chiffres

Chiffres is the French term for digits or numerals. In everyday use, it refers to the symbols used to write numbers, typically the digits 0 through 9 in the decimal system. More broadly, chiffres can also denote figures or data points in statistics and reporting.

Etymology and scope: The word chiffre comes from Old French cifra, which traces to Latin cifra and ultimately to Arabic sifr, meaning zero. The root also yields the English word cipher, reflecting a historical connection to codes and encryption. In French, chiffre can denote both a numeral symbol and a code or cipher.

Numeral systems and usage: Chiffres are the basic symbols of a numeral system. In decimal (base-10), the chiffres are 0–9, and their placement determines value through place value. Other systems use different symbol sets or bases, such as binary digits used in computing (0 and 1). The phrases chiffres arabes and chiffres romains designate, respectively, the common Arabic numerals and the Roman numeral symbols (I, V, X, L, C, D, M). Roman numerals are largely historical or stylistic today, while Arabic numerals dominate modern writing.

Statistical and monetary usage: In French, chiffres commonly appear in phrases describing data or figures, such as chiffres d’affaires (turnover) or chiffres clés (key figures). The term can thus refer to individual numbers, aggregated data, or statistical results, depending on context.

History and adoption: The Hindu-Arabic numeral system originated in India and was transmitted to Europe through Arabic scholars. The introduction of zero and place-value notation enabled efficient computation and measurement, leading to the widespread adoption of the Arabic digit system in the Western world by the late Middle Ages. Today, chiffres arabes are the standard numerals used globally.