Learning to count in a new language is one of the most exciting parts of language learning. Numbers are essential in daily conversations, whether you’re shopping, telling time, or discussing large amounts. If you’ve ever wondered how to say “million” in French, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll explore how to pronounce and use the word “million” in French. You’ll also discover other ways to use it, understand how to respond when talking about large numbers, and practice with fun exercises. By the end, you’ll feel confident using “million” in your conversations!
Ways to Say Million in French
There are different ways to use “million” in French, depending on the context. Whether you’re discussing a large number, money, or general counting, understanding these variations will help you sound more fluent and precise. Here are 25 ways to say “million” in French with their meanings and examples:
Million
Pronunciation: mee-yon
Meaning: A million (1,000,000).
In a Sentence:
- Il a gagné un million de dollars. (He won a million dollars.)
- Un million de personnes ont participé au concert. (A million people attended the concert.)
Des millions
Pronunciation: day mee-yon
Meaning: Millions (used to indicate multiple millions).
In a Sentence:
- Des millions de touristes visitent Paris chaque année. (Millions of tourists visit Paris each year.)
- Elle a dépensé des millions pour cette maison. (She spent millions on that house.)
Un demi-million
Pronunciation: uh duh-mee mee-yon
Meaning: Half a million.
In a Sentence:
- La maison coûte un demi-million d’euros. (The house costs half a million euros.)
- Ils ont collecté un demi-million pour l’association caritative. (They raised half a million for the charity.)
Plusieurs millions
Pronunciation: ploo-zyer mee-yon
Meaning: Several millions.
In a Sentence:
- La société a investi plusieurs millions dans ce projet. (The company invested several millions in this project.)
- Plusieurs millions de personnes ont regardé la finale. (Several million people watched the final.)
Cent millions
Pronunciation: sahn mee-yon
Meaning: A hundred million.
In a Sentence:
- L’entreprise a fait un bénéfice de cent millions. (The company made a profit of a hundred million.)
- Cent millions de spectateurs ont suivi l’événement en direct. (A hundred million viewers watched the event live.)
Un million et demi
Pronunciation: uh mee-yon ay duh-mee
Meaning: One and a half million.
In a Sentence:
- La population de cette ville est d’un million et demi. (The population of this city is one and a half million.)
- Ils ont dépensé un million et demi pour la rénovation. (They spent one and a half million on renovations.)
Milliard (Billion in English)
Pronunciation: mee-yar
Meaning: A thousand million (used in large numbers).
In a Sentence:
- Ce milliardaire possède plus de cinquante milliards. (That billionaire owns over fifty billion.)
- Le budget est d’un milliard d’euros. (The budget is one billion euros.)
En millions
Pronunciation: ahn mee-yon
Meaning: In millions (used to express quantities).
In a Sentence:
- Les résultats sont exprimés en millions. (The results are expressed in millions.)
- Les pertes de l’entreprise se comptent en millions. (The company’s losses are counted in millions.)
Une dizaine de millions
Pronunciation: oon dee-zen duh mee-yon
Meaning: About ten million.
In a Sentence:
- Une dizaine de millions d’euros ont été volés. (About ten million euros were stolen.)
- Ils ont vendu une dizaine de millions de disques. (They sold about ten million records.)
Un quart de million
Pronunciation: uh kar duh mee-yon
Meaning: A quarter of a million.
In a Sentence:
- Il a gagné un quart de million à la loterie. (He won a quarter of a million in the lottery.)
- Ils ont payé un quart de million pour cette voiture. (They paid a quarter of a million for that car.)
Un millionième
Pronunciation: uh mee-yon-yem
Meaning: One-millionth.
In a Sentence:
- Ce microscope peut observer un millionième de millimètre. (This microscope can observe one-millionth of a millimeter.)
- La chance de gagner est d’un millionième. (The chance of winning is one-millionth.)
Deux millions
Pronunciation: duh mee-yon
Meaning: Two million.
In a Sentence:
- Deux millions d’euros ont été nécessaires pour la construction. (Two million euros were needed for the construction.)
- Ils ont collecté deux millions pour l’événement. (They raised two million for the event.)
Dix millions
Pronunciation: dees mee-yon
Meaning: Ten million.
In a Sentence:
- Le budget total est de dix millions. (The total budget is ten million.)
- Dix millions de personnes ont voté cette année. (Ten million people voted this year.)
Combien de millions
Pronunciation: kom-byan duh mee-yon
Meaning: How many millions?
In a Sentence:
- Combien de millions as-tu gagné? (How many millions did you win?)
- Combien de millions ont-ils dépensé? (How many millions did they spend?)
Plus d’un million
Pronunciation: ploo duh uh mee-yon
Meaning: More than a million.
In a Sentence:
- Plus d’un million de spectateurs étaient présents. (More than a million spectators were present.)
- Plus d’un million de personnes ont signé la pétition. (More than a million people signed the petition.)
Environ un million
Pronunciation: ahn-vee-roh uh mee-yon
Meaning: Around a million.
In a Sentence:
- Environ un million de visiteurs viennent chaque année. (Around a million visitors come each year.)
- Il a investi environ un million dans son entreprise. (He invested around a million in his company.)
Près d’un million
Pronunciation: preh duh uh mee-yon
Meaning: Close to a million.
In a Sentence:
- Près d’un million de personnes ont participé. (Close to a million people participated.)
- La somme récoltée est près d’un million d’euros. (The amount raised is close to a million euros.)
Moins d’un million
Pronunciation: mwahn duh uh mee-yon
Meaning: Less than a million.
In a Sentence:
- Les dépenses totales sont moins d’un million. (The total expenses are less than a million.)
- Moins d’un million de spectateurs ont regardé le match. (Less than a million viewers watched the game.)
Le million magique
Pronunciation: luh mee-yon mah-zheek
Meaning: The magical million (expression).
In a Sentence:
- Atteindre le million magique est un objectif commun. (Reaching the magical million is a common goal.)
- Le million magique est enfin atteint! (The magical million has finally been reached!)
Un million supplémentaire
Pronunciation: uh mee-yon soo-pleh-men-tehr
Meaning: An additional million.
In a Sentence:
- Un million supplémentaire a été accordé au projet. (An additional million was granted to the project.)
- Nous avons besoin d’un million supplémentaire. (We need an additional million.)
Million d’habitants
Pronunciation: mee-yon dah-bee-tahn
Meaning: A million inhabitants.
In a Sentence:
- Cette ville compte un million d’habitants. (This city has a million inhabitants.)
- Le pays a une population de 20 millions d’habitants. (The country has a population of 20 million inhabitants.)
Cent cinquante millions
Pronunciation: sahn sang-kahnt mee-yon
Meaning: A hundred and fifty million.
In a Sentence:
- Le contrat vaut cent cinquante millions. (The contract is worth one hundred and fifty million.)
- Cent cinquante millions de personnes utilisent cette application. (One hundred and fifty million people use this app.)
Un million d’exemplaires
Pronunciation: uh mee-yon day-zahm-plair
Meaning: A million copies.
In a Sentence:
- Ce livre s’est vendu à un million d’exemplaires. (This book sold a million copies.)
- Un million d’exemplaires ont été distribués gratuitement. (A million copies were distributed for free.)
Gagner son premier million
Pronunciation: gah-nyeh sohn pruh-myeh mee-yon
Meaning: To earn one’s first million.
In a Sentence:
- Gagner son premier million est un rêve pour beaucoup. (Earning one’s first million is a dream for many.)
- Il a travaillé dur pour gagner son premier million. (He worked hard to earn his first million.)
Perdre des millions
Pronunciation: pair-dr duh mee-yon
Meaning: To lose millions.
In a Sentence:
- La crise économique a fait perdre des millions à l’entreprise. (The economic crisis made the company lose millions.)
- Ils ont perdu des millions à cause de cette décision. (They lost millions because of this decision.)
Other Ways to Say Million in French
Below is a table with alternative ways to express “million” in French. Each variation includes pronunciation, its meaning, and examples of how it can be used in sentences.
Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
Mille fois mille | meel fwah meel | Thousand times thousand | Mille fois mille égale un million. (A thousand times a thousand equals a million.) |
Une grande somme | oon grahn-d sohm | A large sum | Elle a dépensé une grande somme pour sa maison. (She spent a large sum on her house.) |
Un chiffre énorme | uh sheef-reh eh-norm | An enormous figure | C’est un chiffre énorme à imaginer. (It’s an enormous figure to imagine.) |
Une fortune | oon for-tune | A fortune | Il a une fortune de plusieurs millions. (He has a fortune of several millions.) |
Plusieurs zéros | ploo-zyer zay-roh | Several zeros | Il y a plusieurs zéros dans un million. (There are several zeros in a million.) |
Des quantités importantes | day kahn-tee-tay | Large quantities | Des quantités importantes ont été investies. (Large quantities were invested.) |
Somme à sept chiffres | sohm ah set sheef-ruh | A seven-figure sum | Le montant est une somme à sept chiffres. (The amount is a seven-figure sum.) |
Un montant énorme | uh mohn-tahn eh-norm | A huge amount | Ils ont dépensé un montant énorme pour la rénovation. (They spent a huge amount on the renovation.) |
Des milliards | day mee-yar | Billions | Des milliards de personnes vivent sur Terre. (Billions of people live on Earth.) |
Une estimation | oon es-tee-mah-syon | An estimate | L’estimation atteint un million. (The estimate reaches a million.) |
Une belle somme | oon bel sohm | A handsome sum | Il a hérité d’une belle somme d’argent. (He inherited a handsome sum of money.) |
Une valeur importante | oon vah-lehr ehm-port-ahn-tuh | A significant value | Ce bâtiment a une valeur importante. (This building has significant value.) |
Des fonds énormes | day fohn eh-norm | Huge funds | Des fonds énormes sont nécessaires pour ce projet. (Huge funds are needed for this project.) |
Une somme astronomique | oon sohm as-tro-noh-meek | An astronomical sum | La dette nationale atteint une somme astronomique. (The national debt reaches an astronomical sum.) |
Une immense quantité | oon ee-mans kahn-tee-tay | An immense quantity | Ils ont produit une immense quantité de marchandises. (They produced an immense quantity of goods.) |
Plusieurs centaines de milliers | ploo-zyer sahn-tain duh meel-yay | Several hundred thousand | Ils ont dépensé plusieurs centaines de milliers pour cette publicité. (They spent several hundred thousand on this advertisement.) |
Une somme ronde | oon sohm rohnd | A round sum | Une somme ronde est plus facile à gérer. (A round sum is easier to manage.) |
Plusieurs unités | ploo-zyer yoo-nee-tay | Several units | Plusieurs unités de cette valeur ont été enregistrées. (Several units of this value were recorded.) |
Une somme substantielle | oon sohm soob-stan-syel | A substantial sum | Une somme substantielle a été mise de côté. (A substantial sum was set aside.) |
Une accumulation | oon ah-cue-moo-lah-syon | An accumulation | Une accumulation de millions a été économisée. (An accumulation of millions was saved.) |
Une donation importante | oon doh-nah-syon ehm-port-ahn-tuh | A large donation | Une donation importante a été faite à l’hôpital. (A large donation was made to the hospital.) |
Une contribution majeure | oon con-tree-byoo-syon mah-zheur | A major contribution | Sa contribution majeure a atteint un million. (Her major contribution reached a million.) |
Une trésorerie abondante | oon trey-zor-ree ah-bohn-dahn-tuh | An abundant treasury | Cette organisation dispose d’une trésorerie abondante. (This organization has an abundant treasury.) |
Des millions de bénéfices | day mee-yon duh bay-neh-fees | Millions in profits | Cette entreprise génère des millions de bénéfices chaque année. (This company generates millions in profits every year.) |
Une masse financière | oon mass fee-nahn-see-air | A financial mass | Une masse financière impressionnante est nécessaire. (An impressive financial mass is needed.) |
Responses to “Million” in French
When discussing “million” in French, there are common responses that can help you navigate conversations smoothly. These phrases are often used in reactions to large numbers, agreements, or clarifications. Here are several ways to respond to “million” in French, along with their explanations and examples.
Exactement
Pronunciation: eg-zakt-mahn
Meaning: Exactly.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cela coûte un million d’euros. (It costs a million euros.)
Person 2: Exactement. (Exactly.)
C’est impressionnant
Pronunciation: say tam-preh-see-oh-nahn
Meaning: That’s impressive.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont collecté un million de signatures. (They collected a million signatures.)
Person 2: C’est impressionnant! (That’s impressive!)
Vraiment?
Pronunciation: vray-mahn
Meaning: Really?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il a gagné un million au loto. (He won a million in the lottery.)
Person 2: Vraiment? (Really?)
C’est énorme
Pronunciation: say eh-norm
Meaning: That’s huge.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont dépensé un million pour cet événement. (They spent a million on this event.)
Person 2: C’est énorme! (That’s huge!)
Incroyable
Pronunciation: ahn-krwah-yahbl
Meaning: Incredible.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La campagne a coûté un million d’euros. (The campaign cost a million euros.)
Person 2: Incroyable. (Incredible.)
Tant mieux
Pronunciation: tahn myeuh
Meaning: So much the better.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Nous avons économisé un million de dollars. (We saved a million dollars.)
Person 2: Tant mieux. (So much the better.)
Je n’y crois pas
Pronunciation: zhuh nee krwah pah
Meaning: I don’t believe it.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont vendu un million d’exemplaires. (They sold a million copies.)
Person 2: Je n’y crois pas! (I don’t believe it!)
C’est incroyable
Pronunciation: say ahn-krwah-yahbl
Meaning: That’s unbelievable.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont amassé un million en une semaine. (They raised a million in one week.)
Person 2: C’est incroyable! (That’s unbelievable!)
Impressionnant
Pronunciation: ahn-preh-see-oh-nahn
Meaning: Impressive.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cette œuvre a été vendue pour un million d’euros. (This artwork was sold for a million euros.)
Person 2: Impressionnant. (Impressive.)
Je comprends
Pronunciation: zhuh kom-prahn
Meaning: I understand.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Un million, c’est beaucoup d’argent. (A million is a lot of money.)
Person 2: Je comprends. (I understand.)
C’est vrai
Pronunciation: say vray
Meaning: That’s true.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Un million peut changer une vie. (A million can change a life.)
Person 2: C’est vrai. (That’s true.)
Absolument
Pronunciation: ahb-so-loo-mahn
Meaning: Absolutely.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Un million est une grande somme. (A million is a large sum.)
Person 2: Absolument. (Absolutely.)
Pas mal
Pronunciation: pah mahl
Meaning: Not bad.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont gagné un million à l’émission télé. (They won a million on the TV show.)
Person 2: Pas mal. (Not bad.)
Fantastique
Pronunciation: fahn-tas-teek
Meaning: Fantastic.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Nous avons collecté un million pour les victimes. (We raised a million for the victims.)
Person 2: Fantastique! (Fantastic!)
Je suis d’accord
Pronunciation: zhuh swee dah-kor
Meaning: I agree.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Un million, c’est une somme impressionnante. (A million is an impressive amount.)
Person 2: Je suis d’accord. (I agree.)
Incroyable, mais vrai
Pronunciation: ahn-krwah-yahbl meh vray
Meaning: Unbelievable, but true.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont atteint un million d’abonnés en un mois. (They reached a million subscribers in a month.)
Person 2: Incroyable, mais vrai. (Unbelievable, but true.)
C’est impressionnant, non?
Pronunciation: say ahn-preh-see-oh-nahn nohn
Meaning: That’s impressive, isn’t it?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont vendu un million de billets pour le concert. (They sold a million tickets for the concert.)
Person 2: C’est impressionnant, non? (That’s impressive, isn’t it?)
À couper le souffle
Pronunciation: ah koo-peh luh soof-luh
Meaning: Breathtaking.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La vue de cette ville avec un million d’habitants est magnifique. (The view of this city with a million inhabitants is beautiful.)
Person 2: C’est à couper le souffle. (It’s breathtaking.)
Une belle réussite
Pronunciation: oon bel ray-yoo-seet
Meaning: A great success.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont atteint un million de ventes cette année. (They achieved a million sales this year.)
Person 2: Une belle réussite. (A great success.)
Ça fait rêver
Pronunciation: sah feh ray-veh
Meaning: That’s dreamy.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il a gagné un million au poker. (He won a million in poker.)
Person 2: Ça fait rêver! (That’s dreamy!)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Million” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice using “million” in various contexts. Each sentence is in French, and the meanings are provided to make learning easier. These exercises are designed with relatable, real-life scenarios for learners in the USA.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Le budget pour ce film est de ______ d’euros. (Meaning: The budget for this movie is a million euros.)
- Ils ont gagné ______ à la loterie la semaine dernière. (Meaning: They won a million in the lottery last week.)
- Cette ville compte près d’un ______ d’habitants. (Meaning: This city has nearly a million residents.)
- Ils ont collecté ______ de dollars pour la recherche médicale. (Meaning: They raised a million dollars for medical research.)
- Un ______ d’exemplaires de ce livre ont été vendus. (Meaning: A million copies of this book were sold.)
- Le joueur de baseball a signé un contrat de cent ______ de dollars. (Meaning: The baseball player signed a contract worth one hundred million dollars.)
- Nous avons besoin d’un demi-______ pour terminer ce projet. (Meaning: We need half a million to finish this project.)
- Près de deux ______ de visiteurs viennent chaque année dans ce parc national. (Meaning: Nearly two million visitors come to this national park each year.)
- La compagnie a dépensé un quart de ______ pour la publicité. (Meaning: The company spent a quarter of a million on advertising.)
- Ce produit a généré plus d’un ______ de bénéfices. (Meaning: This product generated more than a million in profits.)
- Ils ont perdu des ______ dans ce mauvais investissement. (Meaning: They lost millions in this bad investment.)
- La collecte de fonds a atteint environ cinq ______ de dollars. (Meaning: The fundraiser reached about five million dollars.)
Answers
- Le budget pour ce film est de un million d’euros.
- Ils ont gagné un million à la loterie la semaine dernière.
- Cette ville compte près d’un million d’habitants.
- Ils ont collecté un million de dollars pour la recherche médicale.
- Un million d’exemplaires de ce livre ont été vendus.
- Le joueur de baseball a signé un contrat de cent millions de dollars.
- Nous avons besoin d’un demi-million pour terminer ce projet.
- Près de deux millions de visiteurs viennent chaque année dans ce parc national.
- La compagnie a dépensé un quart de million pour la publicité.
- Ce produit a généré plus d’un million de bénéfices.
- Ils ont perdu des millions dans ce mauvais investissement.
- La collecte de fonds a atteint environ cinq millions de dollars.
Conclusion
Learning how to say and use “million” in French is an important step for anyone wanting to master numbers in the language. Whether you’re discussing finances, populations, or general large quantities, knowing these phrases will make your conversations clearer and more effective.
By practicing the exercises and responses, you’ll grow more confident in using “million” naturally in both formal and casual contexts. Keep practicing, and soon, these terms will feel as familiar to you as their English counterparts. Remember, every word you learn brings you closer to fluency!