How to Pronounce the Years in French

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Let's get physical: Make vocabulary

   Do lessons online for pronouncing years and such.
   
   For example, you might try searching online for others such as this at French.About.com/od/grammar/a/years.htm
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   Step 2: study/quiz cards

   Erase it off the plastic, and do it again. ,,, (1) Pronounce 1995 like a regular number. 1995 = Dix-neuf quatre-vingt quinze (dee-s nerf catruh van carns).
   
   Literally "nineteen ninety-five." Or, (2) Use the centaines vigésimales (or vicésimales) counting system: and so break the year into two parts, both as two-digit numbers (a) the century and (b) the year, and place the word "cent" between the pair; so for 1999 say "dix-neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf". , You can then use different numbers with them to create different years.
   
   State the year: 2013 = Deux mille treize (der mil trez).
   
   Which is literally "Two thousand thirteen." 660 = Six cent soixante (cease sohn swassont).
   
   Which is literally "Six hundred sixty."
   
   "It is the year six hundred" just say "C'est l'an six cent" (Sey lon cease sohn). ,
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   Step 3: word and phrase cards

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   Step 4: out of slips of paper or cards and study as you walk around in a grocery store

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   Step 5: mall or on campus.

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   Step 6: Make a copy of your notes and white-out key words to test yourself by filling-in the blank.Reuse your self-made test by placing it in a clear sheet protector then writing on the plastic with an erasable marker to fill-in the blank.

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   Step 7: Make a written list with two or three columns with the (1) English

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   Step 8: (2) French wording and (3) its pronunciation.

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   Step 9: Start by writing out a few two or three column lessons

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    Step 10: and say the present year as

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    Step 11: "It is the year..." If the year ends in an "0"

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    Step 12: say "C'est l'an" (sey lon) If the year doesn't end in an "0"

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    Step 13: say "C'est l'année" (sey lahnee)

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    Step 14: Pronounce past years 1100s - 1990s: Say "This was the year..." For past years

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    Step 15: you can say "Ce fut l'année" (sey few lahnee)

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    Step 16: perhaps 1995

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    Step 17: but there is a second equally valid option.

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    Step 18: Use "mille" (or "mil") which means "thousand" -- as you would "cent" meaning "hundred".

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    Step 19: Say the entire sentence in present tense

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    Step 20: including: "It is the year": "It is the year two thousand thirteen" just say "C'est l'année deux mille treize" (Sey lahnee der mil trez).

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    Step 21: Say the entire sentence for past years

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    Step 22: including: "This was the year": "This was the year nineteen ninety-five"

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    Step 23: say "Ce fut l'année: dix-neuf quatre-vingt quinze" (sey few lahnee: dee-s nerf catruh vahn carns).

Detailed Guide

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