2007-03-28 03:51:32 · 16 answers · asked by prettywoman 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
When I was a wee lass, I said one-teen, two-teen, three-teen.
2007-03-28 03:56:26 · answer #1 · answered by Mary W 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If anything, 11 would be pronounced "oneteen", not "onety one". Anyway, the entry for "eleven" in the American Heritage Dictionary says the following:
"Eleven in Old English is 'endleofan', and related forms in the various Germanic languages point back to 'ainlif'.
'Ainlif' is composed of 'ain-' (meaning 'one') and '-lif' (meaning 'to adhere, remain, remain left over'). Thus, eleven is literally 'one left over' (that is, one past ten) and twelve is 'two left over' (that is, two past ten)."
2007-03-28 04:01:45 · answer #2 · answered by Steven 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think more appropriately with your proposal we have to have all the 10's become tentyone, tentytwo etc.
shouldn't 11 be one-teen
and 12 be two-teen?
2007-03-28 03:58:31 · answer #3 · answered by njjet200 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It aint -it's onety one-onety two Huh? I thought it was- how is it?
2007-03-28 03:56:36 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It goes back to ancient times when "E" meant one and after the winter had passed, people could use yeast "leaven" to make their bread rise. They always use 1scoop of yeast and ten scoops of flour...so 11 became "eleven"..
2007-03-28 03:58:42 · answer #5 · answered by metoo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Onty one
Onty two
Onty three
Onty four
All the way up to Sixty nine
2007-03-28 04:01:42 · answer #6 · answered by Smurf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pretty Woman you are pretty good, I have been answering your questions and all are funny. Great going keep it up. I am your fan.
2007-03-28 03:56:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah! And why can you be ruthless but not just plain ruth (ruthful)?
2007-03-28 03:58:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is in American Sign... or at least that's what I 'hear' in my head when I am signing.
2007-03-28 03:57:53 · answer #9 · answered by Mikisew 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the same reason there isn't a twoty two
2007-03-28 03:54:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋