If you are just learning French, one of the very first things to learn is to count to ten. Counting to ten is very useful for making later lessons easier because you can practice the pronunciation of certain letters, such as r and u, which don't sound like Indonesian. Once you've mastered counting to ten, your path to learning French will be much smoother
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Method 1 of 3: Learning Numbers Words up to 10
Step 1. Start with numbers one to five
When you learn a new language, it's a good idea to start little by little. Practice the first five numbers until you memorize all the words, then move on to the next five numbers.
- One is un (ang).
- Two is deux (du).
- Three is trois (twah).
- Four is quatre (ketr).
- Five is cinq (saenk).
Step 2. Learn the numbers six through ten
Once you are able to memorize the numbers one through five by heart, move on to the numbers six through ten. Pay attention to the word for the number “six” which is spelled the same as the number six in English, but is pronounced quite differently.
- Six is six (siis).
- Seven is sept (set).
- Eight is huit (huwit).
- Nine is neuf (nurf).
- Ten is dix (dis).
Step 3. Sort all the numbers to count to ten
Once you've memorized all the number words in French, practice counting to ten. As in Indonesian, in French, numbers above ten are based on the numbers one to ten. So you've got a good foundation for learning the remaining numbers.
If you're having trouble remembering all the words, the numbers or the correct order, please look for counting songs in French for children. The melody will help you remember, just like a counting song in Indonesian
Step 4. Memorize the French word “zero”
The French for “zero” may be a bit of a trap for you as it is spelled almost the same as zero for English, but is pronounced differently. The accent mark on zéro means that you need to pronounce the letter e a bit longer: ZEY-roh.
Method 2 of 3: Perfecting Pronunciation
Step 1. Pinch your nose for an “ang” sound
The word "one" in French is done with the sound of a nasal vowel that doesn't exist in Indonesian. So, the pronunciation might be a bit difficult. Slightly pinch your nose with your fingers while practicing this pronunciation.
You may also be able to learn to squeeze your nostrils together while pronouncing words. The method is similar to when you tense your nose while inhaling
Step 2. Do mouth exercises to pronounce “u” in French correctly
There is no French for the sound “u” in the word “neuf”, either. This sound may be difficult for us to do because we are used to speaking Indonesian.
- Start by opening your mouth and making an “oh” sound. Squeeze until your lips vibrate, as if you were going to make a “w” sound.
- Press your lips together and make a “iii” sound. This is roughly the French " u ". You may need to practice it several times a day for a few weeks before it can be recited naturally.
- Distinguish between “u” and “ou” sounds in French. Even though they are similar, you need to be able to tell the difference if you want to be fluent in French. The sound of “ou” in French is similar to “ou” in Indonesian.
Step 3. Pronounce the letter “r” in French by throat
The letter “r” as in the word “quatre”, is a raspy sound like the “gh” in “unseen”. To pronounce this sound, press the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth as you pronounce the letter.
You can practice by saying "rah rah rah," or try pronouncing the word ronronner, which means snoring in French
Step 4. Memorize the pronunciation without reading the word
Some numbers have the same spelling as English, for example “six”. If your primary language is English, it will be difficult to change the pronunciation to French when reading this word.
- This is especially important for words like zéro and six which are spelled similar to English, but are pronounced quite differently. For example, if you see the word “deux”, it might read something like “ducks.”
- To practice this, make a memory card that contains only the numeric symbols, and not the French spelling.
Step 5. Watch French videos on the internet
Watching movies or videos in French can help you get used to the style of speaking the language. You don't even have to watch it; close your eyes and listen carefully.
- Listening to French songs is also quite helpful, especially soft songs where the syllables can be heard clearly.
- Don't worry if you don't understand the meaning of the words. At this point, you just need to get used to the French pronunciation.
Method 3 of 3: Using Numbers in Context
Step 1. Change the gender to “un” if needed
Since the French for "one" is also used to express "a", you need to match the gender of the subject when used as an article, instead of expressing the number of something.
- Create a feminine shape by adding the suffix “e” so that it becomes “une”. For example, you can say "J'ai une chaise," which means "I have one chair."
- If you're not sure if a word is feminine or masculine, look at the ending. Some endings, such as -ée or -enne, denote feminine forms. On the other hand, the ending -ent or -il, denotes the masculine form.
Step 2. Know when you need to remove the last consonant
There are four numbers in French (cinq, six, huit, and dix) whose last consonant is omitted if the next word begins with a consonant.
For example, if you say “ten minutes” in French, the spelling is " dix minutes," but the pronunciation is dii min-OOT (instead of dis-min-OOT)
Step 3. Use avoir to talk about age
In English, you say "I'm ten years old," but in French you use the conjugated form of avoir, which means "to have." In French, "I'm ten years old" is " J'ai dix ans."
