How to Count in French

When it comes to numbers and counting, the French follow most of the same patterns that the English do (at least from 0 to 20). After that there are a few differences, but don’t worry learning numbers and counting in French isn’t complicated. It’s really just a question of memorizing.

1 to 20

un	1
deux	2
trois	3
quatre	4
cinq	5
six	6
sept	7
huit	8
neuf	9
dix	10
onze	11
douze	12
treize	13
quatorze	14
quinze	15
seize	16
dix-sept	17
dix-huit	18
dix-neuf	19
vingt	20

When the French count on their fingers, they always start with the thumb. You’re thinking big deal, right? Well, it can be if you use your fingers to order something. For example, if you hold up your index and middle finger to order 2 beers, the waiter will bring you three because they assume you started counting on the thumb (even if you kept your thumb tucked in).

With numbers 21 to 69, you combine the tens with the words for numbers 1 to 9.

21 to 69

vingt et un	21
vingt-deux	22
trente	30
trente et un	31
trente-deux	32
quarante	40
quarante et un	41
quarante-deux	42
cinquante	50
cinquante et un	51
cinquante-deux	52
soixante	60
soixante et un	61
soixante -deux	62

So far so good, right? Well, here’s where things get interesting. In most French-speaking countries, there is no word for 70, 80, and 90. Instead, for the numbers 70 to 79, combine the tens with the tens.

Although these rules hold true for most French-speaking places, there are a few that do have unique words for the numbers 70 (septante) and 90 (nonante), such as Belgium and Switzerland.

70 to 79

soixante-dix	70
soixante et onze	71
soixante-douze	72

With the numbers 80 to 89, combine the number 4, the number 20, and the ones. For example, in French 80 is four 20s, 81 is four 20s plus 1, and so forth. (Unlike most French-speaking countries, Switzerland actually has a word for the number 80. It’s huitante.)

80 to 89

quatre-vingts	80
quatre-vingt-un	81
quatre-vingt-deux	82

For numbers 90 to 99, combine the number 4, the number 20, and the tens. For example, 90 is four 20s plus 10, 91 is four 20s plus 11, and so forth. (The plus isn’t included in the expression.)

90 to 99

quatre-vingt-dix	90
quatre-vingt-onze	91
quatre-vingt-douze	92

When talking about larger numbers in French, just follow the same formula. For numbers above 100, say the hundreds digit first, then the ones and then the tens. For example, 151 would be cent cinquante un (“a hundred, fifty, one”).

100 and Higher

cent	100
cent un	101
cent deux	102
cent cinquante	150
deux cents	200
cinq cents	500
mille	1,000

Note that an s is added to the end of the word cent, whenever it is followed by another number.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-count-in-french.html