Numbers, Days & Months in French – Essential Vocabulary & Usage

Key Vocabulary: Numbers

French numbers differ from English in pronunciation, spelling, and usage (e.g., 1–20 are irregular, 21–69 follow a pattern, and 70–99 use compound forms). Mastering them is critical for prices, dates, times, and phone numbers in tourism.

1. Cardinal Numbers (0–100+)

French numbers are pronounced differently from their English equivalents. Below is a comparison table with audio cues (listen to Forvo for accuracy):

Worked Example: Pricing in a Kathmandu Hotel

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Scenario: You’re checking into Hotel Everest in Thamel. The receptionist says: “La chambre coûte deux mille cinq cents rupees.”

• Breakdown:
  • deux mille = 2,000
  • cinq cents = 500
  • Total = 2,500 rupees.
• Pronunciation tip: Mille (thousand) is always plural (deux mille, trois mille), even for 1,000.

2. Ordinal Numbers (1st–31st)

Used for dates, rankings, and sequences (e.g., 1er janvier = January 1st). Key ordinals:

• 1st: premier/première (pruh-myeh/pruh-myer)
• 2nd: deuxième (duh-zjem)
• 3rd: troisième (twa-zjem)
• 20th: vingtième (vahn-tjem)
• 21st: vingt-et-unième (vahn-tuh-uh-nyem)

Worked Example: Flight Board at Tribhuvan International Airport A real TIA departure screen showing flight numbers and times. (Image: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scenario: Your flight is Air India 123, departing at 8:45 AM.

• French announcement: “Le vol Air India cent vingt-trois décollera à huit heures quarante-cinq.”
  • cent vingt-trois = 123
  • quatre-vingt is used for 80 (not soixante-dix).

3. Decimals and Large Numbers

• Decimals: Use virgule (comma) where English uses a period.
  • 3.14 → trois virgule quatorze
• Large numbers: Group by spaces (not commas).
  • 1,000 → un mille
  • 1,000,000 → un million
  • 1,000,000,000 → un milliard

Real-World Application: NEPSE Stock Prices

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Scenario: The Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) share price is ₹1,250.75.

• French translation: “Le cours de l’action NBL est mille deux cent cinquante virgule soixante-quinze rupees.”
  • soixante-quinze = 75 (from soixante + quinze).

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Days of the Week and Months

1. Days of the Week

French days are not capitalized unless at the start of a sentence. Memorize the order (Monday–Sunday) for itineraries:

```mermaid
mindmap
  root((Days of the Week))
    lundi["Lundi (Monday)"]
    mardi["Mardi (Tuesday)"]
    mercredi["Mercredi (Wednesday)"]
    jeudi["Jeudi (Thursday)"]
    vendredi["Vendredi (Friday)"]
    samedi["Samedi (Saturday)"]
    dimanche["Dimanche (Sunday)"]

Key Phrases:

• Aujourd’hui, c’est lundi. (Today is Monday.)
• Demain, nous visitons le palais. (Tomorrow, we visit the palace.)
• Hier, il a plu. (Yesterday, it rained.)

2. Months of the Year

Months are capitalized and follow a logical pattern (Roman numerals for 1–12):

Worked Example: Booking a Tour with Pathao Travels

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Scenario: You’re planning a 5-day Pokhara tour starting Monday, April 15th.

• French confirmation: “Votre voyage commence le lundi quinze avril.”
  • quinze avril = April 15th (no "th" in French dates).
  • Never say “le 15ème avril” unless specifying the ordinal (e.g., le premier avril = April Fool’s Day).

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In the Real World

1. eSewa & Khalti Payments

   • When paying for a hotel booking or train ticket via eSewa/Khalti, the system may display prices in French (e.g., for international partners).
   • Example: A €50 hotel deposit is announced as: “Le dépôt est cinquante euros.”
   • Why it matters: Many Nepali tourism operators (e.g., Seven Hills Trekking) use French for client communications.

2. NTC Train Timetables

   • The Nepal Railway (e.g., Janakpur–Bhairahawa route) sometimes lists departure times in French for international tourists.
   • Example: “Le train pour Bhairahawa part à seize heures.” (Train leaves at 4 PM.)

3. YouTube Travel Videos

   • Channels like “Nepal Travel Guide” or “French in Nepal” use French numbers/dates in subtitles.
   • Example: A video titled “5 jours à Katmandou” uses cinq jours (5 days) for the itinerary.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Exam Tip

1. Pronunciation is Key

   • Examiners test spoken accuracy. Practice with:
     • Forvo (pronunciation guide).
     • Shadowing YouTube videos (e.g., “French Numbers for Beginners”).

2. Dates and Times

   • Always use the 24-hour format in French (e.g., quatorze heures = 2 PM).
   • Never say “le 15th avril” → Use le quinze avril.

3. Contextual Usage

   • Numbers 1–69 are often tested in pricing, dates, and counts.
   • Days/months appear in itinerary questions (e.g., “When does the tour start?”).

4. Common Exam Questions

   • Translate: “The flight departs at 6:30 PM.” → “Le vol décolle à dix-huit heures trente.”
   • Fill in the blank: “J’ai réservé pour _______ personnes.” → cinq (if booking for 5).

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Final Checklist Before the Exam: ✅ Can you count from 0–100 without hesitation? ✅ Do you know the order of days/months? ✅ Can you write a date in French (e.g., le 25 décembre)? ✅ Have you practiced pronouncing decimals (e.g., vingt virgule cinquante)?