2007-11-28 11:16:36 · 6 answers · asked by Lynne R 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
But there are, of course. What do you think ... they go from 69 to 71 and 89 to 91? lol
I guess you just don't like that it translates to 60 and ten, etc. but we do the same thing with twenty one, etc. You would have to have an awful lot of words for each number to be original, no matter what the language is.
When you think about it, English just says seven tens when we use sevenTY.
2007-11-28 11:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by JaneB 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Why do the French use 'soixante-dix' and not 'septante' like the Belgians and the Swiss? Well, in the Middle Ages, people counted in twenties: 30 was 'vint et dis', 40 was 'deux vins', 60 was 'trois vins', etc. This system is called 'vicésimal' (vigesimal) and it was used by the Celts and the Normands. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, 'trente', 'quarante', 'cinquante', 'soixante' became more popular, but it stopped there. The French Académie adopted 'soixante-dix', 'quatre-vingts' and 'quatre-vingt-dix' in the 17th Century. Nobody really knows why these were preferred to 'septante','octante' and 'nonante'.
2007-11-28 19:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by just_the_facts_ma'am 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
soixante-dix and quatre-vingt-dix. I assume you mean why is there not a single word. I don't know. There isn't one for 80 either. (4 Twenties - quatre-vingts).
Hey, It's the French. To busy eating delicious food. LOL
2007-11-28 19:23:38 · answer #3 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You forgot 80, there is no word for "80" either. Well, it's like saying we English-speakers have no word for 110. They have to stop somewhere I guess.
2007-11-28 19:20:40 · answer #4 · answered by William H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lakelove is right on.
soixante-dix 70
quatre-vingt-dix 90
2007-11-28 19:24:19 · answer #5 · answered by littlekitty1985 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
soixante-dix 70
quatre-vingt-dix 90
2007-11-28 19:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by lakelover 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋