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French Numbers

Numbers in French follow a specific pattern that is essential to learn for counting, telling time, handling money, and providing measurements, among other uses. French numbers can initially seem challenging due to their unique pronunciation and construction, especially from 70 to 99. However, with practice, they become an integral part of fluency in the language.

French numbers from zero to sixty-nine follow a relatively straightforward base ten system, similar to English. Challenges arise with numbers like seventy (soixante-dix), eighty (quatre-vingts), and ninety (quatre-vingt-dix) which reflect an older base twenty (vigesimal) counting system. Understanding these peculiarities is crucial for accurate communication.

Here's how you might see numbers used in a simple context:

In this sentence, "Il y a cinquante-trois livres sur l'étagère" translates to "There are fifty-three books on the shelf." "Cinquante-trois" demonstrates how to combine base numbers (cinquante for fifty and trois for three) to form compound numbers in French.