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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
More French Numbers
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Is your French as rusty as an old can? Did you live in France years ago or study it in high school—and promptly forget everything upon leaving? The fact is that language ability fades with lack of practice. If you used to know French but haven’t spoken it in years or decades, the bad news is that it probably won’t come rushing back all at once. But the good news is that you can relearn it much more quickly than if you were starting out without that previous knowledge.
N’importe literally means “no matter” or “(it) doesn’t matter.” This indefinite expression can precede an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun when talking about something indefinite or non-specific.