The X Numbers: Deux, Six, Dix

Par Marie-Claire Lander

In The X Factor, we focused on the various pronunciations of the letter x. We learned that x is usually silent at the end of words, including a few numbers. There are just three numerals (not including the larger numbers composed of them) ending in x in French: deux, six, dix (two, six, ten). These numbers are a breed apart, as they follow their own set of rules.

As mentioned in our earlier lesson, the final x in a word is silent in most situations, such as when the word is isolated or followed by punctuation. Note how Patricia pronounces deux (i.e., does not pronounce the x) in her lesson on numbers:

Deux.

Two.

Caption 5, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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The same rule applies to all numbers ending in deux. This time, soixante-deux (sixty-two) is followed by a comma, also making the final x silent. (We'll deal with the x in soixante in a moment.)

soixante-deux, soixante-trois

sixty-two, sixty-three

Captions 24-25, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 2
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In addition, the x in deux, six, and dix is silent when followed by a word beginning with a consonant, as in six minutes (six minutes) and dix premiers (first ten):

On va dire approximativement cinq à six minutes.

We'll say approximately five to six minutes.

Caption 39, Alsace 20 Grain de Sel: Au Caveau de l'étable à Niederbronn-les-Bains
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On appelle les dix premiers nombres composés de deux chiffres les dizaines.

We call the first ten numbers composed of two digits the tens.

Captions 34-35, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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Note, however, that there is a second pronunciation that is also correct. You might hear the x sounded like a soft s: diS premiers, siS minutes. The s sound helps emphasize quantity. Strangely enough, this never occurs with deux (two), whose x stays silent.

On the other hand, the liaison rule is not optional and applies to all three numbers. The presence of a vowel or silent h will trigger a change in pronunciation, and the final x in deux/dix/six will sound like a z to form the liaison. Listen to the examples in the videos below. Do you hear the z sound in deuZ enfants (two children), siZ ans (six years), and diZ-huit (eighteen)?

Je suis avec mes deux enfants et mon mari.

I'm with my two children and my husband.

Caption 64, Actus Quartier Devant la SNCF
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Et nous sommes mariés depuis six ans maintenant.

And we've been married for six years now.

Caption 15, Ahlam et Timothé Des conversations basiques
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Dix-huit.

Eighteen.

Caption 54, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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Interestingly, a liaison also occurs with the number dix-neuf (nineteen), pronounced diZ-neuf, even though neuf starts with a consonant!

Pareil pour dix-neuf.

Same for nineteen.

Caption 55, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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Going back to a more regular pattern, you will also hear the z sound in ordinal numbers, as in sixième (sixth), deuxième (second), and dixième (tenth), since the x is between two vowels:

Il nous avait assurés qu'il n'y aurait pas de deuxième confinement.

He had assured us that there would be no second lockdown.

Caption 12, Lionel L Le deuxième confinement
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Donc au sixième étage tu peux manger

So on the sixth floor you can eat

Caption 72, Amal et Caroline Centre Georges Pompidou
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So far so good, but here comes another set of exceptions: the rogue sixties (and seventies)! All numbers containing soixante (sixty) escape the z-sound rule. Whereas usually an x between two vowels is pronounced like a z, in soixante it sounds like an s instead. Listen to Patricia again. Do you hear the s sounds in soiSSante (sixty) and soiSSante-siS (sixty-six)?

Et soixante. Soixante et un.

And sixty. Sixty-one.

Captions 22-23, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 2
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Soixante-six.

Sixty-six.

Caption 28, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 2
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Besides the exception above, there are other regular instances when the x should sound like s. When isolated or separated by punctuation, dix and six sound like diS and siS. (But as mentioned, deux keeps its silent x.) Here's Patricia again:

Six.

Six.

Caption 9, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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Après dix, on aura donc dans les dizaines...

After ten, we will thus have, in the tens...

Caption 36, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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You're more likely to use the s sound when counting or doing math:

Dix-sept, c'est dix plus sept.

Seventeen is ten plus seven.

Captions 49-50, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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These frequent switches between sounds come naturally to native French speakers but can be a bit of a puzzle for new learners. Note how Patricia toggles between diZ and diS effortlessly:

Pareil pour dix-huit. Dix plus huit.

Same for eighteen. Ten plus eight.

Captions 52-53, Le saviez-vous? Les chiffres et les nombres - Part 1
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In short, the pronunciation of the numbers deux, six, and dix may seem very inconsistent and challenging at times. But with practice and listening to many Yabla videos, things will become easier. Here's a summary to help you:

The x is silent when a consonant follows the number:

deux parapluies (two umbrellas)

six voitures (six cars)

dix maisons (ten houses)

And when deux is isolated or separated by punctuation:

Deux. (Two.)

Un, deux, trois. (One, two, three.)

The x sounds like a Z when a liaison occurs:

deux amis (deuZ amis, two friends)

six enfants (siZ enfants, six children)

deuxième, sixième, dixième (deuZième, siZième, diZième, second, sixth, tenth)

dix-huit (diZ-huit, eighteen)