Les chiffres arabes et les chiffres romains

• Writing numbers in French is very tricky.  However it is easier if you notice the patterns that show up in the table.  For example.  In the number 21 or vingt et un there are no hyphens.  Most other numbers between 1 and 100 have hypens between the numbers.  For example 26 is vingt-six. 

• The number 80 is spelled with a hyphen and you have to make sure to put an "s" after the word vingt.  This is like saying 4 20s in English. 

• The numbers get more complicated after 60 because in order to say a number in the seventies it is like adding a number to 60.  For example 74 is soixante-quatorze which is like saying sixty fourteen in English. 

Les Chiffres de 91 à 1 000 000 000

The numbers after 100 in French can also be pretty tricky to use however it is a bit easier if you note the patterns. 

• The number 100 is always expressed as a single word.  A common mistake for French immersion students is to say it the way they do in English and say "un cent" or one hundred.  This is wrong and should always be corrected.  The proper way to say one hundred in French is to simply say "cent" The same rule applies for one thousand.  In French it is always simply "mille".  Never, ever "un mille"

For example:  There are one hundred candies in the jar. Translates as; Il y a cent bonbons dans le bocal

• It is important to note that the word "cent" takes an "s"  for 200, 300, 400, 500, etc.  So these numbers are always spelled deux cents, trois cents, quatre cents.  Notice that there are no hyphens.

The hyphen seems to disappear in the higher numbers.  For example in the number 1300 there is no hyphen.  It is spelled mille trois cents.  It is a common mistake to put hyphens where they do not belong.   If you wanted to spell the number 1325 you would have to use hyphens.  For example mille trois cents vingt-cinq.

Roman Numerals:

Students are not required to learn all the Roman numerals.  However it is important to note that Roman numerals are still used somewhat today and it is well worth the effort to learn them at least up to 50.  I included them in the tables above as a handy reference.