un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix, onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize, dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf, vingt, vingt et un, vingt-deux, vingt-trois, vingt-quatre, vingt-cinq, vingt-six, vingt-sept, vingt-huit, vingt-neuf, trente
numbers
After 20 French adds the unit: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix, onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize, dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf, vingt, vingt et un, vingt-deux, vingt-trois, vingt-quatre, vingt-cinq, vingt-six, vingt-sept, vingt-huit, vingt-neuf, trente. The new ones are vingt et un, vingt-deux and so on up to vingt-neuf, then trente.
Meaning: numbers from one to thirty (numeral)
What does it mean word for word?
Numbers 21 to 29 follow one pattern: vingt plus the unit. Only 21 uses et, as in vingt et un. The rest use a hyphen, as in vingt-deux.
How do you pronounce it?
Trente sounds like "trahnt" with a nasal vowel. In vingt-deux to vingt-neuf the final t of vingt is pronounced.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not put et in 22 to 29. Vingt et deux is wrong, the right form is vingt-deux.
Did you know?
- The French rule that only 21 takes et (as in vingt et un) holds for 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71 too.
Examples in context
- Il y a vingt et un étudiants.There are twenty-one students.
- Ma sœur a vingt-cinq ans.My sister is twenty-five years old.
- Le mois a trente jours.The month has thirty days.
