Cardinal numbers above 100
Key points
- Numbers above 100 are similar in English and in French, except there is no equivalent of and in French.
- English uses the word a or one with the numbers hundred, thousand and million, but French uses un only with million.
- Mille never takes an –s when multiplied, but million always does.
- Cent takes an –s when multiplied unless it is followed by another number.
In French cardinal numbers above 100 are put together in much the same way as in English, except there is no equivalent of and in French:
Cent cinquante-deux
One hundred and fifty-two
Deux mille trois cents cinquante
Two thousand three hundred and fifty
There are some important differences though. English uses the word a or one with the numbers hundred, thousand and million, but French uses un only with million:
cent
one hundred
mille
one thousand
un million
one million
Mille never takes an –s when multiplied (i.e. when saying 2000, 3000 etc.):
mille personnes
a thousand people
deux mille personnes
two thousand people
Million always takes an –s when multiplied, and is always followed by de when used before a noun :
un million d’euros
one million euros
trois millions d’euros
three million euros
Cent takes an -s when multiplied, unless it is followed by another number:
deux cents
two hundred
deux cent cinquante
two hundred and fifty
Hyphens are not used with cent and mille:
cent dix
a hundred and ten
mille deux cents
one thousand two hundred