French grammar
Cent, cents, mille : les grands nombres
Say and understand big amounts of money.
From the scene Mille deux cents euros (One thousand two hundred euros)
In short
Cent takes -s when multiplied and no number follows: deux cents, but deux cent vingt. Mille never changes and needs no un.
Your turn
Which one goes with four thousand five hundred euros?
Options: mille deux cents · deux cents assiettes · quatre mille cinq cents euros
Show answer
four thousand five hundred euros → quatre mille cinq cents euros
How it works
Cent takes an -s when it is multiplied and nothing comes after it: deux cents assiettes, quatre mille cinq cents euros.
Good to know
When another number follows, the -s goes: deux cent vingt. Mille never takes an -s, and there is no un in front of it: mille deux cents.
Good to know
A hundred and twenty is just cent vingt, with no et.
one thousand two hundred mille deux cents
Nuria
Non. Ici, je gagne mille deux cents. Pratiquement le minimum.
No. Here I earn one thousand two hundred. Practically the minimum.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non. Ici, je gagne (blank). Pratiquement le minimum.
Options: mille deux cents · quatre mille cinq cents euros · deux cents assiettes
Show answer
Nuria
Non. Ici, je gagne mille deux cents. Pratiquement le minimum.
No. Here I earn one thousand two hundred. Practically the minimum.
four thousand five hundred euros quatre mille cinq cents euros
Nuria
Javi, regarde : virement de vendredi, quatre mille cinq cents euros.
Javi, look: Friday’s payment, four thousand five hundred euros.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Javi, regarde : virement de vendredi, (blank).
Options: deux cents assiettes · quatre mille cinq cents euros · mille deux cents
Show answer
Nuria
Javi, regarde : virement de vendredi, quatre mille cinq cents euros.
Javi, look: Friday’s payment, four thousand five hundred euros.
two hundred plates deux cents assiettes
Nuria
Une centaine de personnes, deux cents assiettes, cent vingt bouteilles...
About a hundred people, two hundred plates, a hundred and twenty bottles...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Une centaine de personnes, (blank), cent vingt bouteilles...
Options: quatre mille cinq cents euros · deux cents assiettes · mille deux cents
Show answer
Nuria
Une centaine de personnes, deux cents assiettes, cent vingt bouteilles...
About a hundred people, two hundred plates, a hundred and twenty bottles...
a hundred and twenty bottles cent vingt bouteilles
Nuria
Une centaine de personnes, deux cents assiettes, cent vingt bouteilles...
About a hundred people, two hundred plates, a hundred and twenty bottles...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Une centaine de personnes, deux cents assiettes, (blank)...
Options: quatre mille cinq cents euros · cent vingt bouteilles · mille deux cents
Show answer
Nuria
Une centaine de personnes, deux cents assiettes, cent vingt bouteilles...
About a hundred people, two hundred plates, a hundred and twenty bottles...
one thousand seven hundred pesetas mille sept cents pesetas
Elena
Mon premier salaire : mille sept cents pesetas. Une fortune !
My first wages: one thousand seven hundred pesetas. A fortune!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mon premier salaire : (blank). Une fortune !
Options: quatre mille cinq cents euros · mille sept cents pesetas · mille deux cents
Show answer
Elena
Mon premier salaire : mille sept cents pesetas. Une fortune !
My first wages: one thousand seven hundred pesetas. A fortune!
Common mistake
Not cent or centaines here. Five hundred, with no number after it.
Javi, regarde : virement de vendredi, quatre mille cinq cents euros.
Javi, look: Friday’s payment, four thousand five hundred euros.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| one thousand two hundred | mille deux cents |
|---|---|
| four thousand five hundred euros | quatre mille cinq cents euros |
| two hundred plates | deux cents assiettes |
| a hundred and twenty bottles | cent vingt bouteilles |
| one thousand seven hundred pesetas | mille sept cents pesetas |
More lines from the story
- ElenaTrès économique ! Environ quarante-quatre euros par personne.Very cheap! About forty-four euros a head.
- JaviMoi. Mais un ordinateur ne fait pas d'erreurs.Me. But a computer doesn’t make mistakes.