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Les grands nombres

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Numbers

100 → Cent → (One) Hundred
1,000 → Mille → (One) Hundred
1,000,000 → Un million → One million
1,000,000,000 → Un milliard → One billion

Writing rules

Hundred

“Cent” means “hundred” and also “one hundred,” we don’t say “un cent,” but from two, we can start adding a number before “cent.” When there are no other numbers after the word “cent,” it takes a silent “s;” every time is it more than one hundred.  

For example:
Cent → One hundred.
Deux cents → Two hundred.
Trois cent trente → Three hundred and thirty.

Thousand

“Mille” means “thousand” and “one thousand,” we don’t say “un mille” but from two, we can start adding a number before “mille.” “Mille” is invariable and can’t take an “s” when it is more than one thousand.

For example: 
Mille → One thousand.
Deux mille → Two thousand.
Trois mille huit cents → Three thousand eight hundred.

Million and billion

It is fine to write and say “un million” and “un milliard.” They will take a silent “s” every time it is more than one.

For example: 
Un million → One million.
Deux milliards → Two billion.

Counting or saying big numbers

In French and English, we count big numbers the same way. The only exception is that in French, we don’t translate “and.”  

For example: 
1560 → Mille cinq cent soixante → One thousand five hundred and sixty.
680 → Six cent quatre-vingt → Six hundred and eighty.

Counting or saying years

In French, unlike in English, we read years as big numbers.

For example:  
2018 → Deux mille dix-huit → Two thousand and eighteen.

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Grammar

Les nombres