The last regular decile in France: soixante, soixante et un, then hyphenated units to soixante-neuf, then the vigesimal flip to soixante-dix at 70.
Updated June 2026
Quick answer
70 IN FRENCH =
soixante-dix
IPA
/swasɑ̃t dis/
In France and Quebec, 70 is soixante-dix — literally “sixty-ten” (60 + 10), a leftover of the old base-20 count. Belgium and Switzerland instead say septante. Continue into the vigesimal range on the 70 to 99 page.
N
French
Audio
60
soixante
61
soixante et un
62
soixante-deux
63
soixante-trois
64
soixante-quatre
65
soixante-cinq
66
soixante-six
67
soixante-sept
68
soixante-huit
69
soixante-neuf
70
soixante-dix
What changes at 70
From 70 onwards France switches to the vigesimal forms documented on the 70 to 99 page. Belgium and Switzerland keep the regular pattern: septante (70), nonante (90), and Switzerland adds huitante (80).
Seventy in French is soixante-dix, pronounced /swasɑ̃t dis/. It literally means "sixty-ten" (60 + 10), a survival of the old base-20 counting system used in France and Quebec. Belgium and Switzerland use the regular form septante instead.
How do you say seventy in French?
You say soixante-dix ("swa-sont-DEESS"). The seventies then keep adding the teens to soixante: soixante et onze (71), soixante-douze (72), and on up to soixante-dix-neuf (79), because France has no separate word for seventy the way septante is used in Belgium and Switzerland.
How do you say 60 in French?
Soixante. Pronounced /swasɑ̃t/. The standard tens word; the s is unvoiced because the o that follows is the first vowel of the syllable.
How do you say 61 in French?
Soixante et un. Last decile in France where the et-un connector applies. The 70s revive it indirectly through soixante et onze (71 = 60 + 11) but skip it on 81 (quatre-vingt-un).
How do you say 70 in French?
Soixante-dix (literally sixty-ten). The vigesimal range begins here. Belgium and Switzerland use septante instead.
Is 60 the last regular decile in French?
In France, yes. From 70 onwards France switches to vigesimal forms (soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix). Belgium and Switzerland keep regular forms (septante, nonante, and Switzerland also huitante).