The French expression for the number "21" is "vingt et un" (pronounced /vɛ̃t e œ̃/). The spelling of the word is phonetic, with "v" pronounced "v", "e" as the "eh" sound, "n" as "n", "t" as "t", "e" as the "uh" sound, and "un" as "uhn". This can be tricky for non-native speakers as the letter "t" is silent in many French words, but pronounced in "vingt et un". Knowing the IPA phonetic transcription can help non-native speakers to accurately spell and pronounce this word.
Vingt et un, derived from the French language, is a phrase that translates as "twenty-one" in English. It is most commonly known as the original name for the card game that is now widely recognized as blackjack.
Vingt et un is a card game that traditionally involves a dealer and multiple players. The objective of the game is to reach a score as close to, or ideally equal to, twenty-one without exceeding it. Each player is dealt two cards initially, and they can choose to either "stand" with their current hand or request additional cards in an attempt to improve their score. A player who exceeds twenty-one is said to have "busted" and loses the game.
Vingt et un is typically played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and each card holds a point value. The numbered cards 2-9 are equivalent to their face value, while face cards (king, queen, and jack) are worth ten points each. The ace card holds a unique value and can be counted as either one or eleven points, depending on the player's preference and game strategy.
As the game has evolved and spread worldwide, the name Vingt et un has gradually been replaced by different variants, most notably "blackjack." However, the essence of the game remains, consisting of calculating card values and aiming for a total score of twenty-one.