pour cent
The English word 'percent' is expressed in French as pour cent. Wiktionary also lists pourcent.
Meaning: a part or other object per hundred (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| pour cent | |
| pourcent | /puʁ.sɑ̃/ /puʁ.sã/ (Quebec) |
The term refers to a part or object per hundred. When you want to use the phrase as an adverbial phrase meaning 'completely' or 'entirely', it is typically preceded by the preposition à, such as in à cent pour cent.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase pour cent literally means 'for hundred'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase pour cent is invariable and does not take an 's' in the plural.
What mistakes should you avoid?
While pourcent is sometimes seen in older texts or specific technical contexts, the standard two-word spelling is pour cent.
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use the symbol '%', French writers traditionally place a non-breaking space between the number and the % sign to avoid the symbol starting a new line.
- The Latin root centum found in pour cent is the same root that gives English the word 'century', meaning a period of one hundred years.
- In casual French conversation, saying à cent pour cent does not just mean '100%', but is often used as a synonym for 'totally' or 'absolutely' when agreeing with someone.
Examples in context
- Tu as raison à cent pour cent.You're a hundred percent right.Tatoeba #6461019 by GB3, translation #6459938 by ViolettaKoriagina
- Je te soutiens à cent pour cent.I support you a hundred percent.Tatoeba #2407302 by sacredceltic, translation #2406855 by CK
- Treize pour cent étaient contre.Thirteen percent were opposed.Tatoeba #5347453 by Aiji, translation #4501297 by CK
- Le taux de chômage est de 8 pour cent.The unemployment rate is 8 percent.
- Le restaurant affiche une augmentation des prix de 10 pour cent.The restaurant displays a 10 percent price increase.
- La promotion estivale vous offre une réduction de 20 pour cent.The summer promotion offers you a 20 percent discount.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are discussing a discount at a store.
- EmmaLe rabais est de vingt pour cent.The discount is twenty percent.
- NathanC'est vraiment une bonne affaire, Emma.That is really a good deal, Emma.
- EmmaOui, on économise dix pour cent en plus ici.Yes, we save ten percent more here.
- NathanC'est parfait, Nathan est d'accord.That's perfect, Nathan agrees.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “percent” translations and entries pourcent, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
