Essential French Number Vocabulary: From Fractions to Big Numbers

French number vocabulary extends far beyond basic counting. This guide covers essential number-related concepts to elevate your French language skills. We'll explore fractions, age ranges, decades, collective nouns, and big numbers in French.

Fractions in French

Understanding fractions is crucial for discussing parts of a whole in French. Most fractions follow a simple formula:

• Numerator: Use cardinal numbers
• Denominator: Use ordinal numbers

For example:

• 1/8: un huitième
• 5/8: cinq huitièmes
• 1/10: un dixième

However, some common fractions have unique forms:

• 1/2: un demi / une demie
• 1/3: un tiers
• 1/4: un quart

Using "Un Demi" (Half)

"Un demi" has special rules:

1. It has a feminine form: une demie
2. When used before a noun, it's hyphenated and invariable:
   • Une demi-heure (a half-hour)
3. When used after a noun, it agrees in gender:
   • Une heure et demie (an hour and a half)

The noun for "half" is "une moitié":

• La moitié de mon temps (half of my time)

Percentages in French

Percentages in French use cardinal numbers, similar to English:

• 12% se dit "douze pour cent" en français.
• 40% du salaire (40% of the salary)

Note: In written French, use a space before the percentage sign: 12 %.

Multipliers in French

French uses similar multipliers to English:

• Double: double
• Triple: triple
• Quadruple: quadruple
• Tenfold: décuple

These can be used as nouns, verbs, or adjectives:

• Le prix a doublé. (The price doubled.)
• J'ai triplé mes efforts. (I tripled my efforts.)

Collective Nouns in French

French has several collective nouns for small groups:

• Un duo (a duo)
• Un trio (a trio)
• Un couple (a couple, typically for people)
• Une paire (a pair, typically for objects)

For music ensembles:

• Un quatuor (a quartet)
• Un quintette (a quintet)

Collective Numbers in French

French has unique collective numbers that often indicate approximation:

• Une dizaine (about ten)
• Une douzaine (a dozen, exactly twelve)
• Une vingtaine (about twenty)
• Une trentaine (about thirty)

Usage examples:

• Une quinzaine de jours (about two weeks)
• Une quarantaine de kilomètres (about forty kilometers)

Age Ranges in French

To approximate ages, use collective numbers:

• Une cinquantaine d'années (about fifty years old)
• Une vingtaine d'années (about twenty years old)

For specific decades, French uses unique terms:

• Quadragénaire (in one's forties)
• Quinquagénaire (in one's fifties)
• Sexagénaire (in one's sixties)

Referring to Decades in French

To refer to specific decades:

• Les années 80 (the 80s)
• Les années 1900 (the 1900s)

Big Numbers in French

Here's a quick reference for big numbers in French:

• 100: cent
• 1,000: mille
• 1,000,000: un million
• 1,000,000,000: un milliard

Key rules:

1. "Cent" is pluralized for exact multiples: deux cents (200)
2. "Mille" is never pluralized
3. Always use "un" before "million" and "milliard"
4. Use "de" after million and milliard: un million d'euros

Example:

• Deux millions trois cent mille habitants (2,300,000 inhabitants)

By mastering these French number words and concepts, you'll significantly enhance your ability to discuss quantities, ages, and numerical concepts in French. Practice using these terms in context to solidify your understanding and improve your French language skills.