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Class 9 French Chapter 2 L'Alphabet, les Nombres et les Dates — Formulas & Key Points

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 2 lays the groundwork for every French conversation, email, and classroom interaction you will ever have. You will master the French alphabet (with pronunciations that differ sharply from English), count confidently from zero to one hundred using France's unique vigesimal number system, name all days and months without capitalization errors, and construct accurate French dates. This formula sheet condenses every rule, pattern, and exception into tables, memory aids, and worked examples so you can revise fast and speak with precision.

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Key takeaways

✓The French alphabet has 26 letters with unique French pronunciations — 'W' is 'double-vé,' 'H' is 'ache,' and mastering these is essential for spelling aloud.
✓French uses a vigesimal (base-20) system for 70-99: 70 is 'soixante-dix' (60+10), 80 is 'quatre-vingts' (4×20), 90 is 'quatre-vingt-dix' (4×20+10).
✓Days of the week and months are always lowercase in French unless they start a sentence — write 'lundi' and 'janvier,' not 'Lundi' or 'Janvier.'
✓Numbers 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 use 'et' (and) while all others from 22-99 use hyphens: 'vingt-et-un' but 'vingt-deux.'
✓French dates follow the structure 'le [number] [month]' with 'le 1er' for the first of any month and regular numbers thereafter.
✓To answer 'Quel jour sommes-nous?' say 'Nous sommes [day]' or 'C'est [day]' — French uses the verb 'être' (to be), not 'have.'
✓The four seasons (le printemps, l'été, l'automne, l'hiver) are all masculine and take the definite article when used generally.

French Alphabet — Letter Names & Pronunciation Rules

The French alphabet contains exactly 26 letters, identical in appearance to English, but each letter carries a distinct French name and sound. Memorizing these names is non-negotiable because French speakers spell words aloud using French letter names, not English ones. For instance, the letter 'J' is called 'ji' (sounds like 'zhee'), not 'jay.' The letter 'W' is 'double-vé' (double-v), and 'Y' is 'i grec' (Greek i). Vowels (A, E, I, O, U, Y) have nasal and oral variants, and consonants like 'C' and 'G' soften or harden depending on the following vowel. The letter 'H' is always silent in pronunciation but affects liaison and elision rules. Understanding these names will help you spell your own name, understand dictated spellings, and decode written French with correct pronunciation. Below is the complete reference table with phonetic approximations for Indian English speakers.

Vowels: A (ah), E (uh), I (ee), O (oh), U (ew as in 'few'), Y (ee-grek)
Tricky consonants: C (say), G (zhay), H (ash), J (zhee), Q (kew), W (doobluh-vay)
Silent letters: Many final consonants (t, d, s, x, z) are silent unless liaison occurs
Accents matter: é (acute), è (grave), ê (circumflex), ë (diaeresis) change pronunciation and meaning

Complete Alphabet Table with French Names

This table provides every letter of the French alphabet alongside its French name and an approximate pronunciation guide for CBSE students familiar with Indian English phonetics. Use this for dictation exercises, spelling tests, and understanding native speakers when they spell words. Pay special attention to vowels with nasal sounds (on, an, in, un) and consonants that shift between hard and soft sounds based on context. For example, 'C' before 'a, o, u' sounds like 'k' (carte, come, cure) but before 'e, i, y' sounds like 's' (ciel, cinéma). Similarly, 'G' is hard before 'a, o, u' (gare, gomme) and soft (like 'zh' in 'measure') before 'e, i, y' (gilet, géant). Mastering these patterns will accelerate your reading fluency and spelling accuracy throughout Class 9 and beyond. The letters below are presented in uppercase and lowercase pairs, though in handwriting and typing you will use lowercase almost exclusively except for proper nouns and sentence starts.

A a — ah | B b — bay | C c — say | D d — day | E e — uh | F f — eff | G g — zhay
H h — ash | I i — ee | J j — zhee | K k — kah | L l — ell | M m — emm | N n — enn
O o — oh | P p — pay | Q q — kew | R r — air (French uvular 'r') | S s — ess | T t — tay
U u — ew (round lips, say 'ee') | V v — vay | W w — doobluh-vay | X x — eeks | Y y — ee-grek | Z z — zed

Numbers 0–100: Formation Patterns & Vigesimal System

French numbers from 0 to 100 follow logical but distinctive rules that differ from English in critical ways. From 0 to 19, each number has its own unique name: zéro, un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix, onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize, dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf. Notice that 11–16 are irregular, while 17–19 follow the pattern 'dix + units' with a hyphen. From 20 onwards, multiples of ten are: vingt (20), trente (30), quarante (40), cinquante (50), soixante (60). Here is where French diverges sharply from English: instead of having separate words for seventy, eighty, and ninety, French uses a base-20 (vigesimal) system inherited from Celtic counting traditions. Seventy is 'soixante-dix' (literally 60+10), eighty is 'quatre-vingts' (4×20), and ninety is 'quatre-vingt-dix' (4×20+10). This means 75 is 'soixante-quinze' (60+15), 85 is 'quatre-vingt-cinq,' and 99 is 'quatre-vingt-dix-neuf.' The 's' on 'quatre-vingts' (80) disappears when another number follows, so write 'quatre-vingt-cinq,' not 'quatre-vingts-cinq.' Compound numbers from 21–99 use hyphens except for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, which use 'et' (and): vingt-et-un, trente-et-un, soixante-et-onze.

0–10: zéro, un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix
11–20: onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize, dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf, vingt
Multiples of 10: vingt (20), trente (30), quarante (40), cinquante (50), soixante (60)
70–79: soixante-dix, soixante-et-onze, soixante-douze, … soixante-dix-neuf
80–89: quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-un, quatre-vingt-deux, … quatre-vingt-neuf
90–99: quatre-vingt-dix, quatre-vingt-onze, … quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
Use 'et' only for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 — all others take hyphens

Number Formation Rules — Quick Reference Table

This table summarizes the core rules for constructing French numbers from 21 to 99, the range that causes the most confusion for CBSE students. Each row shows the pattern name, the rule or formula, and when to apply it. Pay close attention to the placement of hyphens versus 'et,' and remember that 'quatre-vingts' (80) loses its 's' when followed by any other number. These rules are tested in both written exercises (fill in the blanks, write numbers in words) and oral assessments (counting aloud, responding to 'Combien de…?' questions). Mastery of these patterns will also prepare you for higher numbers (100 = cent, 1000 = mille) in later chapters. For now, focus on automatic recall of 0–100. Practice by counting forward and backward, writing random two-digit numbers in French, and converting written numbers to digits.

Days of the Week — Order, Usage & Capitalization

The seven days of the week in French are lundi (Monday), mardi (Tuesday), mercredi (Wednesday), jeudi (Thursday), vendredi (Friday), samedi (Saturday), dimanche (Sunday). Unlike English, French never capitalizes days of the week unless they begin a sentence. Write 'Je vais à l'école le lundi,' not 'le Lundi.' The French week officially starts on Monday, so on printed calendars and planners, Monday is the leftmost column. Many day names derive from Roman gods: mardi from Mars (god of war), mercredi from Mercury (messenger god), jeudi from Jupiter (king of gods), vendredi from Venus (goddess of love). Samedi comes from the Hebrew Sabbath, and dimanche from the Latin 'dies Dominica' (day of the Lord). When expressing habitual actions, use the definite article 'le': 'le lundi' means 'on Mondays' (every Monday). Without the article, 'lundi' means 'on Monday' (this coming Monday). This distinction is subtle but important in CBSE exams and conversational French.

Order: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, dimanche
Never capitalize days unless they start a sentence
Use 'le + day' for habitual actions: 'Je travaille le samedi' (I work on Saturdays)
Use 'day' alone for a specific upcoming day: 'Je pars lundi' (I leave on Monday)
French calendars start the week on Monday, not Sunday

Months of the Year — Names, Gender & Usage

The twelve months in French are janvier, février, mars, avril, mai, juin, juillet, août, septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre. Like days, months are never capitalized in French except at the beginning of a sentence. All twelve months are masculine nouns, so you say 'en janvier' (in January), not 'dans janvier.' The preposition 'en' is standard for months. Notice subtle spelling differences from English: 'février' has an extra 'r,' 'août' uses a circumflex accent (^) and no 's,' and 'juillet' has a soft 'j' sound. Month names are cognates with English, making them easier to memorize, but pronunciation requires practice: 'juin' sounds like 'zhwahn,' 'juillet' like 'zhwee-yay,' and 'août' like 'oot' (silent 't'). When writing formal letters, emails, or homework, always write the full month name in lowercase unless it starts the sentence. Abbreviations are rare in formal French; always spell out the full word. Understanding months is essential for expressing birthdays, holidays, exam schedules, and seasons.

Order: janvier, février, mars, avril, mai, juin, juillet, août, septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre
All months are masculine: 'en janvier,' 'en août'
Never capitalize months except at sentence start
Use preposition 'en' with months: 'Mon anniversaire est en mai' (My birthday is in May)
Spell out fully in formal writing — no abbreviations like 'Jan' or 'Feb'

Seasons (Les Saisons) — Names, Gender & Article Use

The four seasons are le printemps (spring), l'été (summer), l'automne (autumn), l'hiver (winter). All four are masculine nouns. Despite starting with vowels, 'été,' 'automne,' and 'hiver' use the elided masculine article 'l'' (not 'la'). When speaking generally about a season, use the definite article: 'J'aime l'été' (I like summer), 'L'hiver est froid' (Winter is cold). When using the preposition 'en,' the article is often dropped: 'En été, il fait chaud' (In summer, it is hot), 'En hiver, il neige' (In winter, it snows). However, with 'printemps,' you must say 'au printemps' (in spring) because 'printemps' does not start with a vowel and requires the contraction of 'à + le = au.' Seasons align roughly with the Gregorian calendar: printemps (March–May), été (June–August), automne (September–November), hiver (December–February). Connecting seasons to months helps reinforce memory and provides context for weather and cultural discussions in later chapters.

Four seasons (all masculine): le printemps, l'été, l'automne, l'hiver
General statements use the article: 'J'adore l'automne' (I love autumn)
With 'en,' drop the article for été, automne, hiver: 'en été, en automne, en hiver'
Exception: 'au printemps' (in spring) — never 'en printemps'
Seasons are lowercase unless starting a sentence

Asking and Answering the Date — Structures & Examples

To ask what day or date it is, French uses the phrase 'Quel jour sommes-nous?' (What day are we?) or 'Quelle est la date aujourd'hui?' (What is the date today?). The verb 'être' (to be) is conjugated as 'sommes' (we are) or 'est' (it is). Answers follow two main patterns. For the day alone, say 'Nous sommes [day]' or 'C'est [day]': 'Nous sommes mardi' (It is Tuesday). For the full date, use 'Nous sommes le [number] [month]' or 'C'est le [number] [month]': 'Nous sommes le 15 octobre' (It is October 15th). The definite article 'le' is mandatory before the number. The first day of any month uses the ordinal '1er' (premier): 'C'est le 1er janvier' (It is January 1st). All other dates use cardinal numbers: 'le 2, le 3, … le 31.' Combining day and date, you say 'C'est mardi, le 15 octobre' or 'Nous sommes mardi 15 octobre.' This structure appears in CBSE oral exams, listening comprehension, and written exercises, so practice forming complete date sentences daily. Remember: no capitalization of days or months unless sentence-initial, and always include the article 'le' before the number.

Question forms: 'Quel jour sommes-nous?' or 'Quelle est la date?'
Answer (day only): 'Nous sommes [day]' or 'C'est [day]'
Answer (date): 'Nous sommes le [number] [month]'
Use 'le 1er' for the first of the month, regular numbers for 2–31
Combine day and date: 'C'est vendredi, le 20 décembre'

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

CBSE Class 9 students commonly make five types of errors in this chapter. First, capitalizing days and months: write 'lundi' and 'janvier,' never 'Lundi' or 'Janvier' unless they start a sentence. Second, forgetting hyphens in compound numbers: write 'vingt-deux,' not 'vingt deux' or 'vingtdeux.' Third, adding an 's' to 'quatre-vingt' when it is followed by another digit: write 'quatre-vingt-cinq,' not 'quatre-vingts-cinq.' The 's' appears only on standalone 'quatre-vingts' (80). Fourth, omitting the article 'le' before dates: say 'le 10 mars,' not just '10 mars.' Fifth, using the wrong ordinal: only the first of the month is '1er'; never write '2ème mars' or '3ème avril' — always use cardinal numbers from 2 onwards. Sixth, mispronouncing silent letters: the 't' in 'vingt' is silent when alone but pronounced in liaison ('vingt-et-un' sounds like 'vahn-tay-uhn'). Seventh, confusing 'soixante-dix' (70) with 'soixante' (60). Practice these distinctions through dictation, writing exercises, and speaking drills. Avoiding these pitfalls will boost your marks significantly in both formative and summative assessments.

Never capitalize days or months mid-sentence
Always use hyphens in compound numbers except for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 (which use 'et')
Write 'quatre-vingt-cinq,' not 'quatre-vingts-cinq' — drop the 's' when a number follows
Include 'le' before all dates: 'le 5 juin,' not '5 juin'
Use '1er' only for the first; use regular numbers (2, 3, 4…) for all other dates
Silent letters: 't' in 'vingt' (alone), 's' in final position, 'h' always
Vigesimal confusion: 70 is NOT 'septante' in standard French — it is 'soixante-dix'

Memory Tricks & Mnemonics for Quick Recall

Memorizing the French alphabet, numbers, days, and months is much easier with mnemonic devices and visual associations. For the alphabet, group letters by sound families: nasal vowels (an, en, in, on, un), soft consonants (c, g before e/i), and hard consonants (c, g before a/o/u). For numbers 70-99, remember the phrase 'Sixty plus ten, four times twenty, four times twenty plus ten' to recall soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix. For days of the week, link each day to its Roman god origin: Mars (war) for mardi (Tuesday feels like battle day after Monday), Mercury (speed) for mercredi (midweek, halfway through). For months, notice that many end in '-ier' (janvier, février) or '-bre' (septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre). The '-bre' months are the last four of the year. To remember 'août' has a circumflex, visualize a tiny summer hat (^) on the 'u' for the hot month of August. For seasons, picture 'le printemps' (spring) with flowers blooming in March-May, 'l'été' (summer) with sun in June-August, 'l'automne' (autumn) with falling leaves in September-November, and 'l'hiver' (winter) with snow in December-February. Use flashcards, spaced repetition apps, or even sticky notes on your study wall to reinforce these patterns daily. The more you engage multiple senses — saying aloud, writing by hand, visualizing images — the faster these become automatic.

Alphabet: Group by sound families (nasal, soft, hard) and practice spelling your name aloud daily
Numbers: Remember 'sixty-ten, four-twenties, four-twenties-ten' for 70, 80, 90
Days: Link to gods (Mars=mardi, Mercury=mercredi, Jupiter=jeudi, Venus=vendredi)
Months: Notice patterns ('-ier' for Jan/Feb, '-bre' for last four months)
Seasons: Picture visual symbols (flowers for spring, sun for summer, leaves for autumn, snow for winter)
Dates: Chant 'le 1er for first, regular numbers rest' to avoid ordinal errors
Practice spelling random two-digit numbers aloud in French every morning

Worked Mini-Examples Using Chapter Formulas

These three worked examples demonstrate how to apply the rules and formulas from this chapter in typical CBSE exam scenarios. Each example shows the question, the step-by-step solution using the correct French structures, and the final answer. Practice similar problems on your own by picking random numbers, days, and months, then constructing sentences. This active recall will cement your understanding far better than passive reading. Example 1 focuses on number formation, Example 2 on date construction, and Example 3 on combining day, date, and season in a single sentence. After working through these, try creating your own questions: pick a random two-digit number and write it in French words, or choose a date from a calendar and write it in the French format. Doing this daily for one week will make these patterns second nature before your exam.

Last-Minute Revision Box — One-Glance Checklist

Use this quick checklist in the final 10 minutes before your French exam or oral test. Verify you can recall each item instantly. If any item takes more than 3 seconds to remember, revisit the relevant section above. This box is designed for rapid-fire self-testing. Cover the right column with your hand, read the left column prompt, answer aloud or on paper, then check. Repeat until you score 100 percent three times in a row. Keep a printed copy in your textbook or stick it on your study wall. The more often you see and recite these, the more automatic your recall becomes. On exam day, mentally run through this checklist while waiting for the paper to be distributed — it will activate your memory and boost confidence. Remember: CBSETUTOR.ai offers 24×7 AI-powered French tutoring with instant photo-upload doubt solving, pronunciation feedback, and unlimited practice exercises for just ₹999/month (one price for Classes 6-12, 3-day free trial). Pair this formula sheet with daily AI practice to master French fundamentals fast.

Alphabet: Can you spell your name in French letter names?
Numbers: Write 47, 71, 85, 99 in French words instantly
Days: Recite all seven days in order, lowercase, starting with lundi
Months: Recite all twelve months in order, lowercase, starting with janvier
Seasons: Name all four with correct articles (le printemps, l'été, l'automne, l'hiver)
Dates: Write today's date in French format (le [number] [month])
Common errors: Check capitalization, hyphens, article 'le,' and '1er' vs. regular numbers
Vigesimal: Confirm 70 = soixante-dix, 80 = quatre-vingts, 90 = quatre-vingt-dix

Frequently asked questions

Why does French use 'quatre-vingts' (four twenties) for 80 instead of a simple word like English 'eighty'?+

French inherited a vigesimal (base-20) counting system from ancient Celtic and Gaulish traditions. This system survives in modern French for 70-99, where 70 is 60+10, 80 is 4×20, and 90 is 4×20+10. It is standard in France, though some Francophone regions (Belgium, Switzerland) use simpler words like 'septante' (70) and 'nonante' (90). CBSE follows standard French, so learn the vigesimal forms.

Do I capitalize days of the week and months in French?+

No. Days of the week and months are always lowercase in French unless they begin a sentence. Write 'lundi 5 janvier,' not 'Lundi 5 Janvier.' This is a common CBSE exam error — capitalizing days and months will cost you marks in written tasks and formal letters.

When do I use 'et' versus a hyphen in compound numbers?+

Use 'et' (and) only for numbers ending in 1 from 21 to 71: vingt-et-un (21), trente-et-un (31), quarante-et-un (41), cinquante-et-un (51), soixante-et-un (61), soixante-et-onze (71). For 81 and 91, use hyphens: quatre-vingt-un, quatre-vingt-onze. All other compound numbers use hyphens: vingt-deux, trente-cinq, quatre-vingt-quinze.

Why does 'quatre-vingts' (80) have an 's' but 'quatre-vingt-cinq' (85) does not?+

When 'quatre-vingts' stands alone as exactly 80, it takes a plural 's' because 'vingt' is being multiplied (4 × 20 = 80, so 'vingts' plural). But when another number follows (quatre-vingt-cinq, quatre-vingt-dix), the 's' is dropped because 'vingt' is now part of a larger compound number, not a complete multiple. This rule is strictly tested in CBSE written exams.

How do I write 'January 1st' in French — is it 'le 1 janvier' or 'le 1er janvier'?+

Always use the ordinal '1er' (premier) for the first day of any month: 'le 1er janvier,' 'le 1er mars,' 'le 1er décembre.' For all other dates (2nd through 31st), use regular cardinal numbers: 'le 2 janvier,' 'le 15 mars,' 'le 31 décembre.' Never write 'le 2ème janvier' or 'le 3ème mars.'

What is the correct way to answer 'Quel jour sommes-nous?' if today is Wednesday?+

You can answer either 'Nous sommes mercredi' or 'C'est mercredi.' Both are correct and commonly used. If you want to include the date, say 'Nous sommes mercredi, le [number] [month].' For example, 'Nous sommes mercredi, le 10 avril.' Notice 'mercredi' and 'avril' are lowercase.

Are all four seasons masculine or feminine in French?+

All four seasons are masculine: le printemps, l'été, l'automne, l'hiver. Even though 'été,' 'automne,' and 'hiver' start with vowels and use the elided article 'l',' they are still grammatically masculine. You say 'L'été est chaud' (Summer is hot), not 'La été est chaude.'

Why do I need to memorize the French names of the alphabet letters?+

Because French speakers spell words aloud using French letter names, not English ones. If someone spells their email address or name over the phone, they will say 'zhee, ah, say, kew…' not 'jay, ay, see, kyoo…' Understanding French letter names is essential for dictation exercises, spelling tests, and real-world communication.

Can I abbreviate month names in French like 'Jan' or 'Dec' in formal writing?+

No. In formal French writing (letters, emails, homework, exams), always spell out the full month name: 'janvier,' 'décembre.' Abbreviations like 'jan.' or 'déc.' are informal and may be marked incorrect in CBSE exams. Write the complete word to be safe.

How can CBSETUTOR.ai help me master French pronunciation and spelling?+

CBSETUTOR.ai provides 24×7 AI-powered French tutoring with instant photo-upload doubt solving, pronunciation feedback using speech recognition, and unlimited practice exercises for alphabet, numbers, days, months, and dates. You can upload a photo of any exercise, get step-by-step solutions, and practice speaking French aloud with real-time corrections. All this for a flat ₹999/month (one price for Classes 6-12) with a 3-day free trial — no extra fees, no hidden charges.

Related resources

Important Questions: CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 2 L'Alphabet, les Nombres et les Dates CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 2 L'Alphabet, les Nombres et les Dates Worksheet with Answers CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 2 L'Alphabet, les Nombres et les Dates — 20 MCQs with Answers NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 2: L'Alphabet, les Nombres et les Dates CBSE Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 1 Number Systems — Notes CBSE Class 9 Mathematics — Number Systems: complete chapter guide Class 9 French Chapter 1 Salut ! Bonjour ! (Greetings & Introductions) — Previous Year Questions with Complete Solutions Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 2 Polynomials — Formulas & Key Points

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