1.1: French Letters and Numbers
- Page ID
- 266017
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this section, you will learn about the French alphabet.
Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.
In the audio players, you can slow down the audio by clicking on the turtle and speed up by clicking on the rabbit. The turtle and rabbit are located at the bottom right corner of each audio player.
Let's get started!
The French Alphabet
| Lettres | Exemples |
|---|---|
| A | alligator |
| B | bison |
| C | canari |
| D | dauphin |
| E | escargot |
| F | faon |
| G | girafe |
| H | hamster |
| I | iguane |
| J | jaguar |
| K | koala |
| L | lion |
| M | méduse |
| N | narval |
| O | orque |
| P | panthère |
| Q | quetzal |
| R | rat |
| S | scorpion |
| T | tigre |
| U | urial |
| V | vache |
| W | wallaby |
| X | xérus |
| Y | yack |
| Z | zèbre |
- Practice identifying and pronouncing the letters of the French alphabet with this video: French alphabet.
- Listen and sing along to this French alphabet song.
French numbers
Watch this video about variations in the pronunciation of French numbers:
Here is the video's transcription.
You can listen to the pronunciation of individual numbers in the tables below.
| Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | un | 21 | vingt-et-un | 41 | quarante-et-un |
| 2 | deux | 22 | vingt-deux | 42 | quarante-deux |
| 3 | trois | 23 | vingt-trois | 43 | quarante-trois |
| 4 | quatre | 24 | vingt-quatre | 44 | quarante-quatre |
| 5 | cinq | 25 | vingt-cinq | 45 | quarante-cinq |
| 6 | six | 26 | vingt-six | 46 | quarante-six |
| 7 | sept | 27 | vingt-sept | 47 | quarante-sept |
| 8 | huit | 28 | vingt-huit | 48 | quarante-huit |
| 9 | neuf | 29 | vingt-neuf | 49 | quarante-neuf |
| 10 | dix | 30 | trente | 50 | cinquante |
| 11 | onze | 31 | trente-et-un | 51 | cinquante-et-un |
| 12 | douze | 32 | trente-deux | 52 | cinquante-deux |
| 13 | treize | 33 | trente-trois | 53 | cinquante-trois |
| 14 | quatorze | 34 | trente-quatre | 54 | cinquante-quatre |
| 15 | quinze | 35 | trente-cinq | 55 | cinquante-cinq |
| 16 | seize | 36 | trente-six | 56 | cinquante-six |
| 17 | dix-sept | 37 | trente-sept | 57 | cinquante-sept |
| 18 | dix-huit | 38 | trente-huit | 58 | cinquante-huit |
| 19 | dix-neuf | 39 | trente-neuf | 59 | cinquante-neuf |
| 20 | vingt | 40 | quarante | 60 | soixante |
| Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | soixante et un | 71 | soixante et onze | 81 | quatre-vingt-un | 91 | quatre-vingt-onze |
| 62 | soixante-deux | 72 | soixante-douze | 82 | quatre-vingt-deux | 92 | quatre-vingt-douze |
| 63 | soixante-trois | 73 | soixante-treize | 83 | quatre-vingt-trois | 93 | quatre-vingt-treize |
| 64 | soixante-quatre | 74 | soixante-quatorze | 84 | quatre-vingt-quatre | 94 | quatre-vingt-quatorze |
| 65 | soixante-cinq | 75 | soixante-quinze | 85 | quatre-vingt-cinq | 95 | quatre-vingt-quinze |
| 66 | soixante-six | 76 | soixante-seize | 86 | quatre-vingt-six | 96 | quatre-vingt-seize |
| 67 | soixante-sept | 77 | soixante-dix-sept | 87 | quatre-vingt-sept | 97 | quatre-vingt-dix-sept |
| 68 | soixante-huit | 78 | soixante-dix-huit | 88 | quatre-vingt-huit | 98 | quatre-vingt-dix-huit |
| 69 | soixante-neuf | 79 | soixante-dix-neuf | 89 | quatre-vingt-neuf | 99 | quatre-vingt-dix-neuf |
| 70 | soixante-dix | 80 | quatre-vingts | 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | 100 | cent |
| Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres | Chiffres | Nombres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | cent | 300 | trois cents | 1.000 | mille |
| 101 | cent un | 400 | quatre cents | 10.000 | dix mille |
| 102 | cent deux | 500 | cinq cents | 100.000 | cent mille |
| 103 | cent trois | 600 | six cents | 1.000.000 | un million (de) |
| 200 | deux cents | 700 | sept cents | 2.000.000 | deux millions (de) |
| 201 | deux cent un | 800 | huit cents | 1.000.000.000 | un milliard (de) |
| 202 | deux cent deux | 900 | neuf cents | 2.000.000.000 | deux milliards (de) |
French Around the World
The French and other French speakers agree on numbers from 0 to 69. Starting from 70, however, the Swiss, Belgians, Canadians, and Congolese, use other numbers.
Since the Democratic Republic of Congo used to be a Belgian colony, their numbers resemble those of the Belgians. In Belgium, the DRC, Rwanda, Luxembourg, 70 is septante and 90 is nonante. 80 is sometimes quatre-vingts, like in France, and some people say huitante. Octante can also be heard for 80 in certain regions of Belgium.
In Switzerland, they also say septante for 70, huitante for 80 and nonante for 90. Same as in Belgium, the number 80 can be octante in certain regions of Switzerland, but this is very rare.
Study the Quizlet vocabulary flashcards. Listen and repeat the French pronunciation.