In America, yes. In the UK, no (although it is getting more common with younger people I find)
I heard a theory that it's because Americans have $100 bills, whereas the UK only goes up to £50. So counting up in hundreds is more natural in America
I’ve heard in German, though we also have bills >100€. But I don’t think that’s the reason for it. Fifteen hundred is a lot shorter to say than one thousand five hundred and it’s roughly the same length in German. I think I’ve only heard it for numbers <2000 and with the last two digits being 0.
Of all the things the French tried to "fix" during the revolution, it amazes me that they didn't try to simplify the way they say large numbers. Or if they did, that it didn't stick.
I am trying to learn French, and haven't got into large numbers yet, but I know about this, and I am dreading it.
it’s just a different base system with some extra quirks thrown in that’s been shoehorned into a decimal society. it isn’t too difficult once you know the story of how french language got there, you feel?
21 Comments
Worx@lemmynsfw.com · 41 pts · 267d
To be fair, it's not like we were saying "one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine"
someguy3@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 267d
Google translate gives me "Dix-neuf quatre-vingt-dix-neuf" for nineteen ninety nine.
Feyr@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 267d
Close. Dix neuf cent quatre-vingt dix neuf
someguy3@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 267d
isn't that nineteen hundred ninety nine?
Hagdos@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 266d
Yes, both would work.
SchwertImStein@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 264d
Yeah, but that assumes they say it this way. They do not
basxto@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 266d
Isn’t generally common to have two digit hundred numbers if they are more convenient / shorter to say than with thousand?
Worx@lemmynsfw.com · 3 pts · 266d
In America, yes. In the UK, no (although it is getting more common with younger people I find)
I heard a theory that it's because Americans have $100 bills, whereas the UK only goes up to £50. So counting up in hundreds is more natural in America
basxto@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 249d
I’ve heard in German, though we also have bills >100€. But I don’t think that’s the reason for it. Fifteen hundred is a lot shorter to say than one thousand five hundred and it’s roughly the same length in German. I think I’ve only heard it for numbers <2000 and with the last two digits being 0.
SchwertImStein@lemmy.dbzer0.com · -1 pts · 264d
no
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 267d
Definitely not. Imagine what people must have thought of us, had we done that...?
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 14 pts · 267d
Do Mill what?
TheBat@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 267d
Canonical_Warlock@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 266d
Fuck miligrams. Do grams of LSD. Meet god.
FenrirIII@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 266d
A literal gallon of LSD. I don't even know where to get it because I never leave the lookout.
Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 266d
I was born in the nineties and just moved to France. It's a real struggle.
CommissarVulpin@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 266d
Dix neuf
Haha gottem
Soapbox@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 266d
Of all the things the French tried to "fix" during the revolution, it amazes me that they didn't try to simplify the way they say large numbers. Or if they did, that it didn't stick.
I am trying to learn French, and haven't got into large numbers yet, but I know about this, and I am dreading it.
epicstove@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 266d
They invent the metric system, the beautiful base 10 system that makes math and measurements easy.
...but didn't apply anything similar to how they say numbers.
jwmgregory@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 266d
it’s just a different base system with some extra quirks thrown in that’s been shoehorned into a decimal society. it isn’t too difficult once you know the story of how french language got there, you feel?
PoliteDudeInTheMood@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 266d
Oh my god, this gave me flashbacks to French class in the 90s.
dbtng@eviltoast.org · 4 pts · 265d
Nixie agrees. She's a bit sadistic.