Are you ready to challenge your French numerical vocabulary? Whether you’re a language enthusiast, a student of French, or simply curious about how numbers work in this beautiful language, our comprehensive French Numbers Quiz is perfect for you!
With 100 carefully crafted questions spread across five increasingly challenging rounds, you’ll test your knowledge of everything from basic counting to complex numerical expressions.
French numbers follow fascinating patterns and rules that differ from English, making them both a challenge and a delight to learn. This quiz will take you through the basics all the way to advanced numerical concepts, helping you identify areas where you excel and where you might need more practice.
Each round builds on the previous one, starting with simple translations and progressing to more complex numerical expressions, dates, mathematics, and cultural references. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how numbers function in French.
Perfect for language learners at any level, French teachers looking for classroom activities, or anyone who enjoys testing their knowledge, this quiz offers both entertainment and educational value. Let’s see how well you know your “un, deux, trois”!
Round 1: Easy French Number Questions
Let’s start with some basic French numbers to warm up:
- How do you say the number 1 in French?
Answer: Un - What is the French word for the number 5?
Answer: Cinq - How do you say 10 in French?
Answer: Dix - What is the correct French translation for the number 15?
Answer: Quinze - How do you say 20 in French?
Answer: Vingt - What is the French word for 30?
Answer: Trente - How do you say the number 40 in French?
Answer: Quarante - What is the correct way to say 50 in French?
Answer: Cinquante - How do you express the number 100 in French?
Answer: Cent - What is the French word for 1,000?
Answer: Mille - How do you say “zero” in French?
Answer: Zéro - What is the correct way to say 12 in French?
Answer: Douze - How do you say 16 in French?
Answer: Seize - What is the French word for the number 80?
Answer: Quatre-vingts - How do you say “first” (ordinal number) in French?
Answer: Premier/Première - What is the French word for “second” (ordinal number)?
Answer: Deuxième - How do you say “third” in French?
Answer: Troisième - What is the correct way to say 60 in French?
Answer: Soixante - How do you express the number 1,000,000 in French?
Answer: Un million - What is the French word for “half”?
Answer: Demi/Moitié
Don’t worry if some of these were challenging! French numbers have their own unique patterns, especially when you get to higher values.
Exploring French language patterns can be as engaging as discovering philosophical questions that make you think deeply about language and expression.
Round 2: Multiple Choice French Number Questions
Let’s increase the difficulty a bit with some multiple-choice questions:
- How do you say 70 in French?
- A) Septante
- B) Soixante-dix
- C) Soixante-dixte
- D) Sept-dix
Answer: B) Soixante-dix
- In standard French, how do you say 90?
- A) Neuvante
- B) Quatre-vingt-dix
- C) Nonante
- D) Neuf-dix
Answer: B) Quatre-vingt-dix
- Which of these is the correct way to write 21 in French?
- A) Vingt-un
- B) Vingt-et-un
- C) Vingt-et-une
- D) Vignt-un
Answer: B) Vingt-et-un
- How do you say 99 in standard French?
- A) Nonante-neuf
- B) Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
- C) Neuf-dix-neuf
- D) Quatre-vingt-dix-et-neuf
Answer: B) Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
- Which is the correct French translation for 81?
- A) Octante-un
- B) Quatre-vingt-un
- C) Huitante-un
- D) Huit-dix-un
Answer: B) Quatre-vingt-un
- In which French-speaking region might you hear “septante” instead of “soixante-dix”?
- A) Paris, France
- B) Quebec, Canada
- C) Belgium
- D) Haiti
Answer: C) Belgium
- How do you say 1,500 in French?
- A) Mille et cinq cents
- B) Mille cinq cent
- C) Mille cinq cents
- D) Un mille cinq cents
Answer: C) Mille cinq cents
- Which is correct for 22 in French?
- A) Vingt-deux
- B) Vingt-et-deux
- C) Vingt-deuxième
- D) Vingt-double
Answer: A) Vingt-deux
- The French number “quatre-vingts” literally translates to:
- A) Four twenties
- B) Four times twenty
- C) Eighty
- D) Four-twenty
Answer: A) Four twenties
- Which number is “treize” in French?
- A) 3
- B) 13
- C) 30
- D) 33
Answer: B) 13
- How would you say 2,025 in French?
- A) Deux mille vingt-cinq
- B) Deux milles et vingt-cinq
- C) Deux mil vingt-cinq
- D) Deux mille et vingt-cinq
Answer: A) Deux mille vingt-cinq
- In which of these numbers would you use the word “et” in French?
- A) 22
- B) 21
- C) 81
- D) 91
Answer: B) 21
- How would you write 175 in French?
- A) Cent-soixante-quinze
- B) Cent soixante-quinze
- C) Cent et soixante-quinze
- D) Un cent soixante-quinze
Answer: B) Cent soixante-quinze
- Which number is “quatre-vingt-onze” in French?
- A) 81
- B) 90
- C) 91
- D) 94
Answer: C) 91
- In French-speaking Switzerland, how might you hear 80 expressed?
- A) Quatre-vingts
- B) Huitante
- C) Octante
- D) Huit-dix
Answer: B) Huitante
- Which is NOT a valid way to say 71 in any French-speaking region?
- A) Soixante-onze
- B) Septante et un
- C) Septante-un
- D) Soixante-et-onze
Answer: D) Soixante-et-onze
- How do you say 200 in French?
- A) Deux-cents
- B) Deux cent
- C) Deux cents
- D) Deuxcent
Answer: C) Deux cents
- What is the correct form for 101 in French?
- A) Cent-un
- B) Cent et un
- C) Cent-et-un
- D) Cent un
Answer: B) Cent et un
- How would you express 1,000,002 in French?
- A) Un million deux
- B) Un million et deux
- C) Un million zéro zéro deux
- D) Un million deuxième
Answer: A) Un million deux
- Which ordinal number is “cinquième” in French?
- A) 4th
- B) 5th
- C) 50th
- D) 15th
Answer: B) 5th
How are you doing so far? The French number system gets quite interesting with its unique patterns for larger numbers.
If you’re enjoying these engaging questions, you might also like exploring conversation starters for texting that can help you practice your French with native speakers.
Round 3: Medium Difficulty French Number Questions
Now let’s move on to some more challenging questions:
- What is unusual about the way the French express numbers from 70-99 compared to other Romance languages?
Answer: They use a base-20 system (quatre-vingts = 4×20) rather than a purely decimal system - In standard French, what is the number 77 written as?
Answer: Soixante-dix-sept (60+17) - What is the name of the French currency that was used before the Euro?
Answer: Franc - How do you correctly express 2,525 in French?
Answer: Deux mille cinq cent vingt-cinq - What regional variation of French uses “septante” for 70?
Answer: Belgian, Swiss, and Congolese French - What happens to the word “cent” when it is followed by another number in French?
Answer: It doesn’t change to the plural form (cent remains cent, not cents) - How do you express “21st century” in French?
Answer: Le vingt-et-unième siècle - What is the grammatical rule for “vingt” when it is used in a compound number?
Answer: It takes an “s” only when it is multiplied and not followed by another number (quatre-vingts, but quatre-vingt-un) - How would you say “Chapter 4” in French?
Answer: Chapitre quatre (or Chapitre IV) - What is the correct way to say “the eleventh month” in French?
Answer: Le onzième mois - How would you express the fraction “3/4” in French?
Answer: Trois quarts - What is the cardinal number associated with the ordinal “dixième”?
Answer: Dix (10) - How do you express “twice” or “two times” in French?
Answer: Deux fois - What is the correct way to express 1,000,000,000 in French?
Answer: Un milliard - How would you write the date May 15, 2025 in French?
Answer: Le quinze mai deux mille vingt-cinq - What is the correct pronunciation of the year 1999 in French?
Answer: Mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf - What is the French equivalent of “a dozen”?
Answer: Une douzaine - How would you express “both” or “the two” in French?
Answer: Les deux or tous les deux - What is the rule for numbers where “et” (and) is used in French?
Answer: It’s used only in numbers ending with 1 (except 11) like 21, 31, 41, etc. (vingt-et-un, trente-et-un, etc.) - How do you express “a quarter past two” in French time telling?
Answer: Deux heures et quart
Making progress! These medium-level questions reveal the fascinating complexity of the French number system.
If you’re finding these questions engaging, you might also enjoy exploring deep topics to talk about in French to further enhance your language skills.
Round 4: Hard French Number Questions
Now for the more challenging questions:
- In the traditional French numbering system, what is the literal translation of “quatre-vingt-dix-huit” (98)?
Answer: Four-twenty-ten-eight (4×20+18) - What mathematical operation does the French word “fois” represent?
Answer: Multiplication - How do you express “the 2020s decade” in French?
Answer: Les années deux mille vingt - What happens to the word “mille” in French when expressing multiple thousands?
Answer: It remains invariable (doesn’t take an “s”) regardless of the number before it - How would you express a negative number like -5 in French?
Answer: Moins cinq - What is the correct way to write out a check for €1,542.30 in French?
Answer: Mille cinq cent quarante-deux euros et trente centimes - How would you express “every third day” in French?
Answer: Tous les trois jours - What is the difference between “deuxième” and “second” in French?
Answer: They are synonyms, but “second” is only used for the number 2 in a sequence, while “deuxième” implies there are more items following - How would you express “the 2000s” (millennium) in French?
Answer: Les années deux mille - What is the French term for a mathematical “power” (exponent)?
Answer: Puissance - How would you express “4 billion” in French (European counting system)?
Answer: 4 milliards - What is unique about the French expression of time when it’s half past the hour?
Answer: They say “hour and half” rather than “half past hour” (ex: six heures et demie = 6:30) - How do you write the ordinal indicators in French when using numerals (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd in English)?
Answer: Using “er/ère” for 1st (1er/1ère) and “e” for all others (2e, 3e, etc.) - In France, what number system is traditionally used for royalty?
Answer: Roman numerals (Louis XIV, Henri IV, etc.) - What does the phrase “faire les cent pas” literally translate to, and what does it mean?
Answer: “To do the hundred steps”; it means to pace back and forth nervously - How would you express “0.25” as a decimal in French?
Answer: Zéro virgule vingt-cinq - What is the correct French term for a “baker’s dozen”?
Answer: Une douzaine de boulanger (13 items) - How would you say “I finished in 1st place” in French?
Answer: J’ai terminé en première position/place - What is unusual about the Swiss/Belgian way of expressing 70 and 90 compared to standard French?
Answer: They use logical decimal-based forms (septante for 70, nonante for 90) rather than the French vigesimal system - In mathematics, how would you express “10 squared” in French?
Answer: Dix au carré or dix à la puissance deux
These questions really test your understanding of the nuances in French numerical expressions!
For those who enjoy challenging their language skills, trying out some random questions to ask a guy in French could be a fun way to practice numbers in conversation.
Round 5: True or False French Number Questions
For our final round, test your knowledge with these true or false questions about French numbers:
- In standard French, “quatre-vingts” literally means “four twenties.”
Answer: True - In Belgian and Swiss French, they say “septante” instead of “soixante-dix” for 70.
Answer: True - In French, all ordinal numbers end with “-ième” except for “premier” (first).
Answer: True - When writing dates in French, you always use cardinal numbers (un, deux, trois) rather than ordinal numbers (premier, deuxième, troisième).
Answer: False – The first day of the month uses “premier” (le premier mai) - The French word “billion” means the same as the English word “billion” (1,000,000,000).
Answer: False – In French, “un billion” is 1,000,000,000,000 (a trillion in English) - In French, you use a period (.) as the decimal separator.
Answer: False – French uses a comma (,) as the decimal separator - The French number system never uses hyphens when writing out numbers.
Answer: False – French numbers typically use hyphens between words (vingt-et-un, quatre-vingt-dix) - When telling time in French, you say “et quart” (and quarter) for quarter past the hour.
Answer: True - The French language has a special word for 70 that doesn’t use the base-20 system.
Answer: False – Standard French uses “soixante-dix” (60+10) - In France, telephone numbers are typically grouped in pairs of digits.
Answer: True – French phone numbers are grouped as XX XX XX XX XX - When saying the year 2000 in French, you say “deux mille” not “vingt-cent.”
Answer: True - The word “mille” (thousand) gets an “s” when plural in French.
Answer: False – “Mille” never takes an “s”, even for multiple thousands - French speakers in Quebec use “nonante” for 90 just like the Swiss.
Answer: False – Quebecers use “quatre-vingt-dix” like standard French - In French mathematics, multiplication is indicated by saying “par” between numbers.
Answer: True – For example, “5 par 6” means 5×6 - French uses the same billion/trillion system as American English.
Answer: False – French uses the long scale system where a billion is a million millions - When writing centuries in French, you always use Roman numerals.
Answer: False – You can use either Roman numerals or words (le XXIe siècle or le vingt-et-unième siècle) - In French, you say “et” (and) between all tens and units.
Answer: False – “Et” is only used for numbers ending in 1 (except 11) - The French word for zero can also be pronounced as “oh” when reading phone numbers.
Answer: True - In the French Republican Calendar used after the French Revolution, months were divided into three “decades” of 10 days each.
Answer: True - The word “quatre-vingts” (80) is always written with an “s” regardless of what follows it.
Answer: False – It loses the “s” when followed by another number (quatre-vingt-un)
Félicitations! You’ve completed all five rounds of our French Numbers Quiz.
If you’re fascinated by language games like this, you might enjoy trying some would you rather questions in French as another fun way to practice your skills!
How Did You Score?
Let’s see how well you did:
90-100 correct: Extraordinaire! You’re practically French when it comes to numbers. Your understanding of the French numerical system is exceptional.
70-89 correct: Très bien! You have an excellent grasp of French numbers and their complexities.
50-69 correct: Bien! You have a solid foundation in French numbers but might want to practice some of the trickier aspects.
30-49 correct: Pas mal! You know the basics but could benefit from more study of the unique patterns in French numbers.
0-29 correct: Courage! French numbers can be challenging with their unique patterns. Keep practicing and you’ll improve quickly.
Did you enjoy testing your knowledge of French numbers? Share your score with friends and challenge them to beat it! The French numerical system provides a fascinating glimpse into how language and mathematics intersect in different cultures.
For more language quizzes, conversation starters, and fun ways to practice your French, explore our other articles and resources!