• teft@lemmy.world
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    22 days ago

    They count very weird. For example to say 87 in french you say four twenties seven (quatre vingt sept) 92 in french is four twenties twelve (quatre vingt douze).

    • brsrklf@jlai.lu
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      22 days ago

      Oh, it’s about that. It’s just leftover from an old base 20 counting system really. Kind of like how time is still using base 60 (though it’s kinda convenient for dividing), stuff like that.

      Really, English is not completely safe from that. Ask yourself why eleven to nineteen instead of, you know, ten-one, ten-two…

        • TabbsTheBat@pawb.social
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          22 days ago

          I lucked out living in a place with a completely logical numbering system thankfully :3… even english is slightly weird with 11 and 12 not following the -teen pattern (guessing a holdover for using dozens/base12)