You probably know that numéro is a common way to say 'number' in French. But did you know there are many other options, each used in a specific context?

Whether you're talking about a digit, a figure, a quantity, or your phone number, the French language has a precise word for it. Using the right term will make you sound much more like a native speaker.

Let's explore 9 essential ways to say 'number' in French and master how to use them correctly!

The 'number' as a mathematical concept or quantity – un nombre

The most direct and common way to say 'number' in French when referring to a mathematical value or quantity is un nombre.

Un nombre refers to the abstract concept of a number—a value used for counting, measuring, or labeling. Think of it as the answer to 'how many?' or any figure you'd use in a calculation, like 7, 42, or 3.14.

It's important to remember that nombre is a masculine noun. Therefore, you'll always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as un nombre (a number), le nombre (the number), or des nombres (numbers).

A common point of confusion is the difference between un nombre and un chiffre. A chiffre is a digit or numeral—one of the ten symbols (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) used to write numbers. For example, the number 157 (le nombre cent cinquante-sept) is composed of three digits (trois chiffres): 1, 5, and 7.

Similarly, un nombre is different from un numéro. A numéro is a number used as an identifier or label in a sequence, such as a phone number (un numéro de téléphone), a house number (un numéro de rue), or a ticket number (un numéro de billet). You don't perform mathematical calculations with a numéro.

Here's an easy way to remember the difference:

• Use un nombre for math, quantities, and abstract values.
• Use un chiffre for the individual symbols 0-9.
• Use un numéro for identification codes and labels (phone, address, etc.).

💡 * Sept est mon nombre préféré. (Seven is my favorite number.)

• Le nombre de participants a augmenté cette année. (The number of participants increased this year.)
• Trois est un nombre impair. (Three is an odd number.)
• Un grand nombre de personnes sont venues. (A large number of people came.)
• Pouvez-vous écrire ce nombre en chiffres ? (Can you write this number in digits?)

The 'number' for identification (phone, street, etc.) – un numéro

The 'number' for identification (phone, street, etc.) – un numéro

When a number is used as a label, an identifier, or part of a sequence, the correct French word is un numéro. This is the key term for things like phone numbers, street numbers, and ticket numbers.

It's crucial not to confuse un numéro with un nombre. While both mean 'number', un nombre refers to a mathematical value or a quantity you can count. For example, you would say le nombre d'étudiants (the number of students), but mon numéro de téléphone (my phone number).

You will encounter un numéro constantly in daily life. It's used for your phone number (numéro de téléphone), your house number (numéro de rue), your flight number (numéro de vol), and even the size of your shoes (numéro de chaussure or pointure).

Remember that un numéro is a masculine noun. In written French, it is often abbreviated to n°. For example, you might see an address written as n° 24 Rue de la Paix.

💡 * Quel est votre numéro de téléphone ? (What is your phone number?)

• J'habite au numéro 42 de cette rue. (I live at number 42 on this street.)
• Veuillez prendre un numéro et attendre d'être appelé. (Please take a number and wait to be called.)
• Le numéro de série est au dos de l'appareil. (The serial number is on the back of the device.)

The 'digit' or 'figure' (0-9) – un chiffre

When talking about numbers in French, it's crucial to distinguish between a number and a digit. The French word for a single digit (0 through 9) is un chiffre.

Un chiffre refers to the individual symbol or character used to write a number. Just like in English, there are ten digits in the decimal system: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

The most common point of confusion is the difference between un chiffre (a digit) and un nombre (a number). A nombre is the abstract concept of a quantity, while a chiffre is the symbol used to represent it. A number is made up of one or more digits.

A great way to remember the difference is to use this analogy: A chiffre is to a nombre what a lettre (letter) is to a mot (word). Letters are the building blocks of words, just as digits are the building blocks of numbers.

For example, 582 is un nombre (one number). This number is composed of trois chiffres (three digits): the digit 5, the digit 8, and the digit 2.

The word chiffre is also used in the business context in the expression le chiffre d'affaires, which means 'revenue' or 'turnover'.

💡 * Mon code de carte bancaire a quatre chiffres. (My bank card PIN has four digits.)

• Le nombre 27 est composé des chiffres 2 et 7. (The number 27 is composed of the digits 2 and 7.)
• Peux-tu écrire ce nombre en chiffres, s'il te plaît ? (Can you write this number in figures, please?)
• Le chiffre d'affaires de l'entreprise a augmenté de 10%. (The company's revenue increased by 10%.)

1. The 'size' for clothing – une taille

The primary French word for clothing 'size' is une taille. This is the term you'll encounter most frequently when shopping for apparel in France.

Pronounced roughly as [ta-yuh], taille is a feminine noun. Therefore, you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as la taille (the size) or une petite taille (a small size).

When asking a salesperson for a specific size, you can say, 'Vous avez cette robe en taille 40 ?' (Do you have this dress in a size 40?). To state your own size, you would say, 'Je fais du 38' or 'Je fais une taille 38' (I wear a size 38).

Crucially, une taille is used for clothing. For shoe sizes, the correct term is une pointure. For example, you would ask, 'Quelle est votre pointure ?' (What is your shoe size?), not 'Quelle est votre taille ?' in a shoe store.

💡 * Quelle est votre taille ? (What is your size?)

• Je cherche ce jean en taille 32. (I'm looking for these jeans in a size 32.)
• Malheureusement, nous n'avons plus votre taille. (Unfortunately, we no longer have your size.)
• Cette chemise est à la bonne taille. (This shirt is the right size.)

1. The 'size' for shoes – une pointure

The 'size' for shoes – une pointure

While une taille is the general French word for size (for clothes, for example), the specific term for shoe size is une pointure. Remember that it is a feminine noun.

In a store, you can ask, Quelle est votre pointure ? (What is your shoe size?). To state your size, you use the verb faire, for example, Je fais du 40. (I wear a size 40).

The construction faire du + (number) is the standard way to talk about your shoe size. This is a key difference from English where we typically use the verb 'to be' or 'to wear'.

Interestingly, une pointure also has a figurative meaning. It can refer to an expert or a 'big shot' in a particular field. For instance, C'est une pointure en neurochirurgie means 'He/She is a top expert in neurosurgery.'

💡 * Quelle est votre pointure, s'il vous plaît ? (What is your shoe size, please?)

• Je cherche ces bottes en pointure 38. (I'm looking for these boots in a size 38.)
• Malheureusement, nous n'avons plus cette pointure en stock. (Unfortunately, we don't have that size in stock anymore.)
• Mon avocat est une vraie pointure, il gagne tous ses procès. (My lawyer is a real big shot, he wins all his cases.)

The 'score' in a game – le score

When talking about the points in a game or a match, the French use a word you'll find very familiar: le score. It's a direct borrowing from English and is the most common way to refer to the score in sports, video games, and board games.

Le score is a masculine noun, so it's always used with 'le' or 'un'. The most common question you'll hear is, Quel est le score ? (What's the score?). It's universally understood in France in any context involving points.

While le score is the noun for the result, the verb for the action of scoring is marquer. For example, L'équipe a marqué un point means 'The team scored a point.' So, marquer is the action, and le score is the resulting tally.

In some official or more technical contexts, you might see the word le pointage. It refers more to the act of scorekeeping or the final tally sheet. However, for everyday conversation about the score of a game, le score is the word you'll almost always use and hear.

💡 * Quel est le score du match ? (What's the score of the game?)

• Le score est de trois à deux pour Paris. (The score is three to two for Paris.)
• L'arbitre a annoncé le score final. (The referee announced the final score.)
• Il est difficile de suivre le score avec autant de points. (It's hard to keep track of the score with so many points.)

The 'total' or 'count' – le compte

The 'total' or 'count' – le compte

The noun le compte refers to a total, a tally, or the result of a calculation. It comes from the verb compter (to count). It's commonly used when asking for the bill at a restaurant, referring to a bank account (un compte en banque), or simply to mean 'the count' of something.

This word is always masculine, so you will always use le or un before it. For example, le compte est bon (the count is correct).

💡 * Garçon, le compte, s'il vous plaît ! (Waiter, the bill, please!)

• J'ai perdu le compte du nombre de livres que j'ai lus cette année. (I've lost count of the number of books I've read this year.)
• Le compte est bon, nous pouvons y aller. (The count is correct, we can go.)
• Pouvez-vous vérifier le solde de mon compte en banque ? (Can you check the balance of my bank account?)

The 'issue' of a magazine – un numéro

The 'issue' of a magazine – un numéro

In French, the word for a specific edition of a periodical like a magazine or journal is un numéro. While it directly translates to 'number,' in this context it means 'issue.' This is a common faux ami (false friend) for English speakers who might expect a different word.

Context is crucial. Un numéro de téléphone is a 'phone number,' but le numéro de Vogue is 'the issue of Vogue.' You would not use a word like problème (problem) to refer to a magazine issue.

A key phrase to know is le dernier numéro, which means 'the latest issue.' You can also refer to issues by date, such as le numéro d'avril (the April issue).

💡 * As-tu lu le dernier numéro de ce magazine ? (Have you read the latest issue of this magazine?)

• Je cherche le numéro de septembre de cette revue de mode. (I'm looking for the September issue of this fashion magazine.)
• Cet article est paru dans le numéro 42. (This article appeared in issue number 42.)

The 'act' or 'routine' in a show – un numéro

While un numéro literally translates to 'a number,' in the world of entertainment, it refers to an act, a routine, or a performance piece within a larger show. Think of it as a specific, self-contained segment, like a single performance in a variety show or circus.

This term is widely used in contexts like the circus (un numéro de clown - a clown act), magic shows (un numéro de magie - a magic act), or dance performances (un numéro de danse - a dance routine). It perfectly describes one part of a larger spectacle (show).

Figuratively, un numéro can also describe someone's dramatic or attention-seeking behavior. The expression faire son numéro means 'to put on an act' or 'to show off.' If someone is being overly dramatic, you might hear a French person say, Arrête ton numéro! which means 'Stop your act!' or 'Cut it out!'

💡 * Le prochain numéro est un duo de trapézistes. (The next act is a trapeze duo.)

• Elle a préparé un numéro de chant pour le spectacle de ce soir. (She prepared a singing act for tonight's show.)
• Son numéro de comédie a fait rire tout le public. (His comedy routine made the entire audience laugh.)
• Arrête ton numéro, personne ne te croit ! (Stop your act, nobody believes you!)

Are there other ways to say 'number' in French?

Are there other ways to say “number” in French?

Our guide has covered the most essential words for 'number' in French, especially the crucial difference between nombre and numéro. However, French also has more specific vocabulary for figures, digits, and quantities that you'll encounter in different contexts.

To expand your vocabulary, you can do an online search for specific fields, like “vocabulaire mathématique en français” or “comment lire les statistiques en français”.

The key to mastering these words is context. When you see a number in a French text, ask yourself: Is it counting something (nombre), identifying something (numéro), or is it a single digit (chiffre)? This simple check will solidify your understanding.

Pay attention to how numbers appear in real French materials—from recipes and price tags to addresses and news headlines. This real-world practice is the best way to make the rules feel second nature.

If you want to explore more examples or related terms, the WordReference forum for the word nombre is a fantastic place to see how native speakers discuss these nuances.

We hope this article has helped you count on your French skills with more confidence. Getting these details right is a sign of a truly advanced learner. Keep practicing, and it will soon be as easy as un, deux, trois!