Learn French: Elle a dix-neuf livres et dix-huit cahiers.

Elle a dix-neuf livres et dix-huit cahiers.

She has 19 books and 18 notebooks.

Breakdown of Elle a dix-neuf livres et dix-huit cahiers.

Questions & Answers about Elle a dix-neuf livres et dix-huit cahiers.

Why are 18 and 19 written as dix-huit and dix-neuf instead of having their own single words?

In French, numbers from 11 to 16 have unique words (like onze, douze). But starting at 17, French uses simple math: 10 + 7 (dix-sept), 10 + 8 (dix-huit), and 10 + 9 (dix-neuf). You will use this exact same building-block rule to form larger numbers up to 100!

How is the "x" pronounced in dix-huit and dix-neuf?

In both of these compound numbers, the "x" sounds like a "z" (deez-weet, deez-nuff). This is because it links to the vowel sound or silent "h" that follows it. This is different from when the number 10 is on its own (dix), where the "x" sounds like an "s".

Is there a difference between a livre and a cahier?

Yes! A livre is a printed book that you read, like a novel or a textbook. A cahier is a notebook with blank or lined pages that you write in.

Do I pronounce the "t" in et to link it smoothly to dix-huit?

No. The "t" in et (meaning "and") is completely silent, and there is a strict rule in French that you never make a spoken link (a liaison) with it. It is always pronounced just like the English letter "A".