eighty
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The cardinal number equivalent to the product of eight and ten; 80.
Used to indicate an age of approximately eighty years; a set or group of eighty people or things.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as a determiner, pronoun, or noun. Can be used in compound numbers (e.g., eighty-one).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Often associated with longevity, age milestones, or large quantities.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NUM + N (eighty people)be + NUM (She is eighty.)NUM + of + N (eighty of them)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the eighty-twenty rule (Pareto principle)”
- “eighty-six (slang: to discard or refuse service)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports for figures, percentages, or projections (e.g., 'Eighty percent market share').
Academic
Used in statistical data, historical dates, or demographic descriptions.
Everyday
Commonly used for age, prices, quantities, and scores.
Technical
Used in precise measurements, coordinates, or coding (e.g., 'an eighty-character string').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her eightieth birthday with family.
American English
- He's an eighty-year-old marathon runner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother is eighty years old.
- The book has eighty pages.
- Approximately eighty people attended the community meeting.
- The temperature reached eighty degrees Fahrenheit.
- The survey indicated that eighty percent of respondents favoured the new policy.
- He retired at the age of eighty after a long career in medicine.
- The Pareto principle, or the eighty-twenty rule, suggests that eighty percent of effects come from twenty percent of causes.
- The manuscript, dating from the eighteen-eighties, provides invaluable historical insight.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'ATE' (8) and add a 'TEA' (sounds like 'tee') at the end: ATE + TEA = EIGHTY.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY (eighty is 'up there' in number), AGE IS A JOURNEY (reaching eighty is a milestone).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'eighteen' (восемнадцать).
- Note that Russian uses the genitive plural for numbers like eighty (восьмидесяти), which affects noun cases.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'eigthy' or 'eightey'.
- Mispronouncing the /t/ sound, especially in American English where it can sound like a flap /d/.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common idiom related to 'eighty'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is spelled E-I-G-H-T-Y. The 'e' comes before the 'i'.
In American English, the 't' often becomes a flap /d/ sound, making it sound like 'eidy'.
Yes, it can function as a noun, as in 'She is in her eighties' or 'A crowd of eighty gathered.'
The ordinal form is 'eightieth' (e.g., the eightieth anniversary).