Explanation at your level:
Eighty is the number 80. You use it to count things. For example, you can say 'I have eighty apples.' It is a big number!
When you are eighty years old, you are a senior. We use eighty to talk about prices, like 'The shirt costs eighty dollars.' It is easy to say and very useful for shopping.
You will see eighty used in statistics, such as 'eighty percent of students passed the test.' It is a standard number used in professional settings to describe large groups or measurements.
In more complex contexts, eighty can be used figuratively. For instance, 'eighty-sixing' a plan means to stop it immediately. Understanding these nuances helps you sound more like a native speaker.
Advanced speakers use eighty in technical specifications and precise measurements. It is often used in compound adjectives like 'eighty-page document' or 'eighty-degree angle'. Precision is key at this level.
At the mastery level, one appreciates the etymological roots of eighty. It reflects the base-ten system that defines Western mathematics. Whether in literature or scientific discourse, it serves as a foundational unit of quantification.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Eighty is 8 x 10.
- Spelled E-I-G-H-T-Y.
- Commonly used for age and speed.
- Cardinal number.
Eighty is a cardinal number that plays a significant role in our everyday counting system. When you reach the number eighty, you have successfully grouped ten items together eight times. It is a milestone number, often associated with significant age markers or large quantities in statistics.
You will frequently encounter this word when talking about speed limits, prices, or historical dates. Because it is a round number, it is easy to use in mental math and estimation. Think of it as a solid, reliable number that sits comfortably between seventy and ninety.
The word eighty has deep roots in Old English, evolving from the term eahtatig. The suffix -ty is a variation of the Old English -tig, which literally meant 'a group of ten'. This is why many numbers ending in 'ty' represent multiples of ten.
It is fascinating to see how this word has remained consistent across centuries of language evolution. It shares common ancestors with the German achtzig and the Dutch tachtig, highlighting its strong Germanic heritage. The linguistic structure has stayed remarkably stable, allowing speakers to communicate quantities clearly across generations.
In English, eighty is used as a determiner or a noun. You might say 'eighty people attended' (determiner) or 'I have eighty' (noun). It is perfectly acceptable in both formal business reports and casual conversations.
Common collocations include 'eighty percent', 'eighty years old', and 'eighty miles per hour'. When writing, it is standard practice to write out numbers under one hundred as words in formal prose, though digits are preferred in technical or scientific contexts.
While 'eighty' is a specific number, it appears in several idiomatic ways:
- Eighty-six (verb): To cancel, reject, or throw out something. Example: 'The chef had to eighty-six the soup order.'
- Four score and seven: A famous historical reference meaning eighty-seven.
- Eighty-eight keys: Referring to a standard piano keyboard. Example: 'She played a beautiful melody on the eighty-eight keys.'
- At eighty miles an hour: Used to describe moving very quickly through life.
- Eighty-proof: A term used to describe the alcohol content in spirits.
Grammatically, eighty acts as a cardinal number. It does not change form for pluralization, unlike nouns. In British and American English, the IPA is /ˈeɪti/. The stress is placed firmly on the first syllable, which is a common pattern for 'ty' numbers.
Rhyming words include shreety (rare), seaty (rare), or near-rhymes like weighty or matey. Note that the 't' sound is often softened to a 'd' (flap t) in American English, making it sound like 'ay-dee'.
Fun Fact
The suffix '-ty' comes from the Old English word for ten.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ay' sound followed by a crisp 'tee'.
The 't' often becomes a flap, sounding like 'ay-dee'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'g' in eighty
- Confusing 'eighty' with 'eighteen'
- Stressing the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Cardinal Numbers
one, two, eighty
Hyphenation
eighty-one
Subject-Verb Agreement
Eighty is enough.
Examples by Level
I have eighty pencils.
I possess 80 writing tools.
Cardinal number usage.
There are eighty students.
80 pupils are present.
Subject-verb agreement.
He is eighty.
His age is 80.
Age expression.
It costs eighty dollars.
The price is 80 units of currency.
Monetary value.
Count to eighty.
Say numbers up to 80.
Imperative verb.
I see eighty birds.
80 birds are visible.
Quantifier.
Eighty is a big number.
80 is a large value.
Noun usage.
She has eighty books.
She owns 80 books.
Possession.
The speed limit is eighty kilometers per hour.
My grandfather is eighty years old.
We bought eighty eggs for the party.
The bus arrives at eighty minutes past the hour.
There are eighty pages in this book.
She walked eighty steps to the park.
Eighty people signed the petition.
The temperature reached eighty degrees.
Eighty percent of the workforce supports the change.
The project will take eighty days to complete.
He drove eighty miles to reach the coast.
The company has eighty employees in total.
The item is eighty percent off the original price.
They have eighty different varieties of tea.
Eighty years of history were celebrated today.
The score was eighty to seventy in our favor.
The article was eighty words long, which was perfect.
Eighty-six the idea; it will never work.
The engine can reach eighty revolutions per second.
Eighty percent of the success is preparation.
We need eighty more signatures to qualify.
The film is eighty minutes of pure action.
Eighty percent of the population lives in the city.
The budget was eighty thousand dollars.
The eighty-page manifesto outlined their political goals.
We are operating at eighty percent capacity.
The eighty-degree heat made working outdoors difficult.
He has an eighty percent chance of winning the election.
The eighty-year-old bridge is a historic landmark.
Eighty percent of the data was corrupted.
The solution requires eighty milliliters of water.
They achieved eighty percent efficiency in the trial.
The eighty-year-old tradition remains central to the culture.
Eighty-proof whiskey is a standard strength for spirits.
The eighty-eight keys of the piano were perfectly tuned.
Eighty percent of the budget was allocated to research.
The eighty-fold increase in traffic was unexpected.
Eighty percent of the participants were satisfied.
The eighty-year cycle of the planet is fascinating.
His eighty-year career in politics is legendary.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"eighty-six"
To remove, cancel, or discard.
We had to eighty-six the plan.
casual"four score"
Eighty.
It happened four score years ago.
literary"eighty-eight keys"
A standard piano.
She mastered the eighty-eight keys.
neutral"eighty-proof"
40% alcohol content.
The drink was eighty-proof.
neutral"at eighty miles an hour"
Moving very fast.
He is living life at eighty miles an hour.
casual"eighty-eight"
A code for 'bye-bye' in some contexts.
He signed the letter with eighty-eight.
casualEasily Confused
Similar sound
18 vs 80
He is eighteen, not eighty.
Root word
8 vs 80
I have eight, he has eighty.
Similar spelling
80 vs 88
The piano has eighty-eight keys.
Ordinal vs Cardinal
80th vs 80
It is his eightieth birthday.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + eighty
My age is eighty.
There are + eighty + noun
There are eighty cats.
Eighty + percent + of + noun
Eighty percent of people agree.
He is + eighty + years old
He is eighty years old.
The + noun + is + eighty
The speed is eighty.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
The correct spelling is eighty, not eight-ty.
Confusing the number 80 with 18.
Do not add an 's' to eighty.
Compound numbers need a hyphen.
Do not use 'a' before eighty.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place 80 items in your room.
Native Usage
Used for speed and age.
Cultural Insight
Associated with long life.
Grammar Shortcut
No 's' at the end.
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't write eight-ty.
Did You Know?
It's 8 times 10.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Flap T
American 't' sounds like 'd'.
Hyphens
Use for 81-89.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Eight tens make eighty.
Visual Association
Imagine 8 piles of 10 coins.
Word Web
Challenge
Count by tens to eighty.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: Eight times ten
Cultural Context
None
Eighty is often used as a benchmark for age and speed.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- Eighty percent score
- Eighty students
- Eighty pages
At work
- Eighty dollars
- Eighty employees
- Eighty percent capacity
Travel
- Eighty miles
- Eighty minutes
- Eighty kilometers
Shopping
- Eighty percent off
- Eighty dollars
- Eighty items
Conversation Starters
"What would you do if you had eighty dollars?"
"Do you know anyone who is eighty years old?"
"Is eighty a large number to you?"
"How long would it take to count to eighty?"
"Why is eighty a significant number?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you reached eighty.
Describe a place with eighty things.
If you were eighty, what would you do?
Why do we use eighty as a milestone?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsEighty.
It is eighty.
Eighty-one.
No, it is a cardinal number.
Quatre-vingt.
Yes.
Yes, but write it as 'eighty' in formal text.
Eightieth.
Test Yourself
I have ___ apples.
Eighty is the correct number word.
What is 80?
80 is eighty.
Eighty is a prime number.
Eighty is divisible by many numbers.
Word
Meaning
Matching numeral to word.
Correct sentence structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Eighty is the number that represents eight tens, essential for counting and measuring.
- Eighty is 8 x 10.
- Spelled E-I-G-H-T-Y.
- Commonly used for age and speed.
- Cardinal number.
Memory Palace
Place 80 items in your room.
Native Usage
Used for speed and age.
Cultural Insight
Associated with long life.
Grammar Shortcut
No 's' at the end.
Example
He must be eighty years old by now.
Related Content
More general words
about
A1On the subject of; concerning something.
above
A2In a higher place than something or someone.
accident
A2An unfortunate event causing damage or injury.
action
A2The process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
after
A2Following in time or place; later than.
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2Another time; once more.
aged
B1Of a specified age.
alive
A2Living, not dead.
all
A2The whole quantity or extent of something; every single one.
