English to French Numbers

From LoveToKnow French

Going from English to French numbers can be easy -- especially if you have a readily available reference on hand. However, there's more to speaking French than simply being able to count to one hundred!

English to French Numbers

For an excellent chart that gives the English to French translation of the numbers from one to one hundred see French Numbers. Below is a list of numeric words with everything from the number 'one', to money and measurement.

One

Un (pronounced uhn)is the masculine form of the number one. It is used when simply counting as well as when describing one item in the masculine form. Examples: un, deux, trois, etc. (One, two, three. . .)

Une (pronounced oon)is used for describing one of something that is female. Une fille for example means one girl.

Unique (pronounced oo neek) is used to mean, the only one.

Celui-ci/Celui-là (pronounced suh loo ee see or suh loo ee lah) refers to this one or that one.

Laquel/-lle (pronounced lah kelle) is the word for one when you are asking which one.

Ordinal Numbers

The easiest way to remember what ordinal numbers are is to remember that 'ordinal' refers to what 'order' you are in. Therefore, ordinal numbers describe the order of something. Note that where there are two endings, the word changes based on whether or not it is referring to a feminine or masculine word.

**Ordinal Numbers**
English	French	Pronunciation
First	Premier/-ère	pruh me ay or pruh me aihr
Last	Dernier/-ère	dair ne ay or dair ne aihr
Second	Deuxième	duh zee em
Third	Troisième	twah zee em
Fourth	Quatrième	kah tree em
Fifth	Cinquième	sank ee em
Sixth	Sixième	sees ee em
Seventh	Septième	set ee em
Eighth	Huitième	wheet ee em
Ninth	Neuvième	nuh vee em
Tenth	Dixième	dees ee em
Hundredth	Centième	sont ee em
Thousandth	Millième	me lee em

Note: To make an ordinal number add the suffix -ième. Ordinal numbers are always positioned before the noun as opposed to afterwards.

First and Last

In addition to ordinal position, there may come a point where you'll want to use the idea of first and last. In French, there are several different words and phrases to use, depending on your intended meaning.

First thing in the morning--Tôt le matin (pronounced toe luh mah tehn)
First as in before anyone else--En premier (pronounced "ehn preh mee ay)
First as in before anything else--D'abord (pronounced dah borh)
For the first time--Pour la première fois (pronounced puhr lah pruh mee air fwah)
Last--Dernière--(pronounced dair nee air)
Last week (or year)--La semaine/L'année passée (pronounced lah suh mehn pah say or lah nay pah say
Last night--Heir soir (pronounced hyair swahr)
Finally--En dernier (pronounced ehn daihr nee ay)
At last--Enfin (pronounced ehn fahn)

Miscellaneous English to French Number Words

While it is certainly helpful to have a basic understanding of French numbers, there is a whole world of percentages, fractions, money and measurements that is worth studying. While you're not likely to use this in every day conversation, you are likely to need to know these if you're out shopping.

**Weights, Measurements, Fractions and Money**
English	French	Pronunciation
One half	Un demi	uhn deh mee
Two thirds	Deux tiers	duh tee aihr
2.5	Deux virgule cinq	duh vihr gool sank
Ten percent	dix pour cent	dee pourh sohn
Gram	gramme	grohm
Pound	livre	lee vreh
Meter	métre	meh truh
Kilometer	kilométre	kee loh meh truh
Ten cents	dix centimes	dees sohnt eem

For Further Practice

Learn numbers one to ten is a language lesson video with the English written before the viewer along with the French, while the speaker who is off screen pronounces the words.

DLTK offers an excellent chart complete with pronunciation guide. While the site is geared towards kids, this particular chart will suit any newcomer to the French language.

Quia is unique in that it provides materials for you with which you can practice. You can choose to customize flashcards, a wordsearch or play a matching game.

Right here on LoveToKnow French we also have more tips on counting French Numbers, and a handy Printable French Numbers Worksheet to test your skills!

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