How do you say "How many" in French?

"How many" in French is "Ils sont combien". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘How many’ in French

Q: What does "Ils sont combien" mean in English?

"Ils sont combien" means "How many" in English. Usage tip: French often says [ils sont combien ?] where English would just say "how many?" You can reuse that pattern with people: [vous êtes combien ?] = "how many of you are there?"

Ils sont combien

eel sohn kohm-BYEN

[eel sohn kohm-BYEN]

💬 Usage Tip: French often says [ils sont combien ?] where English would just say "how many?" You can reuse that pattern with people: [vous êtes combien ?] = "how many of you are there?"

Phrase Breakdown

Ils

[eel]

They

Refers to people or subjects previously mentioned.

Example

Ils sont combien sur le terrain ?

How many of them are on the field?

sont

[sohn]

are

Used to describe a current condition.

Example

Ils sont combien à garder la base ?

How many are guarding the base?

combien

[kohm-BYEN]

How many

Used to inquire about number or amount.

Example

Ils sont combien en tout ?

How many are they in total?

Guides for French learners

“Do You Speak English?” in French, and What to Say When You Don't Speak FrenchHow to say “do you speak English?” in French politely, what you'll hear back, and the phrases for “I don't speak French” and “can you repeat that?”, with audio.The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.

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