Why Are English Numbers Important?

Numbers are a basic part of speaking English every day. They help you understand and share important information.

• You can tell people how old you are.
• You can give your phone number.
• You can ask about or say the price of something.
• You can talk about how many things you have.
• You can understand the time or dates.

Numbers 1 to 10: The Basics

These are the first numbers you need to learn. They are unique words.

• 1 – one
• 2 – two
• 3 – three
• 4 – four
• 5 – five
• 6 – six
• 7 – seven
• 8 – eight
• 9 – nine
• 10 – ten

Numbers 11 to 20: Special Words

These numbers also have special words. Many of them end with -teen.

• 11 – eleven
• 12 – twelve
• 13 – thirteen
• 14 – fourteen
• 15 – fifteen
• 16 – sixteen
• 17 – seventeen
• 18 – eighteen
• 19 – nineteen
• 20 – twenty

The ‘Tens’: 20, 30, 40, and More

After twenty, the numbers for the tens usually end with -ty. These are important for building bigger numbers.

• 20 – twenty
• 30 – thirty
• 40 – forty
• 50 – fifty
• 60 – sixty
• 70 – seventy
• 80 – eighty
• 90 – ninety
• 100 – one hundred

How to Say Numbers Like 21 or 55

To make numbers like twenty-one, you combine the ‘tens’ word with a number from one to nine. Always use a hyphen (–) between them when you write them.

• 20 + 1 = twenty-one
• 30 + 5 = thirty-five
• 40 + 8 = forty-eight
• 50 + 2 = fifty-two
• 60 + 7 = sixty-seven
• 70 + 3 = seventy-three
• 80 + 9 = eighty-nine
• 90 + 4 = ninety-four

Tips for Remembering English Numbers

Learning numbers takes practice. Here are some simple tips:

• Listen and Repeat: Say the numbers aloud many times.
• Count Objects: Count things around you in English. For example, one book, two pens, three chairs.
• Practice Phone Numbers: Say your own phone number or a friend’s in English.
• Look for Patterns: Notice how -teen et -ty numbers are different.

Exemples

• I have one cat.
• She is ten years old.
• There are twelve students in the class.
• My phone number is five-five-five-two-three-four-seven.
• The shirt costs twenty dollars.
• He has thirty-one books.
• There are sixty minutes in an hour.
• I need one hundred points to win.

Entraînement

Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Many Spanish speakers confuse numbers that sound similar, especially those ending in -teen et -ty.

• Thirteen vs. Thirty: Thirteen (13) has stress on the ‘teen’ part. Thirty (30) has stress on the first part. Listen carefully to the difference.
• Fourteen vs. Forty: Similar to above, the stress helps you understand. Also, forty (40) does not have the ‘u’ like four (4) or fourteen (14).
• Pronunciation of ‘th’: Les th sound in numbers like three, thirteen, et thirty can be tricky. Practice making the sound by putting your tongue between your teeth.

Questions fréquemment posées

Why is it important to learn numbers in English?

Learning numbers helps you communicate basic information like your age, phone number, prices, and time in English. It’s essential for everyday conversations.

Are English numbers 1-100 difficult to learn?

No, they are not difficult! They follow clear patterns. Once you learn the basic numbers and the ‘tens’, you can combine them to make almost any number up to one hundred.

How can I practice English numbers?

The best way to practice is to listen to numbers and repeat them. Try counting objects around you, saying phone numbers, or even counting steps in English. Regular practice makes it easy!

Do I need to use ‘and’ in numbers like ‘one hundred and one’?

For numbers 1-100, you will mostly just say the number. For example, one hundred. When you learn numbers above one hundred, like 101, you might hear one hundred and one, but for now, focus on 1-100.