French · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "cent" in French?

Q: How do you pronounce cent in French?

cent is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /sɑ̃/. It means “one hundred.” sahn through the nose — one nasal syllable, with both the "n" and the "t" silent as consonants.

sahn through the nose — one nasal syllable, with both the "n" and the "t" silent as consonants.

cent /sɑ̃/

One syllable. In compound numbers the phrase stress moves to whatever follows, so "cent vingt" peaks on "vingt", with "cent" acting as a quick lead-in.

Listen: cent

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Sound it out

c Before "e", French "c" is a soft "s".

en The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/. Open your mouth toward "ah" and route the air out through the nose. Despite the "e" in the spelling, this is a back, open vowel — not an "eh" sound at all.

t Silent on its own. It resurfaces in liaison before a vowel, which is why "cent euros" has a "t" sound in the middle.

Hear it in a sentence

J'ai un billet de cent euros.

I have a hundred-euro bill.

Listen: J'ai un billet de cent euros.

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"J'ai un billet de cent euros" needs the liaison: "cent euros" is /sɑ̃.t‿ø.ʁo/, with the silent "t" waking up. Also notice "J'ai", where "je" elides before the vowel of "ai", and "un billet", where the "ll" makes a "y" sound and the final "t" is silent — bee-YAY.

Where English speakers slip

The English word "cent" is sitting right there, and learners simply say it, with a real "n" and a released "t". French has neither: the "en" is a nasal vowel produced without the tongue touching anything, and the "t" stays silent unless a vowel follows. Aim for something like the "aw" of "awning" sent through your nose, and stop before your tongue rises.