French Numbers 70–99: The “Four‑Twenties” Logic Explained

French counting feels perfectly normal… until you hit 70. Then it suddenly looks like someone decided to do math out loud. The good news: it’s not random. Once you understand the logic, numbers from 70 to 99 become predictable—and you’ll stop freezing when you see prices, dates, or “room 82.”

In this guide you’ll learn:

• The underlying logic (60 + teens, 4×20, 80 + teens)
• A complete map from 70–99
• The “small rules” that cause most mistakes (hyphens, et, plural s)
• Pronunciation tips (liaison and rhythm)
• Drills so you can say numbers quickly, not just recognize them

The core idea (three building blocks)

Standard French in France uses a mix of base‑10 and base‑20:

• 60 = soixante
• 70 = soixante‑dix = 60 + 10
• 80 = quatre‑vingts = 4 × 20
• 90 = quatre‑vingt‑dix = 80 + 10

So the system is basically:

• 70s = 60 + (10–19)
• 80s = 80 + (0–19) (with a special spelling rule)
• 90s = 80 + (10–19)

The full map (70–99)

70–79 (60 + teens)

• 70 = soixante‑dix
• 71 = soixante‑et‑onze
• 72 = soixante‑douze
• 73 = soixante‑treize
• 74 = soixante‑quatorze
• 75 = soixante‑quinze
• 76 = soixante‑seize
• 77 = soixante‑dix‑sept
• 78 = soixante‑dix‑huit
• 79 = soixante‑dix‑neuf

80–89 (80 + units)

• 80 = quatre‑vingts
• 81 = quatre‑vingt‑un
• 82 = quatre‑vingt‑deux
• 83 = quatre‑vingt‑trois
• 84 = quatre‑vingt‑quatre
• 85 = quatre‑vingt‑cinq
• 86 = quatre‑vingt‑six
• 87 = quatre‑vingt‑sept
• 88 = quatre‑vingt‑huit
• 89 = quatre‑vingt‑neuf

90–99 (80 + teens)

• 90 = quatre‑vingt‑dix
• 91 = quatre‑vingt‑onze
• 92 = quatre‑vingt‑douze
• 93 = quatre‑vingt‑treize
• 94 = quatre‑vingt‑quatorze
• 95 = quatre‑vingt‑quinze
• 96 = quatre‑vingt‑seize
• 97 = quatre‑vingt‑dix‑sept
• 98 = quatre‑vingt‑dix‑huit
• 99 = quatre‑vingt‑dix‑neuf

️ The “small rules” that cause most mistakes

1) The plural s in quatre‑vingts

You write quatre‑vingts (with s) only for exactly 80.

• 80 = quatre‑vingts
• 81 = quatre‑vingt‑un (no s)
• 95 = quatre‑vingt‑quinze (no s)

Why? The “vingt” behaves like a counted noun only when it’s not followed by another number.

2) Why 71 has et but 81 doesn’t

French uses et in some numbers with “one,” but the pattern changes in the 70s/80s.

• 71 = soixante‑et‑onze
• 81 = quatre‑vingt‑un (no “et”)

Don’t try to over‑generalize. Memorize these two forms as fixed chunks.

3) Hyphens are normal

Modern French writing uses hyphens heavily in numbers. They help you “see” the structure:

• soixante‑dix‑sept = 60‑10‑7
• quatre‑vingt‑dix‑neuf = 4‑20‑10‑9

If you’re learning, hyphens are your friend.

️ Pronunciation tips (so you sound natural)

1) Rhythm beats perfection

Say numbers in “blocks,” not as isolated words:

• soixante‑dix (one block)
• quatre‑vingt‑dix (one block)

2) Liaison (optional but common)

You may hear liaisons like:

• quatre‑vingt‑z‑un (some speakers)

Don’t stress if you don’t produce every liaison. Prioritize clarity first.

Regional variants (Belgium/Switzerland)

If you travel or watch French‑language content, you may hear simpler regional forms:

• 70 = septante (Belgium/Switzerland)
• 90 = nonante (Belgium/Switzerland)
• 80 = huitante (some parts of Switzerland) / octante (rare)

These are real and correct locally. But if your goal is standard French in France, the default is the soixante‑dix / quatre‑vingts / quatre‑vingt‑dix system.

Use‑it‑in‑real‑life examples

Numbers become easier when you attach them to situations:

• J’ai 82 ans. (I’m 82 years old.)
• Il coûte 79 euros. (It costs 79 euros.)
• Nous sommes en 1995. (We are in 1995.)
• Le train part à 8 h 10. (The train leaves at 8:10.)

Try reading those out loud slowly, then faster.

Listening tips (understanding fast speech)

When native speakers say these numbers quickly, the words can “blend.” Two tips help a lot:

1. Listen for the anchors: soixante, quatre‑vingt, dix.
   If you catch quatre‑vingt, you already know you’re in the 80s/90s. If you catch soixante, you’re in the 60s/70s.

2. Train the “teens” block (onze → dix‑neuf).
   Most confusion happens because 70s and 90s reuse the teen numbers. If you can instantly recognize quinze, seize, dix‑sept, dix‑huit, dix‑neuf, the whole system becomes easy.

Bonus: when reading phone numbers in France, people often group digits in pairs (e.g., quatre‑vingt‑douze for 92). Practice saying 70–99 as “two‑digit chunks” to build real‑world speed.

Practice (speed is the goal)

7‑day micro‑plan (5 minutes/day)

1. Day 1: Memorize 70, 80, 90 as anchor numbers.
2. Day 2: Drill 70–79 aloud (slow → fast).
3. Day 3: Drill 80–89 aloud (watch the missing s after 80).
4. Day 4: Drill 90–99 aloud.
5. Day 5: Practice prices: say 10 random amounts between 70–99.
6. Day 6: Practice ages and dates.
7. Day 7: Mix: generate 20 random numbers and say them without pausing.

Takeaway

Think 60 + teens for the 70s, 4×20 for 80, and 80 + teens for the 90s. Learn the two “gotchas” (the s in quatre‑vingts only for 80, and soixante‑et‑onze for 71), and you’ve essentially solved French 70–99.

Quick FAQ

Is septante “wrong”?

No. It’s standard in parts of Belgium and Switzerland. It’s just not the default in France.

Do I have to write hyphens?

In modern French, hyphens are strongly preferred and very common in published text. For learners, they also make the structure easier to see.