French Numbers, Days, Months, and Seasons
When you start learning French, one of the first things you will need to know are the basics that you can use in everyday conversations. Whether you are introducing yourself, planning a trip, or chatting with friends, understanding numbers, days, months, and seasons will give you the confidence to manage your daily life in French.
Imagine you are in France or a French-speaking country, and you are asked your age, your birthdate, or when you would like to meet for coffee. Or, you might be checking the weather to know what season it is and planning activities accordingly. Let us explore these fundamental topics, which will help you become more comfortable speaking French.
1. Numbers (Les Nombres 0-20)
Numbers are essential in many everyday situations, from counting objects to giving your phone number or even discussing prices while shopping. Here are the numbers from 0 to 20 in French:
| 0 – zéro 1 – un 2 – deux 3 – trois 4 – quatre 5 – cinq 6 – six 7 – sept 8 – huit 9 – neuf 10 – dix | 11 – onze 12 – douze 13 – treize 14 – quatorze 15 – quinze 16 – seize 17 – dix-sept 18 – dix-huit 19 – dix-neuf 20 – vingt |
To learn the rest of the numbers and the pronunciations head here: https://www.frenchnumbers.org.uk/
If you are in a French-speaking country and someone asks how many people are in your group, you can respond with a number. For example, “Nous sommes quatre” (We are four). Or imagine buying fruit at a market and needing to say, “Je voudrais trois pommes” (I would like three apples).
In French, when giving your phone number, you usually group the digits in pairs. For example, if your phone number is 06 12 34 56 78, you would say each pair of numbers separately.
Here’s how you would give that number in French: “Mon numéro de téléphone est le zéro six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit.”
To break it down:
- 06 – zéro six
- 12 – douze
- 34 – trente-quatre
- 56 – cinquante-six
- 78 – soixante-dix-huit
Note: In French, phone numbers often start with “zéro” (0), and you say it out loud as part of the number. Make sure to pause briefly between each pair of digits to make it clear.
2. Days of the Week (Les Jours de la Semaine)
Knowing the days of the week will allow you to schedule activities, set appointments, and discuss plans with others.
- Monday – lundi
- Tuesday – mardi
- Wednesday – mercredi
- Thursday – jeudi
- Friday – vendredi
- Saturday – samedi
- Sunday – dimanche
Imagine you are planning a trip with a friend in France, and they ask when you would like to visit a museum. You can respond, “Nous pouvons aller le samedi” (We can go on Saturday). Similarly, when planning a work meeting, knowing the days of the week helps you coordinate: “La réunion est mardi” (The meeting is on Tuesday).
To ask “What day is it?” in French, you say:
Quel jour sommes-nous ? or Quel jour est-ce aujourd’hui ?
To answer, you say:
Nous sommes [day of the week]. Or Aujourd’hui, c’est [day of the week.
For example:
- Quel jour sommes-nous ?
Nous sommes lundi. - Quel jour est-ce aujourd’hui ?
Aujourd’hui, c’est mercredi.
When using the days of the week in French, there are several grammatical aspects to keep in mind:
Capitalization
- In French, the days of the week are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. For example:
- Correct: “Aujourd’hui, c’est lundi.”
- Incorrect: “Aujourd’hui, c’est Lundi.”
Definite Articles
- Days of the week are often preceded by the definite article “le” when talking about a habitual action. For example:
- “Je vais au cinéma le vendredi.” (I go to the cinema on Fridays.)
No Articles for Specific Dates
- When specifying a date or saying what day it is without a habitual context, you do not use an article. For example:
- “Nous sommes mardi.” (It’s Tuesday.)
- “Aujourd’hui, c’est samedi.” (Today is Saturday.)
Summary
- Remember to lowercase the days of the week.
- Use definite articles for habitual actions.
- Omit articles for specific days.
Keeping these grammatical rules in mind will help you use days of the week correctly in your French sentences!
3. Months of the Year (Les Mois de l’Année)
You will need to know the months when discussing dates, events, holidays, or even planning future trips.
| January – janvier February – février March – mars April – avril May – mai June – juin | July – juillet August – août September – septembre October – octobre November – novembre December – décembre |
Whether you are filling out a form that asks for your birthdate or discussing when to take a vacation, knowing the months is essential. For example: “Mon anniversaire est en mai” (My birthday is in May). Or if you’re traveling, you might say, “Je vais à Paris en août” (I’m going to Paris in August).
When using months in French, there are several grammatical rules and considerations to keep in mind:
Capitalization
- Similar to days of the week, months in French are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. For example:
- Correct: “Nous sommes janvier.” (We are in January.)
- Incorrect: “Nous sommes Janvier.”
Definite Articles
- When referring to a specific month, you generally use the definite article “le.” For example:
- “J’aime le mois de juin.” (I love the month of June.)
- When stating a general time or a habitual action, you can omit the article:
- “En décembre, il neige.” (In December, it snows.)
Prepositions
- Use the preposition “en” when referring to a month:
- “Je vais en France en mars.” (I am going to France in March.)
- Use “au” when talking about a specific season:
- “Nous allons skier au printemps.” (We are going skiing in spring.)
Summary
- Months are written in lowercase unless starting a sentence.
- Use definite articles for specific months and omit them for general references.
- Use the preposition “en” for months and “au” for seasons.
4. Seasons (Les Saisons)
Each country experiences the year through different seasons, and France is no different. Knowing how to say the seasons in French will help you in conversations about the weather, planning activities, and understanding local culture.
- Spring – le printemps
- Summer – l’été
- Autumn – l’automne
- Winter – l’hiver
Suppose you are in France and the locals ask about your favorite time of the year. You can respond, “Ma saison préférée est l’été” (My favorite season is summer). Or if you are traveling in winter, you might say, “En hiver, il neige” (In winter, it snows).
Bringing It All Together:
You are planning a trip to Paris with a friend. You will need to know how to discuss dates, numbers, and even the weather:
- “Nous partons en mai.” (We are leaving in May.)
- “Nous sommes cinq.” (There are five of us.)
- “La visite est mardi.” (The visit is on Tuesday.)
- “Au printemps, il fait doux à Paris.” (In spring, it is mild in Paris.)
