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Why do French speakers say the equivalent of 'sixty-and-ten' for the number seventy?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The French people used to use two numbering systems: one decimal (based on 10, as in English) and one based on 20 (a numbering system based on 20s is called "vigesimal"). English has the word "score" to represent 20 years--remember the Gettysburg Address: "Four score and 7 years ago...", meaning 87 years.
At one point, based on studies of popular writing and usage, they changed to using the decimal system up to the number 60, and kept the vegesimal system above 60).
Obviously, this is the way the French learn the numbers, so it does not seem strange to them. And in French-speaking parts of Belgium and Switzerland, they use septante, octante/huitante, and nonante, for 70, 80 and 90 because those languages developed outside the control of the French Academy, which is the official authority on the French language in France.
English has quirks like this too. We have "unique" words for eleven and twelve, but 13-19 are basically "three-ten, four-ten, five-ten, etc. Why don't we say "oneteen and twoteen"?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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How do you spell seventy five in French?
The spelling for seventy five in French is spelled "soixante-quinze".
Is french a common language?
French is the seventh most spoken language in the world with approximately 265-270 million speakers worldwide. According to a project led by the a French research project, in 2050 approximately seventy percent of the world will understand, if not speak, French.
What is 'seventy nine' in French?
"Seventy-nine" is soixante dix neuf
How many french speakers are there?
There are approximately 274 million French speakers worldwide, including both native speakers and those who have learned French as a second language. French is spoken in many countries as either an official or second language, with the majority of French speakers located in Africa.
What is 'seventy-nine' in French?
"Soixante-dix-neuf" is a French equivalent of "seventy-nine" (79).The word "soixante" means "sixty" (60). The word "dix" means "ten" (10). The word "neuf" means "nine" (9).The pronunciation is "swah-sawhnt deez-nuhf.""Septante-neuf" also may be heard.
What is the English number 'seventy' in French Canadian?
"Soixante-dix" is a French Canadian equivalent of the English number "seventy."Specifically, the number "soixante" means "sixty (60)." The number "dix" means "ten (10)." The pronunciation is "swah-saw-deess" or "swah-sawn-tuh-deess."Particularly along Canada's southeastern border with the United States of America, it still is possible to find French speakers who use the Acadian term "septante." This word means "seventy." The pronunciation is "sehp-tawn-tuh."
What is the English number 'seventy two' in French?
seventy two in french
How do you spell seventy five in French?
The spelling for seventy five in French is spelled "soixante-quinze".
Is french a common language?
French is the seventh most spoken language in the world with approximately 265-270 million speakers worldwide. According to a project led by the a French research project, in 2050 approximately seventy percent of the world will understand, if not speak, French.
Who uses hand gestures more French speakers or English speakers?
French speakers
What is 'Mallory' in French?
"Malheur" is a French equivalent of the proper noun "Mallory."Specifically, the name that is found among English speakers is actually a loan word. It traces its origins to France, where its meaning is "misfortune." The modern French masculine noun "malheur" means "misfortune."The pronunciation is "mah-luhr."But if a person's name is Mallory, then that is what will be used by French language speakers. French speakers tend not to translate the proper names of other language speakers into French. Instead, they tend to respect the original form of the name.
What is 'seventy nine' in French?
"Seventy-nine" is soixante dix neuf
What does the French word 'Shontelle' mean?
French speakers and writers spell as 'ch' the sound that English speakers and writers spell as 'sh'. The name 'Shontelle' is an English spelled variation on the French place name 'Chantal', which also may serve as a first name. The English equivalent of the French meaning is song.
How many french speakers are there?
There are approximately 274 million French speakers worldwide, including both native speakers and those who have learned French as a second language. French is spoken in many countries as either an official or second language, with the majority of French speakers located in Africa.
How do you spell seventy in french?
soixante-dix
What region is English french German and Inuktitut spoken?
Newfoundland and Labrador has speakers of English, French, German and Inuktitut. The 2011 Census shows there are only 655 German speakers and 595 Inuktitut speakers while there are 443,405 English and 46,885 French speakers.
What is 'seventy-nine' in French?
"Soixante-dix-neuf" is a French equivalent of "seventy-nine" (79).The word "soixante" means "sixty" (60). The word "dix" means "ten" (10). The word "neuf" means "nine" (9).The pronunciation is "swah-sawhnt deez-nuhf.""Septante-neuf" also may be heard.
