Numbers in French
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French uses a base-20 (vigesimal) counting system inherited from the Celtic Gauls. Quatre-vingt literally means "four-twenties" (4 x 20 = 80). Most of Europe adopted a base-10 system from Latin, but France kept the Celtic forms for 70-99. Belgium and Switzerland simplified these to septante, huitante, and nonante.

In France, 70 is "soixante-dix" which literally means "sixty-ten" (60 + 10). In Belgium and parts of Switzerland, 70 is "septante" - a much more logical form. Both are correct French but soixante-dix is standard in France and Quebec.

In France, 90 is "quatre-vingt-dix" meaning "four-twenties-ten" (4 x 20 + 10 = 90). In Belgium and Switzerland, 90 is "nonante" - again, the simpler regional form. These countries did not participate in the 19th-century French language standardisation that locked in the vigesimal forms.

No. Belgian French uses septante (70), quatre-vingts (80, same as France), and nonante (90). Swiss French in Vaud, Valais, and Fribourg uses septante, huitante, and nonante. Swiss romand from Geneva tends to follow France. If you say soixante-dix in Brussels, people understand but know you learned in France.

Start with 1-16, which are unique words. Then 17-19 follow the pattern dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf. Numbers 20-69 use a regular tens-plus-units pattern. Numbers 70-99 use the vigesimal quirk. See the full list on our 1-to-100 page.

Yes, this site is one. Use the converter at the top of this page to type any number from 0 to 999,999,999,999 and get the French spelling instantly. It handles all special cases including 80 (quatre-vingts with s), 81 (quatre-vingt-un without s), 200 (deux cents with s), and 201 (deux cent un without s). Toggle between France, Belgium, and Switzerland for regional variants.