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A1 noun #15,000 más común 12 min de lectura

trente

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos trente en 30 segundos

Explicación trente in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'trente' is introduced as one of the essential numbers for survival French. Students learn to count from 0 to 100, and 'trente' is a major milestone. You will use it to state your age ('J'ai trente ans'), to tell the time on a digital clock ('Il est huit heures trente'), and to handle basic transactions ('Ça coûte trente euros'). The focus is on recognition and correct pronunciation, specifically distinguishing the nasal vowel from the 'ei' sound in 'treize' (13). Learners should practice saying 'trente' in isolation and then in simple phrases. It is important to remember that in French, you 'have' years, so 'J'ai trente ans' is the correct structure. You will also use it to identify bus lines or room numbers in hotels. At this stage, the spelling is simple, but don't forget the 'e' at the end, even if you don't hear it clearly.

At the A2 level, 'trente' is used in more complex daily tasks. You will use it to describe quantities in recipes ('trente grammes de sucre'), to give more precise directions, and to talk about the recent past or future ('il y a trente minutes', 'dans trente jours'). You also begin to see 'trente' in compound numbers like 'trente-deux' or 'trente-cinq'. A key grammar point at this level is the use of 'trente et un' versus the hyphenated forms for 32-39. You might also encounter 'une trentaine' for approximations, which is a very French way of speaking. For example, 'Il y a une trentaine d'invités'. This level also introduces the 24-hour clock more formally, where 'trente' is the standard way to express the half-hour mark in official schedules.

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By B1, you are comfortable with 'trente' in most practical situations and start using it in narrative contexts. You might describe a period of your life ('J'ai vécu là pendant trente ans') or participate in more detailed financial discussions involving 'trente euros par mois'. You will also encounter 'trente' in the context of sports and hobbies. In a tennis match, 'trente' is a score you'll hear and use. At this level, you should also be aware of the ordinal 'trentième' and use it correctly for floors or positions in a list. Your listening skills should be sharp enough to never confuse 'trente' with 'treize' in fast speech, even in noisy environments like a train station or a busy market.

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At the B2 level, 'trente' appears in more abstract and socio-historical contexts. You will learn about 'Les Trente Glorieuses', the thirty-year boom period in France, and discuss its impact on modern society. You'll be able to use 'trente' in statistical reports ('trente pour cent de la population') and understand its role in journalistic writing. You might also use the idiom 'se mettre sur son trente-et-un' to describe someone dressing up for a formal event. At B2, your usage should be flawless, including the subtle liaison in 'trente ans' and the correct use of hyphens in all compound variations according to modern or traditional spelling rules. You are also expected to understand the nuance between 'trente' and 'une trentaine' in professional reports.

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At the C1 level, 'trente' is used with stylistic precision. You might encounter it in literature or high-level academic texts where the number signifies a long duration or a specific historical epoch ('La Guerre de Trente Ans'). You will understand the subtle connotations of the 'trentaine' as a life stage, reflecting on the psychological and social transitions associated with being thirty. Your ability to use 'trente' in complex mathematical or scientific contexts in French will be expected. You will also be able to appreciate wordplay or puns involving the number thirty in French media. The focus here is on the word's integration into sophisticated discourse, where it might be used to emphasize a point or provide a precise anchor in a complex argument.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'trente' in all its forms, including archaic or highly specialized uses. You can discuss the etymology of 'trente' from the Latin 'triginta' and how it has evolved within the Romance languages. You understand its symbolic value in various cultural contexts, from numerology to its role in French constitutional history (e.g., the 30-day periods in legal notices). You can use 'trente' in poetic or rhetorical ways, perhaps using the repetition of the number for emphasis in a speech. Your pronunciation is indistinguishable from a native speaker, including the most subtle phonetic nuances in different regional accents. You are also fully aware of how 'trente' is used in different Francophone countries, such as nuances in counting or time-telling in Belgium, Switzerland, or Quebec.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

trente en 30 segundos

Trente means thirty (30) in French and is a basic cardinal number used for counting, age, and time.
It is invariable, meaning its spelling does not change based on the noun it describes.
In compound numbers like 31, it uses 'et' (trente et un), but 32-39 use hyphens (trente-deux).
It is the root for related words like 'trentaine' (about thirty) and 'trentième' (thirtieth).

The French word trente is the cardinal number representing thirty (30). In the French linguistic landscape, it serves as a foundational building block for numeracy, time-telling, and expressing age. At its core, it is a simple numeral, yet its application spans across various social and professional contexts. For a beginner, mastering the pronunciation and usage of trente is essential for basic communication. Whether you are ordering thirty croissants for a large office meeting or telling someone that you have lived in Paris for thirty years, this word is unavoidable. The number thirty holds a specific weight in French culture, often associated with the transition into true adulthood or the measurement of significant historical eras.

Numerical Value: The integer following vingt-neuf (29) and preceding trente et un (31). It is the third decade marker in the decimal system.

Il y a exactement trente élèves dans cette classe de français au centre-ville.

Beyond mere counting, trente is frequently heard in the context of time. In the French 24-hour clock or the standard 12-hour conversational clock, it indicates the half-hour mark. For example, 'huit heures trente' is the formal way to say 8:30, though 'huit heures et demie' is more common in casual speech. Understanding both is vital for navigating schedules and appointments. In the realm of age, reaching 'trente ans' is seen as a milestone in France, often celebrated with significant fanfare as it marks the end of the 'young adulthood' phase and the beginning of a more established life.

Chronological Context: Used to denote the 30th minute of an hour or the 30th day of most months in the Gregorian calendar.

Le train pour Marseille partira à quatorze heures trente précises du quai numéro neuf.

In economic and historical discussions, the number thirty appears in the famous term 'Les Trente Glorieuses,' referring to the thirty years of economic prosperity in France following World War II. This usage elevates the word from a simple count to a symbol of national growth and stability. When you hear trente in a documentary or a history lecture, it is often carrying this heavy historical connotation. In commercial settings, prices often end in thirty, such as 'trente euros'. Shopkeepers and customers use this word daily. Its phonetic structure, starting with the unvoiced 'tr' and ending with a nasal-like 'ente' (though technically an oral vowel followed by a nasal consonant sound in some dialects, it is primarily a nasal vowel /ɑ̃/), makes it a great exercise for English speakers to practice French vowel sounds.

Commercial Usage: Commonly used in transactions, price tags, and inventory counting within retail and wholesale environments.

Ce magnifique bouquet de roses rouges coûte exactement trente euros chez le fleuriste du coin.

Ma sœur a fêté ses trente ans avec tous ses amis dans un petit restaurant italien.

Il reste trente minutes avant le début du spectacle de danse contemporaine.

Using trente correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of its role as an adjective (specifically a numeral) and occasionally as a noun. As a cardinal number, it is generally invariable, meaning it does not change its form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it modifies. This makes it relatively straightforward for learners compared to adjectives that must agree. However, the placement and the surrounding grammatical structures are key.

Age Construction: In French, we use the verb 'avoir' (to have) rather than 'être' (to be) to express age. Therefore, you 'have thirty years'.

Mon cousin aura trente ans le mois prochain et il organise une grande fête.

When discussing quantities, trente precedes the noun. If the noun begins with a vowel, there is a slight phonetic linking (liaison), though it is less pronounced than with numbers like 'six' or 'dix'. In most cases, the 'e' at the end of trente is elided in rapid speech, but the 't' remains audible.

Quantity and Measurement: Used before plural nouns to specify an exact count of items, people, or units of measure.

Veuillez ajouter trente grammes de beurre fondu à la préparation du gâteau.

For dates, trente is used for the 30th day of the month. Unlike English, which uses ordinal numbers (the thirtieth), French uses cardinal numbers for all days of the month except the first (le premier).

Calendar Dates: Used with the definite article 'le' to indicate the 30th day of a month.

Nous partons en vacances le trente juin, juste après la fin de l'année scolaire.

In the context of time, trente is often used after the hour. While 'et demie' is the standard for 'half past', in digital time or formal settings like train stations or radio broadcasts, trente is the norm.

Le rendez-vous est fixé à dix heures trente dans la salle de réunion principale.

Il a fallu trente tentatives avant que le moteur de la vieille voiture ne démarre enfin.

In mathematical expressions, trente is a standard term. 'Vingt plus dix font trente' (Twenty plus ten make thirty). This is the foundation of arithmetic in French. It is also used in compound numbers like 'cent trente' (one hundred thirty). Note that in French, we do not say 'cent ET trente', just 'cent trente'. The 'et' is reserved for 'trente et un'. This subtle rule is a common point of confusion for English speakers who are used to saying 'one hundred and thirty'.

You will encounter the word trente in almost every facet of French daily life. In the bustling markets of Provence, you'll hear vendors shouting prices like 'Trente euros le kilo!' for high-end truffles or fabrics. In the quiet corridors of a Parisian bank, a consultant might discuss a 'prêt sur trente ans' (a thirty-year loan), a common duration for mortgages in France. The word is deeply embedded in the logistical and financial fabric of the country. On the radio, news anchors frequently mention 'les trente dernières minutes de l'actualité' (the last thirty minutes of news), framing the passage of time for their listeners.

Media and News: Used to segment time in broadcasts or to report statistics involving the number thirty.

Selon le sondage, trente pour cent des Français préfèrent passer leurs vacances à la montagne.

If you are a fan of French history, the term 'Les Trente Glorieuses' is something you will hear repeatedly. It refers to the period from 1945 to 1975, a time of unprecedented economic boom. It is a point of pride and nostalgia in French political discourse. Similarly, 'La Guerre de Trente Ans' (The Thirty Years' War) is a staple of history curriculum in schools, making trente a word associated with significant historical shifts and long-term conflicts.

Historical Context: Refers to specific periods of time that lasted exactly three decades, shaping modern European history.

L'historien a expliqué l'impact de la période des Trente Glorieuses sur la société moderne.

In social settings, 'avoir la trentaine' is a common expression. It means to be in one's thirties. You'll hear people say, 'Il a la trentaine dynamique,' describing someone who is in their thirties and full of energy. This collective noun 'trentaine' is derived from trente and is used to give an approximate or group value. In a restaurant, if a group of thirty people arrives, the waiter might say, 'Une trentaine de couverts,' meaning 'about thirty settings'. Public transport is another place where trente is ubiquitous. Announcements such as 'Le bus trente arrivera dans deux minutes' or 'La ligne trente est perturbée' are part of the daily soundscape for commuters. Whether it's a bus number or a platform number, the clarity of this numeral is essential for getting around. In sports, especially during a tennis match at Roland Garros, the score 'trente' is called out by the umpire, echoing through the clay courts.

Le score est maintenant de trente partout dans ce cinquième jeu décisif du match.

Il y a trente ans, ce quartier était une zone industrielle abandonnée par les usines.

J'ai acheté trente timbres à la poste pour envoyer mes cartes de vœux.

English speakers often encounter a few specific hurdles when learning to use trente correctly. The most frequent error is phonetic: confusing trente with treize (13). This is similar to the confusion between 'thirteen' and 'thirty' in English, but the vowel sounds are the key differentiator. Trente uses the nasal 'an' sound (/tʁɑ̃t/), while treize uses the 'ai' sound (/tʁɛz/). Practicing these two back-to-back is a vital exercise for any beginner.

Spelling and Hyphens: The orthographic rules for compound numbers involving thirty can be tricky. Under the traditional rules, you use 'trente et un' (no hyphens) but 'trente-deux' (with a hyphen). However, the 1990 spelling reform allows hyphens between all parts of a number (trente-et-un), though the traditional way is still very common.

Faux: J'ai trente-un ans. Correct: J'ai trente et un ans.

Another common mistake is the misuse of 'trente' when 'trentaine' is more appropriate. Use trente for an exact count and 'trentaine' for an approximation. Saying 'Il y a trente de personnes' is grammatically incorrect; you should say 'Il y a trente personnes' or 'Il y a une trentaine de personnes'. The addition of the preposition 'de' after 'trentaine' is a step many learners forget.

Agreement Errors: Learners sometimes try to pluralize 'trente' by adding an 's' (trentes). Remember that cardinal numbers in French are invariable, with the exceptions of 'un', 'vingt', and 'cent' in specific circumstances. 'Trente' never takes an 's'.

Faux: Les trentes premières pages. Correct: Les trente premières pages.

In the context of age, English speakers often use 'être' (to be). Saying 'Je suis trente' instead of 'J'ai trente ans' is a classic 'Anglicisme'. Not only is the verb wrong, but omitting the word 'ans' (years) makes the sentence incomplete in French. You cannot just say 'J'ai trente' unless the context of years has been very clearly established in the immediately preceding sentence. Finally, the pronunciation of the 't' in trente should be crisp. Some learners swallow the final consonant, making it sound like 'tran'. Ensure the 't' is heard, especially when followed by a word starting with a vowel, where a slight liaison occurs. For example, in 'trente ans', the 't' of 'trente' effectively starts the sound of 'ans'.

Il a payé trente euros pour ce livre, ce qui est assez cher pour une édition de poche.

Elle a couru pendant trente minutes ce matin dans le parc avant d'aller au bureau.

La température est montée jusqu'à trente degrés cet après-midi en plein soleil.

While trente is the specific number 30, French offers several related terms that provide nuance or approximation. Understanding these alternatives will make your French sound more natural and sophisticated.

Trentaine: A collective noun meaning 'about thirty' or 'a set of thirty'. It is much more common than the English equivalent 'a thirty'.

Il y avait une trentaine de personnes à la conférence sur l'écologie.

Trentième: The ordinal number meaning 'thirtieth'. It is used for rankings, floors in a building, or anniversaries.

C'est le trentième anniversaire de mariage de mes parents cette année.

Comparisons: Trente vs Treize: 30 vs 13. Focus on the nasal vowel in 30. Trente vs Trois: 30 vs 3. Both share the 'tr' root but diverge immediately. Trente vs Trente-et-un: 30 vs 31. Note the 'et' conjunction used specifically for the number one.

In certain dialects, particularly in Switzerland or Belgium, you might expect different words for 70 or 90, but 30 remains trente across all Francophone regions. It is one of the most stable numbers in the French language. For those interested in literature or older French, you might encounter the word 'trentenaire', which refers to a person in their thirties or something that lasts thirty years. This is a more formal or journalistic term.

Le magazine cible principalement les jeunes trentenaires urbains et branchés.

Nous avons fêté notre trentième victoire consécutive lors du tournoi de football local.

Il y a une trentaine de kilomètres entre ces deux villages de montagne.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The number 30 was a significant number in various ancient legal systems, often representing the age of full maturity or eligibility for certain offices.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /tʁɑ̃t/

US /tʁɑ̃t/

The stress is equal across the syllable, with a slight emphasis on the nasal vowel.

Rima con

attente détente vente pente fente amante ante tante

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it like 'treize' (13).
Swallowing the final 't'.
Making the nasal 'an' sound like an English 'an' in 'can'.
Adding an extra syllable at the end (trent-uh).
Confusing the 'tr' sound with a hard English 't'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Escritura 2/5

Simple spelling but remember the 'e' and hyphens in compounds.

Expresión oral 3/5

Requires practice for the nasal vowel and distinguishing from 13.

Escucha 3/5

Can be confused with 13 (treize) in fast speech.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

un dix vingt neuf ans

Aprende después

quarante cinquante soixante trentaine trentième

Avanzado

Trente Glorieuses trentenaire trentième rugissant

Gramática que debes saber

Invariability of Numbers

Trente ne prend jamais de 's', même au pluriel.

Use of 'et' in 31

On dit 'trente et un' mais 'trente-deux'.

Avoir for Age

On dit 'J'ai trente ans' et non 'Je suis trente'.

Liaison with 'ans'

Le 't' de trente se lie avec le 'a' de ans : /tʁɑ̃.tɑ̃/.

Ordinal Formation

Ajoutez '-ième' à 'trente' (en enlevant le 'e') pour faire 'trentième'.

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Ejemplos por nivel

J'ai trente ans.

I am thirty years old.

Uses 'avoir' for age.

Il est neuf heures trente.

It is nine thirty.

Standard time expression.

Ça coûte trente euros.

That costs thirty euros.

Cardinal number as an adjective.

Il y a trente chaises.

There are thirty chairs.

Plural noun follows 'trente'.

Prenez le bus trente.

Take bus thirty.

Used as a proper name/number.

Page trente, s'il vous plaît.

Page thirty, please.

Ordinal usage in common speech.

Trente plus un font trente-et-un.

Thirty plus one make thirty-one.

Basic arithmetic.

Le trente juin est mon anniversaire.

June 30th is my birthday.

Cardinal number for dates.

J'ai une trentaine d'amis.

I have about thirty friends.

Uses 'trentaine' for approximation.

Il travaille trente heures par semaine.

He works thirty hours per week.

Measurement of time.

Le gâteau pèse trente grammes.

The cake weighs thirty grams.

Measurement of weight.

Elle a acheté trente-deux pommes.

She bought thirty-two apples.

Compound number with hyphen.

Le train arrive à seize heures trente.

The train arrives at 4:30 PM.

24-hour clock usage.

Nous habitons au trente, rue de Lyon.

We live at 30 Lyon Street.

Address usage.

Il y a trente jours en avril.

There are thirty days in April.

Fact about the calendar.

J'ai payé trente-cinq euros pour ce livre.

I paid thirty-five euros for this book.

Compound price.

Elle a fêté son trentième anniversaire hier.

She celebrated her thirtieth birthday yesterday.

Ordinal number 'trentième'.

Le score est de trente à quinze.

The score is thirty to fifteen.

Sports terminology.

Il a fallu trente minutes pour tout ranger.

It took thirty minutes to tidy everything.

Duration of time.

La vitesse est limitée à trente km/h.

The speed is limited to 30 km/h.

Legal limit.

Il y a une trentaine de kilomètres d'ici.

It's about thirty kilometers from here.

Approximation of distance.

J'ai perdu trente euros dans la rue.

I lost thirty euros in the street.

Currency usage.

Trente pour cent des élèves sont absents.

Thirty percent of the students are absent.

Percentage expression.

Ce mur mesure trente mètres de long.

This wall is thirty meters long.

Dimensions.

Les Trente Glorieuses ont transformé la France.

The 'Thirty Glorious Years' transformed France.

Historical proper noun.

Il s'est mis sur son trente-et-un pour le bal.

He dressed up to the nines for the ball.

Idiomatic expression.

La Guerre de Trente Ans fut dévastatrice.

The Thirty Years' War was devastating.

Historical event.

On estime à trente mille le nombre de manifestants.

The number of protesters is estimated at thirty thousand.

Large number construction.

Le taux d'intérêt est passé à trente points de base.

The interest rate increased by thirty basis points.

Financial terminology.

Il a écrit trente romans au cours de sa carrière.

He wrote thirty novels during his career.

Quantity over time.

La température a chuté de trente degrés en une nuit.

The temperature dropped by thirty degrees in one night.

Change in measurement.

Trente ans de réflexion ont mené à ce projet.

Thirty years of reflection led to this project.

Duration as a subject.

Le trentenaire moyen cherche souvent plus de stabilité.

The average thirty-something often seeks more stability.

Noun 'trentenaire'.

L'article trente de la constitution est explicite.

Article thirty of the constitution is explicit.

Formal legal reference.

Elle a franchi le cap de la trentaine avec sérénité.

She crossed the milestone of thirty with serenity.

Metaphorical 'cap'.

Trente bougies ne suffisent plus à éclairer son passé.

Thirty candles are no longer enough to light up his past.

Literary usage.

Le projet a été rejeté par trente voix contre vingt-huit.

The project was rejected by thirty votes to twenty-eight.

Political voting context.

Il a fallu trente ans pour que la vérité éclate.

It took thirty years for the truth to come out.

Emphasis on long duration.

La trentaine est l'âge de tous les possibles.

One's thirties is the age of all possibilities.

Abstract noun usage.

Il a parcouru trente lieues à travers la forêt.

He traveled thirty leagues through the forest.

Archaic measurement 'lieues'.

L'œuvre se compose de trente sonnets méticuleux.

The work consists of thirty meticulous sonnets.

Precise literary description.

Les trente deniers de Judas sont un symbole universel.

Judas's thirty pieces of silver are a universal symbol.

Biblical/Cultural reference.

La période trentenaire du bail arrive à son terme.

The thirty-year period of the lease is coming to an end.

Adjective 'trentenaire'.

Elle manie le vers de trente pieds avec une aisance rare.

She handles the thirty-foot verse with rare ease.

Technical poetic meter.

Le trentième rugissant est une zone maritime redoutée.

The roaring thirtieth is a dreaded maritime zone.

Geographical/Nautical term.

Trente fois sur le métier, remettez votre ouvrage.

Thirty times on the loom, put back your work (Boileau).

Classical literary quote.

L'horloge a sonné trente coups dans le silence de la nuit.

The clock struck thirty times in the silence of the night.

Surrealist/Literary imagery.

Le trentième degré de latitude nord traverse ce désert.

The thirtieth degree of north latitude crosses this desert.

Scientific/Geographical precision.

Colocaciones comunes

trente ans

trente euros

trente minutes

trente jours

trente pour cent

trente kilomètres

trente degrés

trente secondes

trente pages

trente personnes

Frases Comunes

Il est huit heures trente.

— It is 8:30. Used for telling time formally.

Le cours commence à huit heures trente.

J'ai trente ans.

— I am thirty. The standard way to state one's age.

Je ne peux pas croire que j'ai déjà trente ans.

Le trente du mois.

— The 30th of the month. Used for dates.

Le loyer est dû le trente du mois.

Trente et un.

— Thirty-one. Note the use of 'et'.

Il y a trente et un jours en mai.

Trente-deux.

— Thirty-two. Standard compound number.

Le bus numéro trente-deux.

Trente-cinq.

— Thirty-five. Often used for the legal work week in France.

La semaine de trente-cinq heures.

Trente fois.

— Thirty times. Expressing frequency.

Je lui ai dit trente fois !

Trente mètres.

— Thirty meters. A measure of length.

La piscine fait trente mètres.

Trente kilos.

— Thirty kilos. A measure of weight.

Ce sac pèse trente kilos.

Trente pour cent.

— Thirty percent. Used for discounts or data.

Une remise de trente pour cent.

Se confunde a menudo con

trente vs treize

Confused because of the 'tr' start. 13 vs 30.

trente vs trentaine

Learners use 'trente' when they mean 'about thirty'.

trente vs trois

Sometimes confused by very early beginners.

Modismos y expresiones

"Se mettre sur son trente-et-un"

— To dress up in one's finest clothes. Literally 'to put oneself on one's thirty-one'.

Elle s'est mise sur son trente-et-un pour le mariage.

informal/common

"Les Trente Glorieuses"

— The thirty years of economic growth in France (1945–1975).

Mes grands-parents ont vécu les Trente Glorieuses.

historical

"La Guerre de Trente Ans"

— A major European conflict from 1618 to 1648.

Nous étudions la Guerre de Trente Ans en histoire.

historical

"Être dans sa trentaine"

— To be in one's thirties.

Il est en plein dans sa trentaine.

neutral

"Trente-six chandelles"

— To see stars (after a hit to the head).

Il a vu trente-six chandelles après sa chute.

informal

"Trente-six solutions"

— Not many solutions (often used negatively: 'il n'y a pas trente-six solutions').

Il n'y a pas trente-six solutions à ce problème.

informal

"Trente-sixième dessous"

— To be very depressed or in a very bad state.

Depuis sa rupture, il est au trente-sixième dessous.

informal

"Tous les trente du mois"

— Hardly ever (since not every month has 30 days, though this is less common than 'tous les 36 du mois').

Il range sa chambre tous les trente du mois.

informal

"Passer par trente-six chemins"

— To beat around the bush or take a long way.

N'y allez pas par trente-six chemins, dites la vérité.

informal

"Un de ces trente-six matins"

— One of these days (vague future).

J'irai le voir un de ces trente-six matins.

informal

Fácil de confundir

trente vs treize

Similar initial sound.

Treize is 13, Trente is 30. The vowels are completely different.

J'ai treize ans (young) vs J'ai trente ans (adult).

trente vs trentaine

Related root.

Trente is exactly 30; trentaine is about 30.

Il y a trente personnes (exactly) vs une trentaine (approx).

trente vs tranche

Similar spelling/sound.

Tranche means a slice or a bracket.

Une tranche de pain vs trente pains.

trente vs tente

Rhyming word.

Tente means a tent.

Je dors dans une tente vs j'ai trente ans.

trente vs tante

Homophone in some accents.

Tante means aunt.

Ma tante a trente ans.

Patrones de oraciones

J'ai [nombre] ans.

J'ai trente ans.

Il est [heure] trente.

Il est six heures trente.

Il y a une trentaine de [nom].

Il y a une trentaine de pommes.

C'est mon [nombre]ième [nom].

C'est mon trentième voyage.

[Nombre] pour cent de...

Trente pour cent des gens...

Au cours des trente dernières [nom]...

Au cours des trente dernières années...

Trente fois sur le métier...

Trente fois sur le métier, remettez votre ouvrage.

Ça coûte [nombre] euros.

Ça coûte trente euros.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

trentaine

trentenaire

Adjetivos

trentième

trentenaire

Relacionado

trois

treize

trentième

trentenaire

trentaine

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely frequent in all domains.

Errores comunes

Je suis trente ans. → J'ai trente ans.
In French, we use 'to have' for age, not 'to be'.
Trente-un → Trente et un
Numbers ending in 1 (except 81, 91) require the conjunction 'et'.
J'ai trente. → J'ai trente ans.
You cannot omit 'ans' when stating your age in French.
Les trentes livres. → Les trente livres.
Cardinal numbers are invariable and do not take an 's'.
Il est huit heures et trente. → Il est huit heures trente.
Do not use 'et' before 'trente' in time unless saying 'et demie'.

Consejos

Nasal Clarity

Ensure your 'en' in 'trente' doesn't sound like 'on'. Keep your mouth slightly more open.

The 'Et' Rule

Remember: trente ET un, but trente-deux. Only the number one gets the 'and'.

Approximations

Use 'une trentaine de' to sound more like a native speaker when you aren't 100% sure of the count.

Historical Context

Mentioning 'Les Trente Glorieuses' in a conversation about history will impress French speakers.

Hyphenation

When in doubt, modern French rules allow hyphens between all parts of a number.

Treize vs Trente

Listen for the 'z' at the end of 13. If you hear a 't', it's 30.

Age Etiquette

In France, 'trente ans' is a proud milestone, but always use 'avoir' to be polite.

Dress to Impress

Use 'trente-et-un' when you see a friend looking very sharp.

Base 10

Think of 'trente' as 'trois' + 'dix' to help remember the root.

Digital Time

In digital formats, always use 'trente' instead of 'demie'.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'TENT' with 'THREE' (TR-ENTE) people inside. Three-tens equals thirty.

Asociación visual

Imagine a large birthday cake with three candles, each representing ten years, totaling thirty.

Word Web

30 Age Time Trente Glorieuses Trentaine Trentième Money Counting

Desafío

Try to find thirty objects in your room and count them out loud in French, ending with 'trente'.

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Latin 'triginta', which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European 'tri-' (three) and '-ginta' (tens). It has remained remarkably stable in form through the transition from Vulgar Latin to Old French and finally Modern French.

Significado original: Three groups of ten.

Romance

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities, though age can be a sensitive topic for some 'trentenaires'.

English speakers often find the French 'trente et un' (31) logical compared to the 'eighty-one' (quatre-vingt-un) which follows later.

Les Trente Glorieuses (Jean Fourastié) La Guerre de Trente Ans Le Trentième Rugissant (Nautical area)

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Telling Age

J'ai trente ans.
Il a bientôt trente ans.
Pour mes trente ans...
Elle fait plus que ses trente ans.

Telling Time

Huit heures trente.
Trente minutes de retard.
Toutes les trente minutes.
Il est la demie (equivalent).

Shopping

Ça fait trente euros.
Trente pour cent de rabais.
J'en voudrais trente.
C'est trente euros le kilo.

Math/Counting

Vingt plus dix font trente.
Comptez jusqu'à trente.
Trente divisé par deux.
Le numéro trente.

Travel

Le bus trente.
À trente kilomètres.
Trente minutes de trajet.
Quai numéro trente.

Inicios de conversación

"Saviez-vous que j'ai exactement trente ans aujourd'hui ?"

"Est-ce que le bus trente s'arrête près du musée du Louvre ?"

"Pouvez-vous me donner trente euros de monnaie, s'il vous plaît ?"

"Combien de temps dure le trajet ? Environ trente minutes ?"

"C'est vrai qu'il y a trente jours dans le mois de novembre ?"

Temas para diario

Décrivez ce que vous aimeriez faire pour votre trentième anniversaire.

Imaginez que vous gagnez trente millions d'euros. Que feriez-vous ?

Écrivez sur une période de trente minutes qui a changé votre vie.

Quels sont les trente objets les plus importants dans votre maison ?

Pensez-vous que la trentaine est le meilleur âge de la vie ? Pourquoi ?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, cardinal numbers like 'trente' do not change for gender or number. You write 'trente hommes' and 'trente femmes' the same way.

You say 'trente et un'. Note the 'et' which is only used for numbers ending in 1 (except 81 and 91).

Use 'trente' for an exact count (30). Use 'trentaine' when you are guessing or talking about a group (about 30).

It is a nasal vowel. Imagine saying 'ah' but letting the sound come out through your nose without closing your mouth.

By itself, no. In compound numbers like 'trente-deux', yes. In 'trente et un', traditionally no, but modern rules allow it.

You say 'trentième'. It is formed by adding '-ième' to the root 'trent-'.

Yes, for the 30th of the month. 'Le trente novembre'.

It means to dress up very nicely for a special occasion.

Yes, as in 'le numéro trente' or 'jouer le trente' in roulette.

Yes, it represents the second point won in a game.

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