ยี่สิบ
20
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- 1 20
This is the basic numeral for twenty (20), used for quantities, ages, prices, dates, and other numerical expressions.
20
It expresses the number twenty, or two groups of ten.
Learning notes
Explanation
ยี่สิบ is formed from ยี่ + สิบ. สิบ means “ten,” while ยี่ is the form used for “two” in the tens place, so the whole expression means “twenty.” When counting objects, Thai commonly uses the order noun + number + classifier. For example, หนังสือยี่สิบเล่ม means “twenty books,” and นักเรียนยี่สิบคน means “twenty students.” The numbers 21–29 are also built on ยี่สิบ, as in ยี่สิบเอ็ด (21), ยี่สิบสอง (22), and ยี่สิบเก้า (29). In a date, วันที่ยี่สิบ refers to the twentieth day of the month.
Usage
It is used whenever the number 20 is needed—for prices, quantities, ages, dates, distances, weights, and similar measurements. It is neutral and standard in both speech and writing.
Caution
Although the ordinary word for “two” is สอง, twenty is ยี่สิบ, not สองสิบ. However, two hundred is สองร้อย, not ยี่ร้อย. When counting people or objects, Thai also normally requires an appropriate classifier, such as คน, เล่ม, or อัน.