Pronunciation of numbers from 1 to 10 in French
Updated: June 11, 2022 by Mylene in Pronunciation LessonsArray ▪
It’s common for French-language beginners to fall into the trap of the tricky pronunciation of French numbers. In fact, there are various cases where the pronunciation of numbers in French changes. In some cases, the final consonant of the numbers is pronounced, in other cases, the liaison is made with the word that follows, and sometimes even this last consonant is not pronounced. Numbers can be used as determiners, nouns, or pronouns, which explains the different pronunciations. In this article, you will learn the pronunciation of the numbers from one to ten according to their place in the sentence.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to pronounce un
- How to pronounce deux
- How to pronounce trois
- How to pronounce quatre
- How to pronounce cinq
- How to pronounce six
- How to pronounce sept
- How to pronounce huit
- How to pronounce neuf
- How to pronounce dix
Pronouncing French numbers
To begin, watch this video to learn the correct pronunciation of the numbers in French.
How to pronounce un?
The number “un” is pronounced /ɛ̃/.
When the number un is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- un is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is liaison. The letter n is pronounced /n/. For example, un abricot is pronounced /ɛ̃.na.bʁi.ko/.
- un is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. For instance, un citron is pronounced /ɛ̃.si.trɔ̃/ .
In all other cases, “un” is pronounced /ɛ̃/.
How to pronounce deux?
The number “deux” is pronounced/dø/.
When the number deux is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- deux is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter x is pronounced /z/. For example, deux abricots is pronounced /dø.za.bʁi.ko/.
- deux is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. In this case, deux citrons is pronounced /dø.si.trɔ̃/.
In all other cases “deux” is pronounced /dø/.
How to pronounce trois?
The number “trois” is pronounced /tʁwa/.
When the number trois is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- trois is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter s is pronounced /z/. Trois abricots is pronounced /tʁwa.za.bʁi.ko/.
- trois is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. Trois citrons is pronounced /tʁwa.si.trɔ̃/ .
In all other cases “trois” is pronounced /trwa/.
How to pronounce quatre?
The number “quatre” is pronounced /katʁ/.
When the number quatre is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- quatre is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchainement. For example, quatre abricots is pronounced /ka tʁa.bʁi.ko/.
- quatre is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. For example, quatre citrons is pronounced /katʁ.si.trɔ̃/ .
The enchainement connects a consonant always pronounced with the vowel of the word that follows.
In all other cases “quatre” is pronounced /katʁ/.
In everyday life, French speakers will not pronounce the letters RE.
How to pronounce cinq?
The number “cinq” is pronounced /sɛ̃k/.
When the number cinq is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- cinq is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchaînement. Cinq abricots is pronounced /sɛ̃.ka.bʁi.ko/.
- cinq is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. Cinq citrons is pronounced /sɛ̃k.si.trɔ̃/.
In all other cases “cinq” is pronounced /sɛ̃k/.
How to pronounce six?
The number “six” is pronounced /sis/.
When the number six is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- six is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter x is pronounced /z/. For example, six abricots is pronounced /si.za.bʁi.ko/.
- six is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the lettre x is mute. For example, six pommes is pronounced /si.pɔm/.
In all other cases “six” is pronounced /sis/.
How to pronounce sept?
The number “sept” is pronounced /sɛt/.
When the number sept is a determiner, three pronunciations are possible:
- sept is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchaînement. Sept abricots is pronounced /sɛ.ta.bʁi.ko/.
- sept is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. Sept pommes is pronounced /sɛt.pɔm/.
- sept is followed by a noun beginning with the consonant /d/: an assimilation can be performed. For example :
- if we speak slowly, we will say “sept doigts”, the consonant “t” of the word “sept” is pronounced. “Sept doigts” is pronounced /sɛt.dwa/.
- if we speak quickly, an assimilation is possible, the consonant “t” is influenced by the sound of the consonant “d”. In this case, the consonant “t” is pronounced “d”. “Sept doigts” is pronounced /sɛ.d:wa/.
Assimilation can occur when a voiceless consonant is directly next to a voiced consonant. Assimilation is a natural phenomenon.
In all other cases “sept” is pronounced /sɛt/.
How to pronounce huit?
The number “huit” is pronounced /ɥit/.
The lettre h is an aspirated h. The letter h is not pronounced, there is no liaison et no elision. You can learn the two types of H in the following article.
When the number huit is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- huit is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchaînement. Huit abricots is pronounced /ɥi.ta.bʁi.ko/.
- huit is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the letter t is mute. Huit pommes is pronounced /ɥi.pɔm/.
In all other cases “huit” is pronounced /ɥit/.
How to pronounce neuf?
The number “neuf” is pronounced /nœf/.
When the number neuf is a determiner, three pronunciations are possible:
- neuf is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchaînement.
- neuf abricots is pronounced /nœ.fa.bʁi.ko/
- neuf is followed by the noun “heure” or “an”: there is a liaison. The lettre f is pronounced /v/.
- neuf ans is pronounced /nœ.vɑ̃/
- neuf heures is pronounced /nœ.vœr/
- neuf is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the letter f is pronounced.
- neuf pommes is pronounced /nœf.pɔm/
In all other cases “neuf” is pronounced /nœf/.
How to pronounce dix?
The number “dix” is pronounced /dis/.
When the number dix is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible:
- dix is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter x is pronounced /z/. Dix abricots is pronounced /di.za.bʁi.ko/.
- dix is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the lettre x is mute. Dix pommes is pronounced /di.pɔm/.
In all other cases “dix” is pronounced /dis/.
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Learning the pronunciation on your own can be very difficult. You need someone to explain to you where your mistakes are. This video is very educational but to overcome all your French pronunciation difficulties book a study session to receive personalized advice.
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