Approximate Numbers

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Nombres approximatifs

Approximate numbers are very useful for talking about generalities, making estimates, and just flat-out guessing. English only has one approximate number, content to use "about" in front of cardinal numbers any time a guess is required.

In contrast, French has about a dozen approximate numbers, most of them formed by adding the feminine suffix –aine to the cardinal number, some of which undergo a minor spelling change.

Approximate French numbers

	Cardinal	Approximate	Spelling	Notes
8	huit	une huitaine		Usually means "about a week"
10	dix	une dizaine	x to z
12	douze	une douzaine	e dropped	A dozen
15	quinze	une quinzaine	e dropped	Often means "about two weeks"
20	vingt	une vingtaine
30	trente	une trentaine	e dropped
40	quarante	une quarantaine	e dropped
50	cinquante	une cinquantaine	e dropped
60	soixante	une soixantaine	e dropped
100	cent	une centaine

The final approximate French number is completely different: un millier, meaning "about a thousand."

 Grammatically, approximate numbers are used like expressions of quantity: they are joined to the nouns they modify with the preposition de.

Par exemple…

une dizaine de livres		about 10 books
une trentaine de villes		about 30 towns
une centaine d’arbres		about a hundred trees
un millier de maisons		about a thousand houses

Some approximate numbers can be plural:

des dizaines de livres*		dozens of books*
des centaines d’arbres		hundreds of trees
des milliers de maisons		thousands of houses

 * Technically, dizaines means "tens," but idiomatically, in French we generally say dizaines while in English we say "dozens." However, if you’re using a specific number in front, then douzaine = dozen.

J’ai trois douzaines de stylos.

I have three dozen pens.

 Related lessons

• Expressions of quantity
• Preposition de

More French Numbers

• Cardinal numbers
• Fractions
• Multiplicative numbers
• Ordinal numbers
• Roman numerals

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