1/3 in French

Michalene E.Kwiziq community member

1/3 in French

Why is 1/3 not un troisième? If 1/5 is un cinquième?


Asked 2 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The answer is basically because it’s not - in grammar and language many things ‘just are’, maybe with explanations that are obscure or lost in the mists of time, maybe just for unknown reasons. French uses irregular expressions for - 1/2 (as does English routinely - one-half) and also for 1/3 (even here, English doesn’t use 1 “threeth” but the irregular one-third), and for 1/4 (where in English we sometimes/often use the irregular form - one quarter). 

1/3 in French

Why is 1/3 not un troisième? If 1/5 is un cinquième?


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