The pronunciation of numbers with cent in French

January 8, 2024 by Mylene in How to Pronounce ▪

Number pronunciation in French can be tricky. Sometimes, you must pronounce the last consonant, while other times, the last consonant is silent. Additionally, if the digit is inside a number (huit-cent for example) or at the end of a number (cent-huit for example), the pronunciation may change. In this article, you will learn the pronunciation of numbers from one hundred to one thousand, depending on their place in the sentence.

In this guide, you’ll uncover the nuances of French number pronunciation:

How to pronounce cent
How to pronounce cent-un
How to pronounce deux-cent-deux
How to pronounce trois-cent-trois
How to pronounce quatre-cent-quatre
How to pronounce cinq-cent-cinq
How to pronounce six-cent-six
How to pronounce sept-cent-sept
How to pronounce huit-cent-huit
How to pronounce neuf-cent-neuf
How to pronounce cent-dix

Pronouncing French Numbers

To begin, watch this YouTube video to learn the correct pronunciation of the numbers in French.

How to pronounce cent?

The number« cent » is pronounced /sɑ̃/.

When the number cent is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

cent is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel. There is a liaison, you have to pronounce the /t/ sound. For example, cent invités is pronounced /sɑ̃.tɛ̃.vi.te/.
cent is followed directly by a noun that begins with a consonant, indicating that there is no change. For example, cent gâteaux is pronounced /sɑ̃.ga.to/

In all other cases,« cent » is pronounced /sɑ̃/.

How to pronounce cent-un?

The number« cent-un » is pronounced /sɑ̃.ɛ̃/.

When the number cent-un is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

cent-un is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. In this case, the letter n is pronounced /n/. Cent-un invités is pronounced /sɑ̃.ɛ̃.nɛ̃.vi.te/.
cent-un is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. For example, cent-un gâteaux is pronounced /sɑ̃.ɛ̃.ga.to/.

In all other cases, « cent-un » is pronounced /sɑ̃.ɛ̃/.

You should never pronounce the “t” in the word “cent” when it is inside a number. For example, the “t” is silent in the following numbers:

Cent-onze is pronounced /sɑ̃.ɔ̃z/.
Deux-cent-un is pronounced /dø.sɑ̃.ɛ̃/.

How to pronounce deux-cent-deux?

The number« deux-cent-deux » is pronounced /dø.sɑ̃.dø/.

When the number deux-cent-deux is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

deux-cent-deux is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. In this case, the letter x is pronounced /z/, for example, deux-cent-deux invités is pronounced /dø.sɑ̃.dø.zɛ̃.vi.te/
deux-cent-deux is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. For example, deux-cent-deux gâteaux is pronounced /dø.sɑ̃.dø.ga.to/.

In all other cases,« deux-cent-deux » is pronounced /dø.sɑ̃.dø/.

How to pronounce trois-cent-trois?

The number« trois-cent-trois » is pronounced /tʁwa.sɑ̃.tʁwa/.

There are two possible pronunciations for the number trois-cent-trois.

trois-cent-trois is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter s is pronounced /z/. Trois-cent-trois invités is pronounced /tʁwa.sɑ̃.tʁwa.zɛ̃.vi.te/.
Trois-cent-trois is followed by a noun that begins with a consonant. There is no change. Trois-cent-trois gâteaux is pronounced /tʁwa.sɑ̃.tʁwa.ga.to/.

All other cases have« trois-cent-trois » pronounced /tʁwa.sɑ̃.tʁwa/.

How to pronounce quatre-cent-quatre?

The number« quatre-cent-quatre » is pronounced /katʁ.sɑ̃.katʁ/.

When the number quatre-cent-quatre is a determiner, three pronunciations are possible:

quatre-cent-quatre is followed by a noun that starts with a vowel: pronounce the enchaînement. Quatre-cent-quatre invités is pronounced /katʁ.sɑ̃.ka.tʁɛ̃.vi.te/.
quatre-cent-quatre is immediately followed by a noun that begins with a consonant, indicating that there is no modification. For example, quatre-cent-quatre gâteaux is pronounced /katʁ.sɑ̃.katʁ.ga.to/.
When we speak quickly, we will naturally delete “re” at the end of a word before a consonant. We can therefore say: /kat.sɑ̃.kat.ga.to/.

Please note that the enchainement connects a consonant always pronounced with the vowel of the word that follows.

In all other cases,« quatre-cent-quatre » is pronounced /katʁ.sɑ̃.katʁ/.

How to pronounce cinq-cent-cinq?

The number« cinq-cent-cinq » is pronounced /sɛ̃.sɑ̃.sɛ̃k/.

When the number cinq-cent-cinq is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

cinq-cent-cinq is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchainement. Cinq-cent-cinq invités is pronounced /sɛ̃.sɑ̃.sɛ̃.kɛ̃.vi.te/.
cinq-cent-cinq is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. For example, cinq-cent-cinq gâteaux is pronounced /sɛ̃.sɑ̃.sɛ̃k.ga.to/.

In all other situations,« cinq-cent-cinq » is pronounced /sɛ̃.sɑ̃.sɛ̃k/.

How to pronounce six-cent-six?

The number« six-cent-six » is pronounced /si.sɑ̃.sis/.

When the number six-cent-six is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

six-cent-six is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is a liaison. The letter x is pronounced /z/. Six-cent-six invités is pronounced /si.sɑ̃.si.zɛ̃.vi.te/.
six-cent-six is followed directly by a noun that starts with a consonant: the letter x is silent. Six-cent-six gâteaux is pronounced /si.sɑ̃.si.ga.to/.

In all other cases,« six-cent-six » is pronounced /si.sɑ̃.sis/.

How to pronounce sept-cent-sept?

The number« sept-cent-sept » is pronounced /sɛt.sɑ̃.sɛt/.

When the number sept-cent-sept is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

sept-cent-sept is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchaînement. Sept-cent-sept invités is pronounced /sɛt.sɑ̃.sɛ.tɛ̃.vi.te/.
sept-cent-sept is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. Sept-cent-sept gâteaux is pronounced /sɛt.sɑ̃.sɛt.ga.to/.

In all other instances,« sept-cent-sept » is pronounced /sɛt.sɑ̃.sɛt/.

How to pronounce huit-cent-huit?

The number« huit-cent-huit » is pronounced /ɥi.sɑ̃.ɥit/.

When the number huit-cent-huit is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

A vowel-based noun follows huit-cent-huit, indicating an enchaînement. Huit-cent-huit invités is pronounced /ɥi.sɑ̃.ɥi.tɛ̃.vi.te/.
huit-cent-huit is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the letter t is silent. Huit-cent-huit gâteaux is pronounced /ɥi.sɑ̃.ɥi.ga.to/.

In all other cases,« huit-cent-huit » is pronounced /ɥi.sɑ̃.ɥit/.

How to pronounce neuf-cent-neuf?

The number« neuf-cent-neuf » is pronounced /nœf.sɑ̃.nœf/.

When the number neuf-cent-neuf is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

neuf-cent-neuf is followed directly by a noun starting with a vowel: there is an enchainement. In this case, the letter f is pronounced /f/. Neuf-cent-neuf invités is pronounced /nœf.sɑ̃.nœ.fɛ̃.vi.te/.
neuf-cent-neuf is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: there is no change. Neuf-cent-neuf gâteaux is pronounced /nœf.sɑ̃.nœf.ga.to/.

In all other cases,« neuf-cent-neuf » is pronounced /nœf.sɑ̃.nœf/.

How to pronounce cent-dix?

The number« cent-dix » is pronounced /sɑ̃.dis/.

When the number cent-dix is a determiner, two pronunciations are possible :

cent-dix is immediately followed by a noun that begins with a vowel, indicating that there exists a liaison. In this case, the letter x is pronounced /z/. Cent-dix invités is pronounced /sɑ̃.di.zɛ̃.vi.te/.
cent-dix is followed directly by a noun starting with a consonant: the letter x is silent. Cent-dix gâteaux is pronounced /sɑ̃.di.ga.to/.

In all other cases,« cent-dix » is pronounced /sɑ̃.dis/.

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