French · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Year" in French: an
l'an
Note: also: l'année (f)
Year in French as a counted unit is often l'an, masculine: un an, deux ans, par an. L'an dernier means last year. L'année (feminine) stresses the year as a lived period: toute l'année.
Talking about age
Mon neveu a un an demain.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce an
Say it
lahn
/ɑ̃/
An is a nasal ahn. With the article, l'an sounds like lahn. Ans in deux ans keeps the nasal and a light z liaison in careful speech: deuz-ahn.
"Year" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'an | the year Unit of time, ages, rates. | Unit of time, ages, rates. |
| un an / deux ans | one year / two years Age and duration counts. | Age and duration counts. |
| l'an dernier / prochain | last / next year Calendar reference. | Calendar reference. |
| par an | per year Salary, rent, frequency. | Salary, rent, frequency. |
| l'année | the year (as a period) Bonne année; toute l'année. | Bonne année; toute l'année. |
How to use an in real life
- 1Talking about age
Mon neveu a un an demain.
My nephew turns one tomorrow.
Un an for age in years.
- 2Work contract
Le salaire est de 40 000 euros par an.
The salary is 40,000 euros per year.
Par an for yearly rates.
- 3Looking back
L'an dernier, on a déménagé à Lyon.
Last year we moved to Lyon.
L'an dernier is a set phrase; keep an, not année, here.
Mistakes English speakers make with an
Incorrect: J'ai vingt années.
Correct: J'ai vingt ans.
Ages use ans. Années is for counting years as periods in other patterns.
Incorrect: Le an dernier.
Correct: L'an dernier.
Use elision: l'an, not le an.
Good to know
Bonne année is the New Year wish (from année). For age, duration, and per-year rates, an/ans dominate: trois ans, 12 fois par an, l'an 2000 in historical style.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching up after a long time
ChatPal
Ça fait un an qu'on ne s'est pas vus.
It's been a year since we last saw each other.
You
Déjà un an ? Le temps passe vite.
Already a year? Time flies.
ChatPal
Oui. L'an prochain, on part en voyage ensemble.
Yes. Next year we'll travel together.
You
Promis. Je bloque des dates.
Promise. I'll block some dates.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Year" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Year" in French
What is the difference between an and année?
An counts the unit (un an, par an, l'an dernier). Année often treats the year as a lived stretch (bonne année, toute l'année).
How do I say I am 20 years old?
J'ai vingt ans.
How do I say last year?
L'an dernier, or l'année dernière.
How do you pronounce an?
A nasal ahn; l'an sounds like lahn.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
