Look at these examples:
deux plus deux égal quatre
two plus two equals four
six moins un égal cinq
six minus one equals five
une fois deux / un multiplié par deux
one times two
trente divisé par dix égal trois
thirty divided by ten equals three
Additions and subtractions
We use plus (plus) and moins (minus), and then égal (equal).
Note that in French we usually use the noun égal (like the symbol =) in these phrases.
You can also use the verb égaler (to equal) or even faire:
Note that the preferred form for égaler (Académie Française...) is the singular égale, where we'll use the plural font for faire.
Multiplications
We can use fois (times) or multiplié par (multiplied by).
Divisions
We use divisé par (divided by).
Examples and resources
Deux plus deux égale quatre.
Two plus two equals four.
Deux plus deux font quatre.
Two plus two makes four.
additions
deux plus deux égal quatre
two plus two equals four
divisions
trente divisé par dix égal trois
thirty divided by ten equals three
multiplications
une fois deux / un multiplié par deux
one times two
substractions
six moins un égal cinq
six minus one equals five
Q&A
Ron
Kwiziq community member
7/10/17
In fact, I have several different textbooks and each one uses «deux PLUS deux font or egal» in their respective sections discussing math. In keeping with the math terms, i.e. moins, divisé, fois; it makes sense to use plus and not «et».
Bonne soirée.
Chris
Kwiziq community member
17/10/17
-- Chris.
Bonnie
Kwiziq community member
17/10/17
by Laura K. Lawless
Updated March 04, 2017
Whether you're teaching math operations in French class, planning to study math in a French school, or just interested in knowing French vocabulary from a new domain, this list of French math vocabulary will help you on your way.
....
FOR EXAMPLE:
More formal Less formal Familiar
2+2=4 2 plus 2 égale 4 2 et 2 font 4 2 et 2, ça fait 4
2-2=0 2 moins 2 égale 0 2 moins 2 font 0 2 moins 2, ça fait 0
2×2=4 2 multiplié par 2 égale 4 2 fois 2 font 4 2 fois 2, ça fait 4
2÷2=1 2 divisé par 2 égale 1 2 divisé par 2 font 1 2 sur 2, ça fait 1
This was written by Laura Lawless (who is also employed by kwiziq.com, I believe) who is one of my favorite authorities on French language and culture. The Bon Voyage! textbook that is used by my school actually teaches "Deux plus deux, ça fait quatre." which according to the usage chart done by Ms. Lawless is a mixture of the most formal and least formal (familiar).
And Claus, I would add that in American English "One and one is two." is used. "Two and two are/equal(s)/make four." Etc. There was even a song ("Don't Know Much About History") in the mid-late 1960s that used a line something like "But I know that one and one is two, And if this one could be with you, What a wonderful world it would be.".
Bonnie
Kwiziq community member
18/10/17
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
31/03/17
Actually I did a bit of research, and the version recommended by the Académie Française, the Littré dictionary and other reliable sources is« Deux multiplié par cinq *égale* dix. » (rather than « … égalent …»).
Thanks to you, I've now updated the lesson accordingly.
Merci et à bientôt !
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
4/08/16
When égaler means "to equal" you don't need à.
When it means "to compare/rank" you do:
Ce roman n'égale pas à Madame Bovary.
dave
Kwiziq community member
22 March 2018
2 replies
Quiz is still missing...doh
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
14 April 2018
14/04/18
The microkwiz for this lesson is working now. Thanks for letting us know.
Note: it's still best to add topics to your notebook and kwiz against that repeatedly if you want to test all the available questions for a topic.
dave
Kwiziq community member
7 July 2018
7/07/18