Get it Right: Nombre, Numéro or Chiffre?

You would be forgiven for using these two words in French and mixing them up. After all, people are kind and they appreciate our effort, especially if they understand anyway.

But what if you want to know more and to get it right?

Hop into the latest mini lesson and for ever more get it right, the easy way! 

Today, you will understand:

• What do Nombre, Numéro or Chiffre mean exactly?

• Some simple examples in action.

• How to make your learning memorable.

What does “numéro” mean?

We use it for naming numbers. Think about phone numbers. We talk about “numéro de téléphone”. By the way, in France phone numbers come by pairs like this: 01 55 89 76 53. 

• Mon numéro de téléphone contient huit chiffres. >>> My phone number contains eight digits.

The word numéro is also useful for house numbers. Here’s an example:

• J'habite au numéro 4. >>> I live at number 4.

When do you use the French word chiffre?

The translation of the word chiffre is digit. Imagine that the optometrist asks you to read the digits you see… 

This example will not only illustrate but it will help you distinguish numéro and chiffre:

• Mon numéro de téléphone contient huit chiffres. >>> My phone number contains eight digits.

What’s the difference between nombre, numéro and chiffre?

You have just seen chiffre. When it comes to nombre, basically it’s with at least 2 or more digits. In other words, it’s anything after 9!

• Cinq cents est un grand nombre. >>> Five hundred is a big number.

How to remember each one?

It’s all about hierarchy. Think of the family, then the subfamily, then the members within…

Here’s a way to put it:

• Les chiffres forment les nombres, comme les lettres forment des mots. >>> Digits form numbers, just like letters form words.

Hopefully, I did my job and things are clearer. What’s your favourite numéro et chiffre?

Here are some lessons on the subtleties of French:

BONJOUR or BONNE JOURNÉE: what’s the difference?

Time in French: fois vs temps