Cardinal Numbers (from 0 to 1000)

In French, numbers follow very logical construction rules, with a few historical peculiarities between 70 and 99 that need to be memorized.

1. From 0 to 19: The Basics

These numbers are unique and must be learned by heart.

2. From 20 to 69: The Regular Structure

For tens, the tens and units are combined with a hyphen.
For the unit 1, the conjunction “et” is added (et-un).

The tens:

• 20: vingt
• 30: trente
• 40: quarante
• 50: cinquante
• 60: soixante

Examples of construction:

• 21: vingt et un (no hyphen with “et”)
• 22: vingt**-**deux
• 35: trente**-**cinq
• 41: quarante et un
• 58: cinquante**-**huit
• 63: soixante**-**trois

3. From 70 to 99: French Particularities

In standard French, 70 is counted as 60 + 10, and 80 is counted as 4 × 20.

A. The 70s (Soixante + 10, 11, 12…)

• 70: soixante-dix (60+10)
• 71: soixante et onze (60+11)
• 72: soixante-douze (60+12)
• 75: soixante-quinze (60+15)
• 79: soixante-dix-neuf (60+19)

B. The 80s (Quatre-vingts)

• 80: quatre-vingts (4 x 20)
• 81: quatre-vingt-un (Attention: no “et” and no “s” on vingt)
• 82: quatre-vingt-deux
• 85: quatre-vingt-cinq

C. The 90s (Quatre-vingt + 10, 11, 12…)

• 90: quatre-vingt-dix (4 x 20 + 10)
• 91: quatre-vingt-onze
• 92: quatre-vingt-douze
• 95: quatre-vingt-quinze
• 99: quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

4. From 100 to 1000: Hundreds

• 100: cent
• 101: cent un
• 150: cent cinquante
• 200: deux cents
• 203: deux cent trois (the “s” disappears when another number follows)
• 500: cinq cents
• 750: sept cent cinquante
• 999: neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
• 1000: mille (mille is invariable and never takes an “s”)

5. Important Spelling Rules

1. The “s” in vingt and cent:
   • Vingt takes an -s only in quatre-vingts (80), unless it is followed by another number (quatre-vingt-deux).
   • Cent takes an -s in the plural when it is multiplied and ends the number (deux cents, cinq cents). If another number follows it, it remains invariable (deux cent trois).
2. The hyphen:
   • According to modern spelling, all the elements forming a compound number are connected by a hyphen (vingt-deux, cent-cinquante, quatre-vingt-dix-neuf).

6. Numbers: Traditional Usage vs. Revised Spelling (1990)

To write numbers correctly in French, it is important to understand the difference between the traditional rule (historically the most widely taught) and the 1990 spelling reform (recommended today by the Académie française and the French Ministry of Education).

6.1 The Traditional Rule (Old Standard)

Under the traditional rule, hyphens are used only for numbers below 100, provided they are not connected by the conjunction “et”.

• Numbers with “et”: No hyphen is used around “et”.
  • Examples: vingt et un (21), trente et un (31), soixante et onze (71).
• Numbers below 100 without “et”: Hyphens are used.
  • Examples: vingt-deux (22), quarante-cinq (45), soixante-dix-neuf (79).
• Numbers from 100 onwards: Hundreds and thousands are written without hyphens.
  • Examples: cent vingt et un (121), deux cent trente-cinq (235), mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf (1999).

6.2 The Modern Rule (1990 Reform)

To simplify spelling and avoid having to remember complex exceptions, the modern rule is very simple: hyphens are used between ALL the elements of the same compound number.

What changes in practice:

• Numbers with “et” also take hyphens:
  • Traditional: vingt et un → Modern: vingt-et-un
  • Traditional: soixante et onze → Modern: soixante-et-onze
• Hundreds and thousands are connected with hyphens:
  • Traditional: cent vingt et un → Modern: cent-vingt-et-un
  • Traditional: deux cent trente-cinq → Modern: deux-cent-trente-cinq
  • Traditional: mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf → Modern: mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

6.3 Summary Comparison Table

6.4 What You Need to Know Today

• Both spellings are accepted and correct. A student can use either the traditional or modern standard without being penalized in exams (DELF/DALF).
• Modern spelling is easier to teach because it avoids having to learn complex exceptions regarding the use of hyphens.