Tag: etymology

  • Why are German numbers backwards?

    Why are German numbers backwards?

    My German is relatively basic, but this is true for Dutch as well. 42 is pronounced twee-en-veertig (“two and forty”). Spoken language was in existence before written language. Many numerals existing today were created long before reading was practised, so if there is any direction in a language at all, German does not “read” “backwards”,…