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Interesting facts about Russian Language

Why do they say сорок and not четыредесять?
The Russian word “сорок” (“forty”) comes from the Old Russian word “сорокъ”, which meant a bag or cloth used for packing the pelts of fur-bearing animals, and not from “four tens.” This counting system based on bags (сороки) filled with pelts eventually began to be used for other goods as well, and later became a numeral, replacing the earlier and more difficult to pronounce “четыре десяте.” • Origin from “сорокъ”: Originally, сорок was a noun meaning a bag or bundle used to pack 40 pelts. Over time, the word came to refer to this standard batch of goods itself. • Connection with “сорочка”: The word сорок is related to сорочка (and, in turn, the Old Russian сорочька), which means “shirt,” and therefore also “cloth,” in which pelts could be wrapped.

Why do they say сорок and not четыредесять?

The Russian word “сорок” (“forty”) comes from the Old Russian word “сорокъ”, which meant a bag or cloth used for packing the pelts of fur-bearing animals, and not from “four tens.” This counting system based on bags (сороки) filled with pelts eventually began to be used for other goods as well, and later became a numeral, replacing the earlier and more difficult to pronounce “четыре десяте.”

• Origin from “сорокъ”: Originally, сорок was a noun meaning a bag or bundle used to pack 40 pelts. Over time, the word came to refer to this standard batch of goods itself.

• Connection with “сорочка”: The word сорок is related to сорочка (and, in turn, the Old Russian сорочька), which means “shirt,” and therefore also “cloth,” in which pelts could be wrapped.