Today we are going to learn about the units of measurement used in France. It’s a bit different from units like pounds and gallons that we use in the United States. In France, the metric system is used to measure weight, capacity, length, and time.
To measure weight, the French use the gram and its divisions like the kilogram which equals 1000 grams. A kilo is about 2.2 pounds. For liquids, they use units like the liter which is a little more than a quarter gallon.
The French measure distances in meters instead of feet. A meter is about 3 feet. For time, they use the same units as us like seconds, minutes, hours, and days. But they don’t use cups or teaspoons!
It’s interesting to see the differences between measurement systems. Now let’s look more closely at the French units and their American equivalents. Have fun!
In French, the most common weight units are:
- kilogramme
- hectogramme
- décagramme
- gramme
- décigramme
- centigramme
- milligramme
- 1000g = 1 kilogramme / kilogram (2.2 pounds)
- 100g = 1 hectogramme / hectogram (3.5 ounces)
- 10g = 1 décagramme / decagram (0.35 ounces)
- 1g = 1 gramme / gram (0.035 ounces)
- 0,1g = 1 décigramme / decigram (0.0015 ounces)
- 0,01g = 1 centigramme / centigram (0.00035 ounces)
- 0,001g = 1 milligramme / milligram (0.000035 ounces)
For example: un paquet de sucre de 1kg pèse 1000 grammes. (a 1kg bag of sugar weighs 1000 grams (2.2 pounds))
Capacity Units
For liquids, the units used are:
- kilolitre
- hectolitre
- décalitre
- litre
- décilitre
- centilitre
- millilitre
- 1000L = 1 kilolitre / kilolitre (264 gallons)
- 100L = 1 hectolitre / hectolitre (26 gallons)
- 10L = 1 décalitre / decaliter (2.6 gallons)
- 1L = 1 litre / litre (1.06 quarts)
- 0,1L = 1 décilitre / décilitre (3.38 fluid ounces)
- 0,01L = 1 centilitre / centilitre (0.34 fluid ounces)
- 0,001L = 1 millilitre / millilitre (0.03 fluid ounces)
For example: Une bouteille d’eau minérale contient souvent 1,5L. (A bottle of mineral water often contains 1.5L (1.59 quarts).)
Length Units
The most commonly used length units are:
- kilomètre
- hectomètre
- décamètre
- mètre
- décimètre
- centimètre
- millimètre
- 1000m = 1 kilomètre / kilometer (0.62 miles)
- 100m = 1 hectomètre / hectometer (328 feet)
- 10m = 1 décamètre / decameter (32.8 feet)
- 1m = 1 mètre / meter (3.28 feet)
- 0,1m = 1 décimètre / decimeter (3.94 inches)
- 0,01m = 1 centimètre / centimeter (0.39 inches)
- 0,001m = 1 millimètre / millimeter (0.039 inches)
For example: La Tour Eiffel mesure 300 mètres de hauteur. (The Eiffel Tower measures 300 meters (984 feet) in height.)
Time Units
To measure time, the units used are:
- minute
- heure
- jour
- semaine
- année
- ans
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- 60 seconds (60 secondes) = 1 minute
- 60 minutes (60 minutes) = 1 heure
- 24 hours (24 heures) = 1 jour
- 7 days (7 jours) = 1 semaine
- 52 weeks (52 semaines) = 1 année
- 1 year (1 année) = 365 jours (366 les années bissextiles)
- 1 decade (1 décennie) = 10 ans (
- 1 century (1 siècle) = 100 ans
For Example: Un film dure généralement entre 1h30 et 2h. (A movie usually lasts between 1h30 and 2h (90 to 120 minutes).)
In summary, the decimal metric system is the most widely used in France to express units of measurement. It facilitates conversions between different units.
