Many of the students in my classes usually stay for 2 weeks. They can’t afford to stay longer because of family or work commitments. It is a surprise for them to discover that in English we have a word for a period of 14 days – a FORTNIGHT. Similarly, if you do something every 2 weeks (say, go to the cinema or clean your apartment), then it is something you do fortnightly.
Also in my adult classes, the maximum number of students is a DOZEN, which is another word for 12. This word can be used in many situations. For example, the other day I bought a dozen delicious kiwis, one of my favourite fruits! It’s possible to say half-a-dozen eggs (=6) and even two dozen cakes (=24), three dozen cans of beer (=36 …big party perhaps?) and so on. However, we don’t say half-a-fortnight.
Use the language
Some languages do not have a word for “fortnight”. If yours has one, what is it? And if you could take a fortnight’s holiday, where would you go to? Feel free to write in and share your thoughts.
[…] FORTNIGHT / DOZEN […]
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[…] When it’s an exact number, no ”s”. If it’s a generic amount, put the ”s”. Do the same with hundred/hundreds, million/millions and dozen/dozens. For more information about “dozen”, click here. […]
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Thanks for sharing that info Sandra.
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We’ve fortnights, dozen and half-a-dozen.
In Portuguese and in this order is QUINZENA, DÚZIA and MEIA DÚZIA.
Dozen-Dúzia-Doze(12) also are similar.
Thank you for posting.
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