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A1 numeral #1,400 most common 14 min read

quatre

Top 1,400

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips quatre in 30 Seconds

Explanation quatre in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'quatre' is introduced as a fundamental building block for basic communication. It is the cardinal number four. Learners at this stage must master 'quatre' to perform essential daily tasks such as counting objects from one to ten, stating their age, and understanding basic prices. For example, a beginner will learn to say 'J'ai quatre pommes' (I have four apples) or 'Il a quatre ans' (He is four years old). The focus is heavily on memorizing the spelling and the basic pronunciation, specifically ensuring that the 'qu' is pronounced as a hard 'k' and not a 'kw'. Furthermore, 'quatre' is crucial for basic time-telling at this level. Learners are taught to recognize and say 'Il est quatre heures' (It is four o'clock). The invariability of the number is also introduced here; students learn that 'quatre' never takes an 's' when used to count plural nouns. Mastery of 'quatre' at A1 provides the necessary foundation for all subsequent numerical learning in French.

Moving to the A2 level, the use of 'quatre' expands into more complex daily situations. Learners begin to encounter 'quatre' within compound numbers up to 100, such as 'vingt-quatre' (24) and 'trente-quatre' (34). They also learn to use it in dates, such as 'le quatre avril' (the fourth of April). At this stage, the phonetic nuances become more important. A2 learners are expected to understand and practice the liaison when 'quatre' precedes a vowel, as in 'quatre amis' (/ka.tʁa.mi/), and recognize that the final 're' is often softened or dropped in spoken French before a consonant. Additionally, 'quatre' is used more frequently in transactional contexts, such as understanding prices like 'quatre euros cinquante' or asking for specific quantities in shops. The distinction between 'quatre' (four) and 'quatrième' (fourth) is solidified at this level, allowing learners to describe sequences and floors in a building.

At the B1 level, learners are expected to use 'quatre' fluently and begin to understand its cultural and idiomatic applications. The most significant grammatical hurdle involving 'quatre' at this level is mastering the French numbering system for 80, 'quatre-vingts'. Learners must understand the unique rule where 'vingts' takes an 's' when it stands alone (80) but drops the 's' when followed by another number (e.g., 'quatre-vingt-un' for 81). Culturally, B1 students are introduced to concepts like 'le quatre-heures', the traditional French afternoon snack, and the 'quatre-quarts' pound cake. Idiomatic expressions also start to appear. Learners might encounter phrases like 'un de ces quatre' (one of these days) in informal dialogues. The ability to distinguish between 'quatre' and 'quart' (quarter) becomes crucial, especially when discussing time ('quatre heures et quart') or fractions in recipes.

For B2 learners, 'quatre' is fully integrated into their active vocabulary, and the focus shifts to nuanced usage, advanced idioms, and rapid spoken comprehension. At this level, students should effortlessly understand the elision of 're' in fast, colloquial speech, recognizing 'quat' matins' as 'quatre matins'. They will encounter more complex idiomatic expressions, such as 'se mettre en quatre pour quelqu'un' (to bend over backwards for someone) or 'couper les cheveux en quatre' (to split hairs). These expressions require an understanding of 'quatre' not just as a number, but as a concept representing division or extreme effort. Furthermore, B2 learners will use 'quatre' in more professional or abstract contexts, such as discussing 'le quatrième trimestre' (the fourth quarter of a financial year) or understanding historical references like 'la Quatrième République'.

At the C1 level, the usage of 'quatre' is expected to be near-native. Learners understand the subtle registers and stylistic choices involving the number. They can easily navigate complex literary or journalistic texts where 'quatre' might be used metaphorically or within sophisticated rhetorical structures. Expressions like 'à quatre épingles' (dressed to the nines/impeccably dressed) or 'dire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un' (to tell someone some home truths) are understood and used appropriately. C1 learners also have a deep understanding of the phonetic variations across different Francophone regions, recognizing how the pronunciation of 'quatre' might shift slightly in Quebec versus France or Senegal. They can effortlessly switch between formal, enunciated French where the 're' is pronounced, and highly informal French where it is entirely dropped.

At the C2 mastery level, 'quatre' is understood in its complete historical, etymological, and sociolinguistic context. A C2 speaker knows that the spelling 'quatre' derives from the Latin 'quattuor' and understands why the 'qu' produces a 'k' sound. They are aware of highly specific or archaic uses of the word and can play with its meaning in puns or creative writing. They understand the sociolinguistic implications of dropping the 're' in 'quatre'—knowing exactly when it is appropriate to say 'quat' sous' to sound colloquial and when it would be considered too informal. At this level, the learner has internalized all idiomatic, cultural, and phonetic aspects of 'quatre', using it with the same unconscious competence as a native speaker, whether discussing a 'quatre-mâts' (four-masted ship) in literature or employing it in complex, spontaneous debate.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

quatre in 30 Seconds

The number 4.
Pronounced with a hard 'k'.
Never takes an 's' (invariable).
Used in 'quatre-vingts' (80).

The French word 'quatre' translates directly to the English number 'four'. It is one of the most fundamental building blocks of the French language, categorized under the CEFR A1 level, meaning it is among the very first words a language learner will encounter and must master. Understanding 'quatre' goes far beyond simply knowing its numerical value; it involves grasping its pronunciation, its invariable nature in grammar, and its deep-rooted presence in French culture, idioms, and daily life. When people use 'quatre', they are often quantifying objects, expressing time, stating their age, or navigating through the complex French numbering system, which famously uses 'quatre' as a base in higher numbers like 'quatre-vingts' (eighty). The spelling of 'quatre' originates from the Latin 'quattuor', and while the spelling has evolved, the core phonetic 'k' sound at the beginning has remained a staple.

Etymology: Derived from Latin quattuor, maintaining the hard 'k' sound despite the 'qu' spelling.

In everyday conversations, you will hear 'quatre' in supermarkets when asking for quantities, such as 'quatre pommes' (four apples) or 'quatre croissants' (four croissants). It is also essential for telling time; 'quatre heures' can mean four o'clock, but in French culture, 'le quatre-heures' specifically refers to the traditional afternoon snack that children eat after school, a beloved cultural institution similar to British tea time but centered around sweet treats like pain au chocolat or biscuits.

Je voudrais quatre baguettes, s'il vous plaît.

Furthermore, 'quatre' appears in culinary contexts, most notably in the 'quatre-quarts', a traditional French pound cake made of four equal parts of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. This demonstrates how a simple number permeates various aspects of life. In terms of grammar, 'quatre' is a cardinal number and is generally invariable, meaning it does not change its form to agree in gender or number with the noun it modifies. You say 'quatre garçons' (four boys) and 'quatre filles' (four girls), with no change to the word 'quatre' itself. The only exception to its invariability is when it is part of the number eighty ('quatre-vingts') and is not followed by another number, where 'vingts' takes an 's', but 'quatre' remains unchanged.

Mon grand-père a quatre-vingts ans.

Pronunciation can be tricky for English speakers. The 'qu' makes a hard 'k' sound, never a 'kw' sound like in the English word 'queen'. The 'a' is short and open, and the 'tre' at the end is often swallowed or softened in rapid spoken French, making 'quatre' sound almost like 'quat'. For example, 'quatre chats' (four cats) might sound like 'quat chats' in casual speech.

Pronunciation Rule: The 're' is often dropped before consonants in informal speech, but pronounced clearly before vowels.

However, when followed by a vowel, the 'r' and sometimes the 't' are pronounced clearly to link the words, as in 'quatre amis' (four friends). Understanding these nuances is crucial for achieving fluency and sounding like a native speaker.

Nous sommes quatre dans ma famille.

Beyond literal counting, 'quatre' is embedded in numerous idiomatic expressions. For instance, 'se mettre en quatre' means to bend over backwards or to go to great lengths for someone, illustrating the number's association with effort and division of oneself. Another common phrase is 'un de ces quatre', short for 'un de ces quatre matins', which translates to 'one of these days' or 'sometime soon'. This casual farewell is ubiquitous in informal French.

On se voit un de ces quatre !

In summary, 'quatre' is not just a digit; it is a versatile, culturally rich word that serves as a gateway to understanding French phonetics, culinary traditions, and everyday social interactions. Mastering its use, pronunciation, and the various contexts in which it appears will significantly enhance a learner's confidence and competence in the French language, laying a solid foundation for more advanced numerical and conversational skills.

Cultural Note: The number four is considered a standard base for many traditional French recipes and historical measurements.

Il a acheté quatre livres à la librairie.

Using 'quatre' in sentences is generally straightforward for English speakers, as its syntactic behavior closely mirrors that of the English word 'four'. However, there are subtle nuances in French grammar and phonetics that must be observed to use it correctly and sound natural. First and foremost, 'quatre' is a cardinal number and functions primarily as a determiner. This means it is placed directly before the noun it modifies.

Placement: Always place 'quatre' before the noun, never after. It replaces the article unless specifying 'the four'.

For example, to say 'four cars', you say 'quatre voitures'. If you want to say 'the four cars', you add the definite article before the number: 'les quatre voitures'. This structure is identical to English.

J'ai vu quatre oiseaux dans le ciel.

One of the most critical grammatical rules to remember is that 'quatre', like almost all cardinal numbers in French, is invariable. It does not change its spelling to reflect the gender (masculine or feminine) or the number (singular or plural) of the noun it accompanies. Whether you are counting masculine nouns like 'quatre chiens' (four dogs) or feminine nouns like 'quatre chaises' (four chairs), 'quatre' remains exactly the same.

Elle a quatre sœurs et un frère.

The phonetic integration of 'quatre' into a sentence is where learners often stumble. French is a language that heavily relies on rhythm and flow, which is achieved through mechanisms like elision and liaison. When 'quatre' is followed by a word beginning with a consonant, the final 're' is often barely pronounced in everyday speech. Saying 'quatre garçons' quickly sounds like 'quat' garçons'.

Spoken French: In fast, informal speech, 'quatre' is often truncated to 'quat' before consonants.

Conversely, when 'quatre' precedes a noun starting with a vowel or a mute 'h', a liaison occurs. The 'r' sound bridges the gap between the two words, ensuring a smooth transition. For instance, 'quatre ans' (four years) is pronounced /ka.tʁɑ̃/, with the 'r' clearly linking to the 'a' of 'ans'.

Mon fils a quatre ans aujourd'hui.

Furthermore, 'quatre' is used extensively in compound numbers. From twenty-four (vingt-quatre) to the infamous eighty (quatre-vingts), 'quatre' is a recurring element. When writing compound numbers less than one hundred, a hyphen is traditionally used to connect the parts, as in 'trente-quatre' (thirty-four).

Le billet coûte vingt-quatre euros.

In the context of telling time, 'quatre' is essential. You say 'Il est quatre heures' for 'It is four o'clock'. To say 'a quarter past four', you say 'quatre heures et quart'. Notice the distinction between 'quatre' (four) and 'quart' (quarter); confusing these two is a common error for beginners.

Time Expressions: Always use 'heures' after 'quatre' when telling time, unlike English where 'o'clock' can be omitted.

Finally, 'quatre' can act as a pronoun when the noun it refers to is understood from the context. For example, if someone asks 'Combien de pommes veux-tu ?' (How many apples do you want?), you can simply reply 'J'en veux quatre' (I want four of them). Here, 'en' replaces 'pommes', and 'quatre' stands alone at the end of the sentence.

Il y a beaucoup de gâteaux, j'en prends quatre.

Mastering these syntactic and phonetic rules will ensure that you use 'quatre' accurately and confidently in any conversational setting.

The word 'quatre' is ubiquitous in the French-speaking world, echoing through bustling markets, quiet classrooms, and lively cafes. As a foundational number, its applications are endless, making it one of the most frequently heard words in daily life. One of the primary environments where you will encounter 'quatre' is in commerce and retail. Whether you are at a traditional boulangerie asking for 'quatre pains au chocolat' or at a modern supermarket checking the price of an item that costs 'quatre euros', the number is indispensable for transactions.

Shopping Context: Quantities and prices frequently use 'quatre'. Listen for it at the checkout counter.

Ça fera quatre euros et cinquante centimes, s'il vous plaît.

Another common setting is when discussing time and schedules. In France, the 24-hour clock is widely used for official purposes, but the 12-hour clock remains common in casual conversation. You will frequently hear 'quatre heures' (four o'clock) when people are setting up meetings, planning dinner, or anticipating the end of the workday.

Le train part à seize heures quatre.

In the realm of personal information, 'quatre' is vital. When giving your age, you might say 'J'ai vingt-quatre ans' (I am twenty-four years old). When sharing contact details, French phone numbers are traditionally dictated in pairs of digits. A phone number starting with 04 (common for the southeastern region of France) will be read as 'zéro quatre'.

Phone Numbers: French phone numbers are grouped in twos. 04 is read 'zéro quatre'.

Mon numéro est le zéro quatre, vingt-deux...

Addresses also heavily feature the number. Living at 'numéro quatre, rue de la Paix' or in the 'quatrième arrondissement' (often written as Paris 4e) are everyday uses. The arrondissements of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille are central to navigating these cities, and knowing your numbers is key.

Il habite au quatre avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Culturally, 'quatre' pops up in idioms and expressions that you will hear in movies, television shows, and casual chats. The expression 'couper les cheveux en quatre' (to split hairs, literally to cut hair into four) is used when someone is being overly meticulous or pedantic. 'Monter les escaliers quatre à quatre' means to bound up the stairs taking four steps at a time, indicating haste or boundless energy.

Idiomatic Usage: 'Quatre' often represents a small, manageable division or a significant effort in French idioms.

Arrête de couper les cheveux en quatre !

In sports, a 'quatre sans barreur' refers to a coxless four in rowing, and in music, a 'quatuor' is a quartet, though 'quatre' is used to describe the number of musicians. From the mundane task of setting a table for four people ('une table pour quatre') to understanding the historical context of the 'Quatrième République' (Fourth Republic), the word 'quatre' is deeply woven into the fabric of the French language and society. By tuning your ear to these various contexts, you will quickly realize how indispensable this simple number truly is.

While 'quatre' is a basic vocabulary word, English speakers frequently make several specific mistakes when using it. These errors generally fall into three categories: pronunciation, spelling, and grammatical agreement. Addressing these common pitfalls early on is crucial for developing accurate and natural-sounding French. The most prevalent mistake is undoubtedly pronunciation. Because the word starts with 'qu', English speakers instinctively want to pronounce it like the 'qu' in 'queen' or 'quick', resulting in a 'kw' sound (kwat-ruh). This is incorrect. In French, 'qu' almost always produces a hard 'k' sound. Therefore, 'quatre' should be pronounced starting with a crisp 'k' (/katʁ/).

Pronunciation Error: Never say 'kwatre'. Always use a hard 'k' sound: 'katre'.

Pronounce it: /katʁ/, not /kwatʁ/ pour le mot quatre.

Another pronunciation issue involves the ending '-re'. Beginners often over-pronounce the 'ruh' sound at the end, making it a heavy, distinct syllable. In fluent French, especially before a word starting with a consonant, this '-re' is very soft, almost whispered, or dropped entirely in informal speech ('quat' chiens').

Il a quatre voitures. (Sounds like: quat' voitures)

Conversely, learners sometimes fail to make the necessary liaison when 'quatre' is followed by a vowel. For example, 'quatre enfants' (four children) should be pronounced with the 'r' linking to the 'e' (/ka.tʁɑ̃.fɑ̃/). Failing to make this liaison disrupts the rhythmic flow characteristic of the French language.

Liaison Rule: Always link the 'r' in 'quatre' to the following noun if it begins with a vowel or mute h.

J'ai quatre amis fidèles.

Moving to spelling and grammar, a very common mistake is adding an 's' to 'quatre' when it modifies a plural noun. Because English speakers are trained to make adjectives agree with plural nouns (e.g., 'the blue cars' -> 'les voitures bleues'), they sometimes write 'les quatres voitures'. This is a strict grammatical error. Cardinal numbers like 'quatre' are invariable.

Faux: quatres chats. Vrai: quatre chats.

Finally, learners frequently confuse 'quatre' (four) with similar-sounding words, most notably 'quart' (quarter) and 'quatrième' (fourth). This confusion often arises when telling time. To say 'a quarter past four', you must say 'quatre heures et quart'. Saying 'quatre heures et quatre' means 'four minutes past four'.

Vocabulary Confusion: Do not mix up 'quatre' (4) with 'quart' (1/4). They sound similar but have different meanings.

Il est trois heures moins le quart, pas moins le quatre.

By consciously avoiding the 'kw' pronunciation, remembering the invariability rule (no 's'), and distinguishing 'quatre' from 'quart', learners can easily overcome these common hurdles and use the number four with native-like precision.

While 'quatre' specifically means the number four, it belongs to a broader family of related words and numerical concepts that are essential for navigating the French language. Understanding these similar words and alternatives helps to build a richer vocabulary and prevents common confusions. The most direct relative of 'quatre' is 'quatrième', which is the ordinal number meaning 'fourth'. While 'quatre' is used for counting quantities (one, two, three, four), 'quatrième' is used for ordering or ranking (first, second, third, fourth).

Ordinal Number: Use 'quatrième' when referring to the position in a sequence, such as the fourth floor.

J'habite au quatrième étage.

Another highly similar word that frequently trips up learners is 'quart', meaning 'quarter' or 'one-fourth'. Phonetically, 'quart' sounds very similar to 'quatre', especially when the final 're' of 'quatre' is swallowed in fast speech. However, 'quart' ends in a silent 't' (unless in liaison) and refers to a fraction, not a whole number. You use 'quart' when telling time ('et quart' for quarter past) or measuring ingredients ('un quart de litre').

Il est midi et quart.

In the realm of higher numbers, 'quatre' forms the base for 'quarante' (forty). Notice the spelling shift from 'quatr-' to 'quarant-'. Furthermore, 'quatre' is famously part of the French vigesimal (base-20) counting system used for numbers from 80 to 99. 'Quatre-vingts' literally translates to 'four twenties', meaning eighty.

Multiples: 'Quarante' is 40. 'Quatre-vingts' is 80. Both derive from the root concept of four.

Ce livre coûte quarante euros.

When discussing groups of four, French offers specific nouns. A 'quatuor' refers to a quartet, most commonly used in musical contexts, such as a string quartet ('un quatuor à cordes'). For a more general group of four things or people, you might occasionally hear 'une tétrade', though this is highly academic or scientific.

J'adore écouter ce quatuor de jazz.

Another related term is 'quadruple', which is identical in spelling and meaning to the English word, meaning four times as much. To multiply by four is 'quadrupler'.

Multipliers: Use 'quadruple' to express four times the amount of something.

Le prix a quadruplé en dix ans.

By recognizing these related words—quatrième, quart, quarante, quatre-vingts, quatuor, and quadruple—you can see how the concept of 'four' branches out into various specialized terms, allowing for much more precise and varied expression in French than simply using the base number 'quatre' repeatedly.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the Middle Ages, 'quatre' was sometimes spelled 'quater'. The number four has always been highly symbolic in French culture, representing stability and the earth (four seasons, four elements, four cardinal directions).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /katʁ/

US /katʁ/

The stress is on the first syllable 'qua'.

Rhymes With

battre abattre combattre débattre rabattre emplâtre théâtre marâtre

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'qu' as 'kw' (like in 'queen'). It must be a hard 'k'.
Over-pronouncing the final 're' as a heavy 'ruh'. It should be very soft or silent before consonants.
Failing to make the liaison before vowels (e.g., 'quatre ans' should sound like 'kat-ran').
Confusing the pronunciation with 'quart' (quarter), which has a nasal vowel and silent 't'.
Adding a 'z' sound incorrectly when there is no liaison.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it is a basic number.

Writing 2/5

The 'qu' spelling can be slightly tricky for absolute beginners.

Speaking 3/5

Pronouncing the hard 'k' and managing the final 're' liaison requires practice.

Listening 3/5

Can be hard to catch when the 're' is dropped in fast speech ('quat').

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

un deux trois nombre combien

Learn Next

cinq six quatrième quart quarante

Advanced

quatre-vingts quatuor quadruple tétrade quadrilatère

Grammar to Know

Invariability of Cardinal Numbers

Quatre chats (not quatres chats).

Liaison with Numbers

Quatre amis (pronounce the 'r').

Hyphenation in Compound Numbers

Trente-quatre (34).

The Number 80 Exception

Quatre-vingts (takes an 's').

Telling Time Syntax

Il est quatre heures (must use 'heures').

Examples by Level

J'ai quatre chats.

I have four cats.

Quatre is invariable; it does not take an 's'.

Il est quatre heures.

It is four o'clock.

Use 'heures' after the number to tell time.

Elle a quatre ans.

She is four years old.

Liaison: pronounce the 'r' before 'ans'.

Je vois quatre voitures.

I see four cars.

Quatre comes before the noun.

Nous sommes quatre.

There are four of us.

Quatre can stand alone as a pronoun.

Le livre coûte quatre euros.

The book costs four euros.

Used for pricing.

Il y a quatre pommes.

There are four apples.

Basic counting.

J'habite au numéro quatre.

I live at number four.

Used in addresses.

Mon anniversaire est le quatre mai.

My birthday is May fourth.

Use the cardinal number 'quatre' for dates, not 'quatrième'.

Il a vingt-quatre ans.

He is twenty-four years old.

Hyphenate compound numbers below 100.

Je voudrais quatre croissants, s'il vous plaît.

I would like four croissants, please.

Standard ordering phrase.

Il y a quatre saisons dans une année.

There are four seasons in a year.

General facts.

Prenez la ligne quatre du métro.

Take metro line four.

Used for transportation routes.

Nous partons dans quatre jours.

We are leaving in four days.

Expressing future time.

Elle travaille quatre jours par semaine.

She works four days a week.

Expressing frequency.

C'est la page trente-quatre.

It is page thirty-four.

Compound number usage.

On se voit un de ces quatre !

See you one of these days!

Informal idiom meaning 'sometime soon'.

Ma grand-mère a quatre-vingts ans.

My grandmother is eighty years old.

Note the 's' on 'vingts' when it is exactly 80.

Il est quatre heures et quart.

It is a quarter past four.

Distinguish between 'quatre' (4) and 'quart' (1/4).

Les enfants mangent leur quatre-heures.

The children are eating their afternoon snack.

'Le quatre-heures' is a hyphenated noun.

J'ai préparé un quatre-quarts pour le dessert.

I baked a pound cake for dessert.

Culinary vocabulary.

Il habite dans le quatrième arrondissement, Paris quatre.

He lives in the 4th district, Paris 4.

Addresses in major cities.

Il a couru les quatre cents mètres.

He ran the four hundred meters.

Sports measurements.

Coupez la pizza en quatre parts égales.

Cut the pizza into four equal slices.

Fractions and division.

Il ne faut pas couper les cheveux en quatre.

We shouldn't split hairs.

Idiom for being overly pedantic.

Elle s'est mise en quatre pour nous aider.

She bent over backwards to help us.

Idiom for making a huge effort.

Il a monté les escaliers quatre à quatre.

He bounded up the stairs four at a time.

Idiom for moving very fast.

C'est un secret entre nous quatre.

It's a secret between the four of us.

Using 'quatre' as a pronoun with 'nous'.

La réunion a duré quatre bonnes heures.

The meeting lasted a good four hours.

Adding 'bonnes' emphasizes the length.

Il est parti sans dire ses quatre vérités.

He left without telling his home truths.

Idiom 'dire ses quatre vérités'.

Le bâtiment a été détruit aux trois quarts, presque quatre.

The building was three-quarters destroyed, almost four.

Complex fraction usage.

Il a quatre-vingt-dix-neuf problèmes.

He has ninety-nine problems.

Complex number system (4x20 + 19).

Il est toujours tiré à quatre épingles.

He is always dressed to the nines.

Idiom meaning impeccably dressed.

Ils ont discuté entre quatre z'yeux.

They had a private, face-to-face discussion.

Familiar idiom 'entre quatre yeux' (often pronounced with a 'z' liaison playfully).

Ce n'est pas un chef-d'œuvre, ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard, ni quatre.

It's no masterpiece, it's nothing special.

Play on the idiom 'casser trois pattes à un canard'.

Il a été condamné sous la Quatrième République.

He was convicted during the Fourth Republic.

Historical reference.

Un véhicule à quatre roues motrices est indispensable ici.

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is essential here.

Technical vocabulary.

Il a dispersé ses cendres aux quatre vents.

He scattered his ashes to the four winds.

Literary expression.

C'est un hôtel de quatre étoiles.

It is a four-star hotel.

Rating system.

Il mange comme quatre.

He eats like a horse (literally: like four people).

Idiom for having a huge appetite.

L'expression 'un de ces quatre' est une ellipse de 'un de ces quatre matins'.

The expression 'un de ces quatre' is an ellipsis of 'un de ces quatre matins'.

Metalinguistic discussion.

Dans le langage populaire, 'quatre' perd souvent sa consonne finale liquide.

In popular speech, 'quatre' often loses its final liquid consonant.

Phonetic analysis.

Le système vicésimal français s'illustre parfaitement avec 'quatre-vingts'.

The French vigesimal system is perfectly illustrated with 'quatre-vingts'.

Academic vocabulary.

Il a fallu se battre comme un beau diable pour ces quatre sous.

We had to fight like the devil for those meager pennies.

'Quatre sous' means a trivial amount of money.

La tétrade ou le groupe de quatre a une symbolique forte.

The tetrad or group of four has strong symbolism.

Philosophical context.

Il l'a envoyé au diable vauvert, aux quatre coins du monde.

He sent him to the middle of nowhere, to the four corners of the earth.

Combined literary idioms.

Le quatuor à cordes numéro quatre de Beethoven est sublime.

Beethoven's string quartet number four is sublime.

Classical music terminology.

Faire le diable à quatre ne résoudra rien.

Making a huge fuss won't solve anything.

Old-fashioned idiom for making a racket.

Common Collocations

quatre heures

quatre ans

quatre fois

quatre jours

quatre personnes

quatre coins

quatre pattes

quatre saisons

quatre murs

quatre vents

Common Phrases

un de ces quatre

— One of these days. Used to say goodbye or suggest a future, undefined meeting.

On s'appelle un de ces quatre !

le quatre-heures

— The afternoon snack. A traditional sweet snack eaten by children around 4 PM.

Les enfants réclament leur quatre-heures.

à quatre pattes

— On all fours. Used to describe crawling.

Le chien est à quatre pattes.

entre quatre yeux

— Face to face, privately. Used for a serious or confidential discussion.

Nous devons parler entre quatre yeux.

les quatre cents coups

— To live a wild life, sow one's wild oats. Often used to describe rebellious youth.

Il a fait les quatre cents coups dans sa jeunesse.

couper les cheveux en quatre

— To split hairs. To be overly meticulous or pedantic about small details.

Arrête de couper les cheveux en quatre !

se mettre en quatre

— To bend over backwards. To make a huge effort to help someone.

Elle s'est mise en quatre pour organiser la fête.

manger comme quatre

— To eat like a horse. To have a very large appetite.

Depuis qu'il fait du sport, il mange comme quatre.

tiré à quatre épingles

— Dressed to the nines. Impeccably dressed.

Il est toujours tiré à quatre épingles pour aller au travail.

monter quatre à quatre

— To take the stairs four at a time. To go up very quickly.

Il a monté les escaliers quatre à quatre.

Often Confused With

quatre vs quart

Means 'quarter' or 1/4. Sounds similar but ends in a silent 't' and is a fraction.

quatre vs quatrième

Means 'fourth'. It is an ordinal number used for ranking, not counting.

quatre vs quarante

Means 'forty'. Shares the 'quar' root but represents a much larger number.

Idioms & Expressions

"un de ces quatre matins"

— One of these days. A slightly longer version of 'un de ces quatre'.

Je rangerai mon bureau un de ces quatre matins.

informal

"faire le diable à quatre"

— To make a huge fuss or racket. To cause a scene.

L'enfant a fait le diable à quatre dans le magasin.

informal

"ne pas y aller par quatre chemins"

— To get straight to the point. Not to beat around the bush.

Je ne vais pas y aller par quatre chemins : tu es viré.

neutral

"dire ses quatre vérités"

— To tell someone some home truths. To speak frankly and harshly.

Je vais lui dire ses quatre vérités.

neutral

"aux quatre coins de"

— To the four corners of. Meaning everywhere or all over.

Il a voyagé aux quatre coins du monde.

neutral

"un quatre-quarts"

— A pound cake. Literally 'four quarters' (flour, sugar, butter, eggs).

J'ai préparé un quatre-quarts aux pommes.

neutral

"les quatre fers en l'air"

— Flat on one's back. Usually after a fall.

Il a glissé et s'est retrouvé les quatre fers en l'air.

informal

"à quatre épingles"

— Impeccably dressed. Very neat and tidy.

Elle est toujours tirée à quatre épingles.

formal

"quatre à quatre"

— Taking four steps at a time. Moving very fast.

Il descendait les marches quatre à quatre.

neutral

"en quatre mots"

— In a few words. Briefly.

Je vais vous résumer la situation en quatre mots.

neutral

Easily Confused

quatre vs quart

Phonetic similarity and related mathematical concept.

'Quatre' is the whole number 4. 'Quart' is the fraction 1/4.

J'ai quatre pommes. J'ai mangé un quart de pomme.

quatre vs quatrième

Related concept (four vs fourth).

'Quatre' counts quantity. 'Quatrième' indicates position in a sequence.

Il y a quatre étages. J'habite au quatrième.

quatre vs quarante

Visual and phonetic similarity at the beginning of the word.

'Quatre' is 4. 'Quarante' is 40.

Il a quatre ans. Son père a quarante ans.

quatre vs carré

Conceptual similarity (a square has four sides).

'Quatre' is the number. 'Carré' is the shape (square).

Un carré a quatre côtés.

quatre vs quatres

Learners try to make it plural.

'Quatres' is grammatically incorrect. 'Quatre' is invariable.

J'ai quatre (not quatres) chiens.

Sentence Patterns

J'ai quatre [noun].

J'ai quatre frères.

Il est quatre heures.

Il est quatre heures de l'après-midi.

Je voudrais quatre [noun].

Je voudrais quatre baguettes.

Le [date] [month].

Le quatre juillet.

Couper en quatre.

Coupez le gâteau en quatre.

Un de ces quatre.

On se voit un de ces quatre.

Se mettre en quatre pour [someone].

Il s'est mis en quatre pour moi.

Tiré à quatre épingles.

Il est arrivé tiré à quatre épingles.

Word Family

Nouns

le quatre (the number four)

un quatuor (a quartet)

un quartier (a quarter/neighborhood)

un quart (a fourth/quarter)

Verbs

quadrupler (to quadruple)

équarrir (to square)

Adjectives

quatrième (fourth)

quadruple (quadruple)

quarante (forty)

quatre-vingts (eighty)

quatorze (fourteen)

quadrilatère (quadrilateral)

quadrimestre (four-month period)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely High (Top 100 words)

Common Mistakes

Pronouncing 'qu' as 'kw' (kwatre). → Pronouncing it as a hard 'k' (katre).
In French, the letter combination 'qu' almost universally produces a hard 'k' sound.
Writing 'les quatres chats'. → Writing 'les quatre chats'.
Cardinal numbers like 'quatre' are invariable and never take a plural 's'.
Saying 'quatre heures et quatre' for 4:15. → Saying 'quatre heures et quart'.
You must use 'quart' (quarter) for time, not 'quatre' (four).
Saying 'le quatrième mai' for May 4th. → Saying 'le quatre mai'.
French uses cardinal numbers for all days of the month except the first (le premier).
Writing 'quatre-vingt' for 80. → Writing 'quatre-vingts'.
When 80 stands alone, 'vingts' takes an 's'. (It drops the 's' if followed by another number, e.g., quatre-vingt-un).

Tips

The Hard K

Always start 'quatre' with a sharp, hard 'K' sound. Forget the English 'kw' sound entirely.

No Plural S

Never write 'quatres'. Cardinal numbers are invariable in French.

The Disappearing RE

Train your ear to hear 'quat' instead of 'quatre' when native speakers talk fast.

Liaison is Key

Always pronounce the 'r' when the next word starts with a vowel, like 'quatre amis'.

Quatre vs Quart

Remember that 'quatre' is the number 4, and 'quart' is the fraction 1/4.

Le Quatre-Heures

If someone mentions 'le quatre-heures', they are talking about a snack, not the time.

Un de ces quatre

Use 'un de ces quatre' to sound like a native when saying goodbye casually.

Quatre-vingts

Remember that 80 is 'four twenties' (quatre-vingts) and it takes an 's'!

Hyphens in Numbers

Use a hyphen for numbers like vingt-quatre (24) and trente-quatre (34).

Dates use Quatre

Say 'le quatre avril', not 'le quatrième avril'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a CAT (kat) with an R on its tail. Kat-R = Quatre.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant number 4 made out of four cats (quatre chats). The hard 'k' sound of 'cat' reminds you of the hard 'k' sound of 'quatre'.

Word Web

quatre four number math time age quatrième quart

Challenge

Count backwards from 10 to 1 in French out loud. When you hit 'quatre', clap four times to reinforce the number.

Word Origin

The word 'quatre' comes directly from the Latin word 'quattuor', which means four. Over centuries of linguistic evolution from Vulgar Latin to Old French, the spelling and pronunciation shifted. The double 't' and the 'u' were simplified, leading to the modern French spelling 'quatre'. Despite the 'qu' spelling, the phonetic sound remained a hard 'k'.

Original meaning: Four (the numerical value).

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Gallo-Romance > French

Cultural Context

No specific cultural sensitivities. It is a neutral number.

Unlike in English where 'four o'clock' is often shortened to just 'four', in French you must always say 'quatre heures'.

Le film 'Les Quatre Cents Coups' (The 400 Blows) by François Truffaut. Le livre 'Les Quatre Mousquetaires' (The Four Musketeers - though the book is The Three Musketeers, there are four of them!). La pizza 'Quatre Fromages' (Four Cheese pizza).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Counting objects

Il y a quatre...
J'ai quatre...
Je voudrais quatre...
Donnez-moi quatre...

Telling time

Il est quatre heures
À quatre heures
Quatre heures et quart
Le quatre-heures

Giving age

J'ai vingt-quatre ans
Il a quatre ans
Elle va avoir quatre ans
Un enfant de quatre ans

Shopping/Prices

Ça coûte quatre euros
Quatre pour le prix d'un
Un billet de quatre
Quatre centimes

Addresses/Dates

Le quatre mai
Numéro quatre
Quatrième étage
Paris quatre

Conversation Starters

"Combien de frères et sœurs as-tu ? J'en ai quatre."

"À quelle heure finis-tu le travail ? À quatre heures."

"As-tu déjà goûté un vrai quatre-quarts breton ?"

"Sais-tu pourquoi on dit 'un de ces quatre' ?"

"Quel est ton numéro de téléphone ? Ça commence par zéro quatre ?"

Journal Prompts

Écris quatre choses que tu aimes faire le week-end.

Décris ta journée idéale en utilisant le mot 'quatre' au moins trois fois.

Raconte un souvenir lié à ton 'quatre-heures' quand tu étais enfant.

Fais une liste de quatre pays que tu aimerais visiter et pourquoi.

Imagine une histoire qui se passe dans la 'quatrième dimension'.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. In French, 'qu' is almost always pronounced as a hard 'k'. Do not say 'kwatre'. Say 'katre'.

No, 'quatre' is invariable when used to count objects. The only time you see an 's' related to it is in the number 'quatre-vingts' (80), but the 's' is on 'vingt'.

In fast, informal spoken French, the final 're' is often dropped before a word starting with a consonant to make the sentence flow faster. 'Quatre chiens' becomes 'quat' chiens'.

It is a cultural institution in France. It refers to the traditional sweet snack that children eat after school, usually around 4:00 PM.

You can use the common idiom 'un de ces quatre', which is short for 'un de ces quatre matins'.

It is a traditional French pound cake. The name literally means 'four quarters' because it is made of equal parts flour, sugar, butter, and eggs.

Eighty is 'quatre-vingts', which literally translates to 'four twenties'. It is part of the traditional base-20 counting system.

In French, you use cardinal numbers for dates, except for the first of the month. So you say 'le quatre mai' (May 4th), not 'le quatrième mai'.

Because 'ans' starts with a vowel, you must make a liaison. Pronounce the 'r' clearly to link the words: /ka.tʁɑ̃/ (kat-ran).

It is an idiom that means to split hairs, or to be overly pedantic and complicate things unnecessarily.

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write the number 4 in French.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

The spelling is q-u-a-t-r-e.