time and phone numbers, and practise out loud with a native teacher who can correct your pronunciation.
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