Mastering the art of saying numbers in French can significantly enhance your language skills, especially when it comes to expressing quantities, ages, or counting objects. The number 40 is a fundamental number that you might need to express in various contexts. In French, saying “40” can be done in several ways, depending on the situation, the level of formality, and the context in which it is used. Below, we explore 12+ ways to express “40” in French fluently, ensuring you can communicate effectively in different scenarios.
1. Basic Expression: Quarante
- Quarante is the direct translation of “40” in French. You can use it in most contexts, such as counting, ages, or quantities.
- Example: “J’ai quarante livres dans ma bibliothèque.” (“I have 40 books in my library.”)
2. Idiomatic Expressions
- French often uses idiomatic expressions that include numbers. For “40,” one common expression is quarante degrés à l’ombre, meaning “extremely hot” (literally, “40 degrees in the shade”), but this is more about the temperature than the number itself.
- Example: “Il fait quarante degrés à l’ombre aujourd’hui.” (“It’s extremely hot today.”)
3. Ages
- When talking about age, you simply use quarante followed by ans for “years old.”
- Example: “Il a quarante ans.” (“He is 40 years old.”)
4. Quantities
- For quantities, quarante can be used directly.
- Example: “J’ai mangé quarante biscuits hier.” (“I ate 40 biscuits yesterday.”)
5. Percentages
- To express 40% in French, you say quarante pour cent.
- Example: “Il a obtenu quarante pour cent aux examens.” (“He got 40% on the exams.”)
6. Fractions
- For fractions, quarante can be part of a fraction like quarante cinquièmes, meaning 40⁄55.
- Example: “J’ai mangé quarante cinquièmes de la tarte.” (“I ate 40⁄55 of the pie.”)
7. Decimals
- To express 40 in decimals, such as 40.5, you would say quarante virgule cinq.
- Example: “La température est de quarante virgule cinq degrés.” (“The temperature is 40.5 degrees.”)
8. Times and Schedules
- When expressing times or schedules, quarante can be used to describe minutes past the hour.
- Example: “Il est quarante minutes passé midi.” (“It is 40 minutes past noon.”)
9. Measurement
- In measurements, quarante can be used with units like kilometers, meters, etc.
- Example: “J’ai couru quarante kilomètres aujourd’hui.” (“I ran 40 kilometers today.”)
10. Mathematical Operations
- In mathematical contexts, quarante can be used in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Example: “Quarante multiplié par deux égale quatre-vingts.” (“40 multiplied by 2 equals 80.”)
11. Formal and Informal Writing
- Whether writing formally or informally, quarante remains the same, though the context and surrounding language may change.
- Example (Formal): “Le projet nécessite quarante heures de travail par semaine.” (“The project requires 40 hours of work per week.”)
- Example (Informal): “J’ai passé quarante minutes à chercher mon téléphone.” (“I spent 40 minutes looking for my phone.”)
12. In Questions
- When asking questions involving the number 40, you might use quarante in queries about quantities or ages.
- Example: “As-tu quarante euros?” (“Do you have 40 euros?”)
Additional Tips
- Quarante is pronounced as “kah-rahn-tuh” with a slight emphasis on the last syllable.
- In compound numbers, quarante combines with other numbers. For example, 41 is quarante et un, and 49 is quarante-neuf.
- When discussing decades, les années quarante refers to the 1940s.
Mastering these expressions will make you more fluent in French and capable of communicating more effectively in various situations. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try incorporating these expressions into your daily French conversations or writing exercises.
