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To express approximations like "about twenty" or "a hundred or so," French uses a specific noun suffix.

### The Suffix "-aine"

Turn a number into a noun of approximation by adding the suffix **-aine**. If the base number ends in an *-e*, drop it first (for example, *trente* becomes *trentaine*). Note a small spelling change for *dix* (ten): its 'x' changes to a 'z' to become *dizaine*.

Because these estimators are nouns (literally meaning "a set of about X"), they are all feminine and used with **une**.

When you state what you are counting, you must connect the estimator to the noun using **de** or **d'**.

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This pattern works for exact tens up to sixty (*une quarantaine*, *une cinquantaine*, *une soixantaine*), as well as for a hundred (*une centaine*).

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### Thousands and Ranges

To say "about a thousand," the suffix pattern is not used. Instead, use the word **un millier**. Unlike the others, *millier* is masculine. It still requires **de** before a noun.

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When you need a wider estimate, you can easily pair two of these nouns together.

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Finally, even though words like *une soixantaine* already mean "about sixty," French speakers frequently add the adverb **environ** (approximately) to emphasize the estimate.

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Approximative numbers (-aine)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular 'to be' and indefinite articles (je suis un...)

Singular definite articles (le, la, l')

Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)

Feminine adjective agreement (+e)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (nous sommes, vous êtes)

Formal and informal you (tu vs. vous)

Plural nouns and indefinite articles (des... -s)

Plural definite articles (les)

Plural adjective agreement (+s)

Stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui)

The verb "to have" singular (j'ai, tu as, il a)

The verb "to have" plural (nous avons, vous avez, ils ont)

There is / there are (il y a)

Basic verbal negation (ne... pas)

Negating "there is" (il n'y a pas de)

Regular -er verbs singular (je parle, tu parles, il parle)

Regular -er verbs plural (nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent)

The verb "to be called" (s'appeler)

Yes/no questions with intonation (Tu parles ?)

Yes/no questions with "Est-ce que" (Est-ce que tu parles ?)

Informal questions (qui, que, quoi)

Standard questions (est-ce que)

Singular possessives (mon, ton, son)

Plural possessives (notre, votre, leur)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)

Adjective placement

Numbers 1 to 20

Numbers 21 to 100

Age and physical states (avoir)

The verb to go (aller)

The preposition to/at (à, au, aux)

Question word for location (où)

Prepositions for cities and countries (à, en, au, aux)

The verb to come (venir)

The preposition from/of (de, du, des)

Question word for origin (d'où)

The verb to do/make (faire)

Days of the week (lundi, mardi)

Telling time (il est... heure)

Question words for time (quand, à quelle heure)

The verb to take or have (prendre)

The verb to drink (boire)

Partitive articles (du, de la, de l')

Zero quantity (pas de)

Expressions of quantity (un peu de, beaucoup de)

Asking how much or how many (combien, combien de)

Very vs. a lot (très, beaucoup)

The verb to want (vouloir)

Polite requests (je voudrais)

The verb to be able to (pouvoir)

Obligation (devoir)

General obligation (il faut)

Why and because (pourquoi, parce que)

Expressing purpose (pour)

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous)

Daily routine verbs (se lever, s'habiller)

Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

Never (ne... jamais)

Regular -ir verbs (choisir, finir)

Regular -re verbs (attendre, répondre)

Irregular -ir verbs (sortir, partir, dormir)

Informal 'we' (on)

The imperative mood

Direct object pronouns (le, la, les, l')

The near future (aller + infinitive)

The recent past (venir de + infinitive)

The passé composé with avoir

Irregular past participles (eu, été, fait, pris, vu)

The passé composé with être

The negative passé composé (ne ... pas)

Saying goodbye

Please, sorry and thank you

Which / what (quel)

The indefinite adjective (tout, tous)

Irregular feminine adjectives (-euse, -ve)

Double consonant adjectives (-enne, -ette)

Feminine adjective endings (-ère, -trice)

Irregular plurals (-x)

Plurals ending in -al (-aux)

Present tense stem changes (e to è)

Accent stem changes (é to è)

Double consonant verbs (appeler, jeter)

Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Irregular communication verbs (dire, lire)

Irregular action verbs (écrire, mettre)

Question	Answer
to estimate	estimer
the set of about ten (f)	la dizaine
I estimate that there are about ten clients.	J'estime qu'il y a une dizaine de clients.
the set of about twenty (f)	la vingtaine
There are about twenty of them here.	Il y en a une vingtaine ici.
the set of about thirty (f)	la trentaine
We would like about thirty of them, please.	Nous en voudrions une trentaine, s'il vous plaît.
the set of about forty (f)	la quarantaine
I didn't see anyone with about forty bags.	Je n'ai vu personne avec une quarantaine de sacs.
the set of about fifty (f)	la cinquantaine
You estimate about fifty participants.	Vous estimez une cinquantaine de participants.
the set of about sixty (f)	la soixantaine
He sold about sixty cars.	Il a vendu une soixantaine de voitures.
the set of about a hundred (f)	la centaine
We spent nothing, not even about a hundred euros.	Nous n'avons rien dépensé, pas même une centaine d'euros.
the set of about a thousand (m)	le millier
About a thousand tourists would visit this monument.	Un millier de touristes visiteraient ce monument.
I need about ten or twenty boxes.	J'ai besoin d'une dizaine ou d'une vingtaine de boîtes.
There are about thirty or forty trees in the park.	Il y a une trentaine ou une quarantaine d'arbres dans le parc.
We are making about fifty or sixty cakes.	Nous faisons une cinquantaine ou une soixantaine de gâteaux.
It's not about a hundred projects, it's about a thousand!	Ce n'est pas une centaine de projets, c'est un millier !
approximately	environ
There are about a hundred customers.	Il y a environ une centaine de clients.
That costs about fifty euros.	Ça coûte environ une cinquantaine d'euros.
the million	le million
He won a million euros.	Il a gagné un million d'euros.
A million is a lot of money.	Un million, c'est beaucoup d'argent.
the dollar	le dollar
This book costs ten dollars.	Ce livre coûte dix dollars.
The dollar is stronger than the euro.	Le dollar est plus fort que l'euro.

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