Anomalies of French life: strange numbers

After all these years in Paris, I still have a hard time with French numbers. That's because the French, unlike other French speakers, for example in Belgium or Switzerland, still use the "score," as in "four-score-and-seven years ago...."

75 =  sixty-and-fifteen                (Do you see a seven in that?)

98 = four-twenties-and-eighteen  (Do you see a nine in that?)

Even French people always hesitate just a fraction of a second when writing these. And when you think that telephone numbers in France are always given as, for example, 

"zéro-un-quarante-deux-soixante-treize-quatre-vingt-quatorze-quatre-vingt-douze"*

you see why we anglophones still have trouble writing that as fast as they say it.

Honestly, I don't know how they do math.

 

*0̶1̶.̶4̶2̶.̶7̶2̶.̶9̶4̶.̶9̶2̶ ̶  01.42.73.94.92 (just a random Paris number I picked, sorry if it's yours!)

Comments

[Henri Bik]

Actually
"zéro-un-quarante-deux-soixante-treize-quatre-vingt-quatorze-quatre-vingt-douze" means: 01.42.73.94.92

That illustrates the trouble we strangers have with french numbers inherited from the Celts counting in twenties.

Belgians are considered by the French as dumb but use the much more logical: septante, octante and nonante.

Did you know that the British Queen confirms her approval of laws with this french expression:
"La Reyne remercie ses bons sujets, accepte leur benevolence, et ainsi le veult"

It originates from the Anglo-Norman period in Britain from the 12th until the 15th century.

[Sedulia]

You see? I *told* you it was confusing!

Thanks Henri!