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Numbers & Time in French
From counting to telling the time, these 35 essential French number and time phrases will help you navigate daily life in France — with native audio.
Practice in the LingoSwipe App →Each phrase includes native audio, an English translation, and cultural notes where relevant. Tap any play button to listen.
🔢 Les Chiffres de 1 à 10 — Numbers 1–10
1.
Un.
One (1)
'Un' (masc.) / 'une' (fem.) — agreement with the noun.
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2.
Deux.
Two (2)
The 'x' is silent, but links to a vowel: 'deux enfants' sounds like 'deuz-enfants'.
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3.
Trois.
Three (3)
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4.
Quatre.
Four (4)
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5.
Cinq.
Five (5)
The final 'q' IS pronounced — an exception to French rules.
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6.
Six.
Six (6)
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7.
Sept.
Seven (7)
The 'p' is silent; the 't' is pronounced: 'set'.
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8.
Huit.
Eight (8)
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9.
Neuf.
Nine (9)
The 'f' becomes 'v' before heures/ans: 'neuf heures' sounds like 'neuv-heures'.
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10.
Dix.
Ten (10)
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💯 Les Grands Nombres — Bigger Numbers
11.
Onze.
Eleven (11)
No liaison before 'onze' — this is an exception to French liaison rules.
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12.
Douze.
Twelve (12)
A dozen = 'une douzaine' — useful at French markets.
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13.
Vingt.
Twenty (20)
The 't' is silent in 20 but pronounced in 21–29.
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14.
Trente.
Thirty (30)
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15.
Cinquante.
Fifty (50)
Warning: 70 = 'soixante-dix' (60+10), 80 = 'quatre-vingts' (4×20) — unique to French!
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16.
Cent.
One hundred (100)
'Deux cents' (200) gains an 's'; but 'deux cent un' (201) drops it again.
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17.
Mille.
One thousand (1,000)
'Mille' never takes an 's' — always 'deux mille', 'trois mille'.
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18.
Combien ça coûte ?
How much does it cost?
Formal alternative: 'Quel est le prix ?'
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19.
Ça coûte dix euros.
It costs ten euros.
Also common: 'Ça fait dix euros.'
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20.
Deux billets, s'il vous plaît.
Two tickets, please.
'Billet' for transport; 'place' for event seats.
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🕐 L'Heure — Telling the Time
21.
Quelle heure est-il ?
What time is it?
Casual: 'Il est quelle heure ?' or 'T'as l'heure ?'
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22.
Il est trois heures.
It's three o'clock.
'Neuf heures' — the 'f' sounds like 'v' before heures.
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23.
Il est trois heures et demie.
It's half past three. (3:30)
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24.
Il est trois heures et quart.
It's quarter past three. (3:15)
3:45 = 'Il est quatre heures moins le quart' (quarter to four).
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25.
Du matin.
In the morning. (AM)
France uses the 24-hour clock widely — '22h00' = 10 PM.
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26.
De l'après-midi.
In the afternoon. (PM)
Evening: 'du soir' — 'six heures du soir' = 6 PM.
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27.
Aujourd'hui.
Today.
Literally 'on the day of today' — historically compound.
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28.
Demain.
Tomorrow.
'Demain matin' (tomorrow morning), 'demain soir' (tomorrow evening).
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📅 Les Jours de la Semaine — Days of the Week
29.
Lundi.
Monday.
Named after the moon (lune). French calendars start on Monday.
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30.
Mardi.
Tuesday.
Named after Mars. Mardi Gras = 'Fat Tuesday' before Lent.
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31.
Mercredi.
Wednesday.
Named after Mercury. Many French schools have no classes on Wednesdays.
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32.
Jeudi.
Thursday.
'La semaine des quatre jeudis' = 'never' in French (like 'when pigs fly').
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33.
Vendredi.
Friday.
Named after Venus. Robinson Crusoe's companion was called 'Vendredi' in French.
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34.
Samedi.
Saturday.
Derived from 'Sabbath' — not named after a Roman god.
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35.
Dimanche.
Sunday.
From Latin 'dies Dominica.' Many French shops close on Sundays.
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