Actually, if it was following the pattern for most of the numbers between 10 and 20, it would be one-teen. We get our numbers from the Germanic languages, which give the one's digit first (einundzwanzig = one and twenty = 21). The teens are different, though - (fuenfzehn = five ten = 15). Also, somewhere along the line, the numbers 20 and above reversed the order (Swedish and Norwegian numbers have this pattern, too). Eleven is strange, because the Old English roots come from the words meaning "one", "loan". I still haven't figured out that one! The word itself dated from before 1200. Now you know more than you ever wanted to know about 11.

I agree with cherry, it should be tenty one, since we also say twenty one, thirty one etc - logically speaking.

Any time in english you see completely different words together (like the 'irregular' forms of 'to be') it means that most likely each one comes from a different root language. Eleven comes to us directly from old Teutonic. Watch these variants reach backward in time: German: elf Northumbrian: aelefne Old English: endleofan Old Frisian: andlova Old Teutonic: ainlif- In old teutonic ain (one) + lif (teen) Here is the earliest know written appearance of this word in english, from 890: 'Osred daet rice haefde endleofan wintra.' Sorry, I don't know what it means either, something about eleven winters.

English is a hard language to learn.

actually, that's a good question. enenthough i grew up speaking english, i have often wondered about that also.