Mot du Jour ~ Chiffres, numéros & nombres

Oct 30


Les chiffres, numéros et nombres
PRONUNCIATION: 
lay SHE-fruh
lay noo-MAY-roh
lay NOM-bruh

All of these words refer to numbers but let's discuss the differences:

Les chiffres refer mainly to digits or individual numbers - of which there are only 0 thru 9.  However, in business "chiffres" can be used for accounting terms, for example: 
Le chiffre d'affaires, which means the revenu or turnover of a business.

Un numéro serves to identify, to distinguish one element among others. If I say of an athlete has a uniform number 4 it implies that others on the team have other numbers. When we want to know someone's telephone number or a train number we ask: 
  • Quel est ton numéro de téléphone?
  • Quel est le numéro du train ?

Les nombres represent a value, a quantity. The number 1853 (mille huit cent cinquante-trois) is written with four digits. Numbers are also what we count, classify objects, etc. For example:
  • Un nombre de trois chiffres.
  • Apprendre la suite des nombres.

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