Saying years in French

Two ways to say the same year

1996 can be said two ways, and both are correct: build it as one number,mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-seize ("a thousand, nine hundred, ninety-six"), or split it like English does, into two two-digit groups,dix-neuf cent quatre-vingt-seize ("nineteen hundred, ninety-six"). The drill asks for the first form because it is the one every French exam and official document uses; the reveal panel and the table below also show the second, since you will hear it constantly in conversation.

Years from 2000 onward only use the first pattern — nobody says 2024 as two 20s the way English says "twenty twenty-four". It is simply deux mille vingt-quatre, "two thousand twenty-four".

The full list

86 years, 1950 to 2035 — enough to cover most learners' date of birth and a landing date in the near future.

Word list last updated 2026-07-26.

Keep going

• Numbers, dates and time (full lesson)A1
• Practise plain numbers, 0 to 1000Game
• Practise telling timeGame