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Numbers and Dates
It's only when you study foreign languages that you realise just how complicated your own language (English in this case) is.
Take for example the number: 1990. I can express it in numerous ways:
- one thousand nine hundred and ninety
- nineteen hundred and ninety
- nineteen ninety
- one nine nine zero
When we talk about dates, we tend to use option 3. as it's short and easy to comprehend. According to my limited knowledge of French, they used option 2. prior to the year 2000, and now they use option 1.
I think they use option 3. for French landlines (pairing the numbers), but I don't know how they cope with mobile phone numbers.
I would welcome some guidance on the use of the above when speaking French.
Thanks in anticipation.
B.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sylenes on
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Hello Billy,
We (French people) have two differents way to say a date.
For exemple 1900.
* dix-neuf cents ("cents" with "s" because, there is nothing after)
* mille neuf cents
It's more modern to say "mille neuf cents", but the two ways are correct.
1715:
* dix-sept cent quinze
* mille sept cent quinze ("cent" without "s" because after "cent" there is "quinze")
However, there is only one way to say the date from 2000
2000: deux mille (always "mille" without "s")
2015 : deux mille quinze
2003 : deux mille trois.
To give a telephone number:
Ex: 01 43 85 99 05
zéro un, quarante-trois, quatre-vingt-cinq, quatre-vingt-dix-neuf, zéro cinq.
Try to whrite me in French this number:
05 48 20 09 56
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