Language/Halh-mongolian/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will dive into the world of numbers and counting in Halh Mongolian. Numbers are an essential part of any language, and learning how to count in Halh Mongolian will help you in various everyday situations, such as telling time, shopping, and even making new friends. We will cover cardinal and ordinal numbers, as well as the different counting systems used for different objects. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in Halh Mongolian numbers and counting.
Cardinal Numbers[edit | edit source]
Let's start with the basics - cardinal numbers. Cardinal numbers are used to express quantity or to count objects. In Halh Mongolian, cardinal numbers are relatively straightforward and follow a regular pattern. We will go through the numbers from 1 to 10 to get you started.
Numbers 1 to 10[edit | edit source]
Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Halh Mongolian:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэг | neg | one |
| хоёр | khoyor | two |
| гурав | gurav | three |
| дөрөв | dorov | four |
| тав | tav | five |
| зургаа | zurgaa | six |
| долоо | doloo | seven |
| найм | naim | eight |
| ес | es | nine |
| арав | arav | ten |
Take your time to practice pronouncing each number correctly. Pay attention to the unique sounds in Halh Mongolian, such as the "х" in "хоёр" and the "ө" in "дөрөв."
Numbers 11 to 20[edit | edit source]
To form numbers from 11 to 20 in Halh Mongolian, you need to combine the word for "ten" (арав) with the numbers from 1 to 9. Let's take a look:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| арван нэг | arvan neg | eleven |
| арван хоёр | arvan khoyor | twelve |
| арван гурав | arvan gurav | thirteen |
| арван дөрөв | arvan dorov | fourteen |
| арван тав | arvan tav | fifteen |
| арван зургаа | arvan zurgaa | sixteen |
| арван долоо | arvan doloo | seventeen |
| арван найм | arvan naim | eighteen |
| арван ес | arvan es | nineteen |
| хорин | khorin | twenty |
Notice that the numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by combining "арван" with the corresponding number from 1 to 9. However, the number 20 is expressed as "хорин" on its own.
Numbers 30, 40, 50, and Beyond[edit | edit source]
To form numbers from 30 onwards, the pattern continues. You combine the word for the tens digit (such as "арван" for 20) with the units digit (such as "гурав" for 3). Here are some examples:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| гуч | guch | thirty |
| дөч | doch | forty |
| тавч | tavch | fifty |
| зургач | zurgach | sixty |
| долооч | dolooch | seventy |
| наймч | naimch | eighty |
| есч | esch | ninety |
| зуун | zuun | one hundred |
As you can see, the numbers from 30 to 90 are formed by combining the word for the tens digit with the suffix "-ч" (pronounced "ch"), which means "ten." The word for "one hundred" is "зуун."
Ordinal Numbers[edit | edit source]
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or order of something. In Halh Mongolian, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix "-дугаар" (pronounced "doogar") to the cardinal number. Let's look at some examples:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэгдүгээр | negdügeer | first |
| хоёрдугаар | khoyordugaar | second |
| гуравдугаар | guravdugaar | third |
| дөрөвдүгээр | dorovdügeer | fourth |
| тавдугаар | tavdugaar | fifth |
| зургаадугаар | zurgaadugaar | sixth |
| долоодугаар | doloodugaar | seventh |
| наймдугаар | naimdugaar | eighth |
| есдүгээр | esdügeer | ninth |
| аравдугаар | aravdugaar | tenth |
Remember to pay attention to the pronunciation of the suffix "-дугаар" and practice saying each ordinal number correctly.
Counting Systems[edit | edit source]
In addition to cardinal and ordinal numbers, Halh Mongolian also has different counting systems depending on the object being counted. Let's explore some of these counting systems and the objects they are used for.
Counting People[edit | edit source]
When counting people in Halh Mongolian, you use the counting system "хүний." Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in the "хүний" counting system:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэг хүний | neg hüniy | one person |
| хоёр хүний | khoyor hüniy | two people |
| гурав хүний | gurav hüniy | three people |
| дөрөв хүний | dorov hüniy | four people |
| тав хүний | tav hüniy | five people |
| зургаа хүний | zurgaa hüniy | six people |
| долоо хүний | doloo hüniy | seven people |
| найм хүний | naim hüniy | eight people |
| ес хүний | es hüniy | nine people |
| арав хүний | arav hüniy | ten people |
Counting Animals[edit | edit source]
When counting animals in Halh Mongolian, you use the counting system "морьдог." Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in the "морьдог" counting system:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэг морьдог | neg mor'dog | one animal |
| хоёр морьдог | khoyor mor'dog | two animals |
| гурав морьдог | gurav mor'dog | three animals |
| дөрөв морьдог | dorov mor'dog | four animals |
| тав морьдог | tav mor'dog | five animals |
| зургаа морьдог | zurgaa mor'dog | six animals |
| долоо морьдог | doloo mor'dog | seven animals |
| найм морьдог | naim mor'dog | eight animals |
| ес морьдог | es mor'dog | nine animals |
| арав морьдог | arav mor'dog | ten animals |
Counting Objects[edit | edit source]
For counting objects in general, you use the counting system "ширхэг." Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in the "ширхэг" counting system:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэг ширхэг | neg shirheg | one object |
| хоёр ширхэг | khoyor shirheg | two objects |
| гурав ширхэг | gurav shirheg | three objects |
| дөрөв ширхэг | dorov shirheg | four objects |
| тав ширхэг | tav shirheg | five objects |
| зургаа ширхэг | zurgaa shirheg | six objects |
| долоо ширхэг | doloo shirheg | seven objects |
| найм ширхэг | naim shirheg | eight objects |
| ес ширхэг | es shirheg | nine objects |
| арав ширхэг | arav shirheg | ten objects |
Cultural Insight[edit | edit source]
Counting systems can vary across different languages and cultures, and Halh Mongolian is no exception. The use of different counting systems for people, animals, and objects reflects the importance of these aspects in Mongolian culture. Mongolian nomadic herders, for example, have a deep connection to their livestock, and counting animals accurately is crucial for their livelihoods. Understanding and respecting these cultural nuances will not only help you master the language but also gain a deeper appreciation for the rich Mongolian heritage.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Try the following exercises to reinforce what you've learned:
1. Write out the numbers from 1 to 10 in Halh Mongolian. 2. Practice pronouncing each number correctly. 3. Ask a friend to count objects, people, or animals, and try to understand their responses in Halh Mongolian. 4. Create your own scenarios and practice using ordinal numbers in sentences.
Exercise Solutions[edit | edit source]
1. Halh Mongolian numbers from 1 to 10:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| нэг | neg | one |
| хоёр | khoyor | two |
| гурав | gurav | three |
| дөрөв | dorov | four |
| тав | tav | five |
| зургаа | zurgaa | six |
| долоо | doloo | seven |
| найм | naim | eight |
| ес | es | nine |
| арав | arav | ten |
2. Practice pronouncing each number correctly.
3. Practice dialogue: Person A: "Хэдэн морьдог байна вэ?" (How many animals do you have?) Person B: "Гурав морьдог байна." (I have three animals.)
4. Using ordinal numbers in sentences: - "Би хоёрдугаар удаа уулзлаа." (I met him for the second time.) - "Та гуравдугаар давхаргаас авч болно." (You can take it from the third shelf.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have made significant progress in learning numbers and counting in Halh Mongolian. In this lesson, we covered cardinal and ordinal numbers, as well as the different counting systems used for people, animals, and objects. Remember to practice regularly to reinforce your knowledge. In the next lesson, we will explore the vocabulary related to food and drink, allowing you to expand your conversational skills even further. Удахгүй хүргэе! (Good luck!)
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Gender
- Days of the Week
- Fruits
- Health
- Numbers
- Weather and Climate
- Nature
- Transportation
- Business and Economy
- Seasons