A comprehensive overview of how to count by tens in French, including cardinal number vocabulary, example sentences, and usage tips.
Counting by tens in French follows a simple pattern using the multiples of ten. Once you know the basic vocabulary for 10 to 100, you can easily extend the pattern to higher numbers.
French Tens Vocabulary
Here are the French words for the multiples of ten from 10 to 100, along with example sentences.
| French Singular | English Singular | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dix | ten | J'ai dix pommes. | I have ten apples. |
| vingt | twenty | Elle a vingt ans. | She is twenty years old. |
| trente | thirty | Il y a trente chaises. | There are thirty chairs. |
| quarante | forty | Nous sommes quarante dans la salle. | There are forty of us in the room. |
| cinquante | fifty | Le livre coûte cinquante euros. | The book costs fifty euros. |
| soixante | sixty | Ils partent dans soixante minutes. | They leave in sixty minutes. |
| soixante-dix | seventy | J'habite au soixante-dixième étage. | I live on the seventieth floor. |
| quatre-vingts | eighty | Quatre-vingts personnes sont venues. | Eighty people came. |
| quatre-vingt-dix | ninety | Il est quatre-vingt-dix ans. | He is ninety years old. |
| cent | one hundred | J'ai cent euros. | I have one hundred euros. |
Il y a ___ chaises. (Answer: treinta)
What is the French word for 'thirty'?
trente
'Trente' means 30 in French. 'Vingt' is 20, 'quarante' is 40, and 'cinquante' is 50.
Using Counting by Tens in Context
Counting by tens is useful for telling time, talking about age, counting objects, and more. Here are some common contexts.
| French Context | English Context | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telling age | Talking about age | Elle a quarante ans. | She is forty years old. |
| Counting money | Talking about amounts | J'ai cinquante euros. | I have fifty euros. |
| Measuring time | Talking about minutes | Le train arrive dans trente minutes. | The train arrives in thirty minutes. |
| Counting people | Talking about groups | Il y avait soixante invités. | There were sixty guests. |
| Describing quantity | General counting | J'ai acheté vingt pommes. | I bought twenty apples. |
Extending Beyond
In French, numbers beyond 100 are formed by combining the word for 100 (cent) with the appropriate number. Here are some examples using counting by tens.
| French Number | English Number | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cent dix | one hundred ten | Cent dix personnes sont présentes. | One hundred ten people are present. |
| cent vingt | one hundred twenty | J'ai cent vingt euros. | I have one hundred twenty euros. |
| cent trente | one hundred thirty | Le colis pèse cent trente grammes. | The package weighs one hundred thirty grams. |
| cent quarante | one hundred forty | Elle a cent quarante livres. | She has one hundred forty books. |
| cent cinquante | one hundred fifty | Il a couru cent cinquante kilomètres. | He ran one hundred fifty kilometers. |
Common Mistakes
- Soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix: French uses a unique system for 70, 80, and 90. 70 is "soixante-dix" (60 + 10), 80 is "quatre-vingts" (4 × 20), and 90 is "quatre-vingt-dix" (4 × 20 + 10).
- Plural "s" in quatre-vingts: Add an "s" to "quatre-vingts" when it's alone (80), but remove it when followed by another number (e.g., quatre-vingt-deux).
- No "et" in 70, 80, 90: Unlike 21, 31, 41, etc., you don't use "et" (and) in 70, 80, or 90.
Tips for Practicing
- Practice saying the numbers out loud to get comfortable with the pronunciation.
- Try counting objects around you by tens in French.
- Use the numbers in sentences about your daily life (age, time, money).
- Be mindful of the special cases for 70, 80, and 90.
Counting by tens in French is a straightforward process once you know the key vocabulary and rules. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!
How can you use your daily life to practice counting by tens in French?
Count objects around you by tens in French.
Using real-life objects to count by tens in French reinforces vocabulary and makes learning practical and engaging.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- English Singular: ten
- English Example: I have ten apples.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
