Approximate quantities · seven rules
1 · 1 · Give an estimate around a central number
In everyday estimates, these expressions give an approximate quantity. They leave the exact total open; there is no fixed numerical range.
Une dizaine de personnes attendent.About ten people are waiting.
Nous attendons une centaine de participants.We’re expecting about a hundred participants.
2 · 2 · Learn the quantity nouns as words
The common forms have distinct spellings. A quantity around twelve is une douzaine; around eighty is une quatre-vingtaine.
| une dizaine | about ten |
| une vingtaine | about twenty |
| une trentaine | about thirty |
| une quarantaine | about forty |
| une cinquantaine | about fifty |
| une soixantaine | about sixty |
| une centaine | about a hundred |
3 · 3 · Add de before the noun
Use de with the thing or people counted. It becomes d’ before a vowel sound: une dizaine d’inscriptions.
Il reste une vingtaine de places.There are about twenty places left.
Nous avons reçu une dizaine d’inscriptions.We’ve received about ten registrations.
4 · 4 · Exact numbers go straight before the noun
Compare the estimate with a checked total. Cardinal numbers such as dix, vingt and cent go directly before the counted noun.
Il y a une vingtaine de participants.There are about twenty participants.
Il y a exactement vingt participants.There are exactly twenty participants.
5 · 5 · The quantity noun is feminine
Keep une even when the people counted are masculine. The following noun keeps its own gender and normally has a plural form.
Une dizaine de collègues sont disponibles.About ten colleagues are available.
Il reste une centaine de jours.There are about a hundred days left.
6 · 6 · Use the plural for several tens or hundreds
Des dizaines de and des centaines de give a broad scale. They do not specify how many tens or hundreds.
Des dizaines de personnes ont répondu.Dozens of people replied.
Des centaines de messages sont arrivés.Hundreds of messages arrived.
7 · 7 · Environ gives another way to estimate
Environ goes with a cardinal number. Keep the cardinal pattern with no de before the counted noun.
Environ vingt personnes viendront.About twenty people will come.
Une vingtaine de personnes viendront.About twenty people will come.