Danish numbers are vigesimal based

Thor

Jedi Council Member
I am currently reading The Terror of History and came across the different numbering systems used in different countries. Laura gives the example that the French language shows signs of a hidden vigesimal system where eighty is called quatre-vingt. In addition to this, also the Danish numbering systems shows a similar 20-based root. According to Wikipedia, this also used to be the case for Norwegian and Swedish but the modern versions of the languages use entirely 10-based numbers.

Danish examples are

60 is written “tres” and is short for tre (three) sinde (times) tyve (twenty)

70 is written “halvfjerds” and is short for halv fjerde (half four = 3.5) sinde (times) tyve (twenty). In Danish half-four is equal to three and a half, half five is equal to four and a half, etc.

80 is written “firs” and is short for fire (four) sinde (times) tyve (twenty)

50 is written “halvtreds” or halv tre (half three = 2.5) sinde (times) tyve (twenty)
 
The origin of the vigesimal systems of Europe is an interesting one -- thanks for the Danish examples, Thor. For a broader view, you can also take a look at this Wikipedia entry on vigesimal systems.
 
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