Language/Kazakh/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

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Kazakh → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and Basic Expressions → Numbers and Counting

Introduction

In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating world of numbers and counting in the Kazakh language. Numbers play a crucial role in everyday communication, whether it's telling the time, talking about quantities, or expressing dates and ages. By mastering the Kazakh numbers, you will be able to navigate various contexts and engage in meaningful conversations with native speakers.

Throughout this lesson, we will cover the Kazakh number system from 0 to 100 and explore how to use numbers in different contexts. We will also provide cultural insights and interesting facts about the Kazakh language and its numerical expressions.

Let's embark on this numerical journey and discover the beauty of counting in Kazakh!

Kazakh Number System

Counting from 0 to 10

Let's start by learning the numbers from 0 to 10 in Kazakh. These foundational numbers will serve as building blocks for the rest of the numerical system.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English Translation
нөл	nól	zero
бір	bır	one
екі	eki	two
үш	üsh	three
төрт	tört	four
бес	bes	five
алты	alty	six
жеті	jeti	seven
сегіз	segiz	eight
тоғыз	toğız	nine
он	on	ten

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the basic numbers, let's move on to the next set of numbers.

Counting from 11 to 20

In Kazakh, the numbers from 11 to 19 follow a unique pattern. They are formed by combining the word for "ten" (он) with the corresponding digit from 1 to 9.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English Translation
он бір	on bır	eleven
он екі	on eki	twelve
он үш	on üsh	thirteen
он төрт	on tört	fourteen
он бес	on bes	fifteen
он алты	on alty	sixteen
он жеті	on jeti	seventeen
он сегіз	on segiz	eighteen
он тоғыз	on toğız	nineteen
жиырма	jıırma	twenty

Note that the number 20 is a standalone word in Kazakh, unlike the numbers from 11 to 19.

Counting from 30 to 100

In Kazakh, the numbers from 30 to 100 follow a regular pattern. They are formed by combining the tens digit (from 3 to 9) with the word for "ten" (он).

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English Translation
үш жиырма	üsh jıırma	thirty
төрт жиырма	tört jıırma	forty
елу	elu	fifty
алпыс	alpıs	sixty
жетпіс	jetpıs	seventy
сексен	seksen	eighty
тоқсан	toqsan	ninety
жүз	jüz	one hundred

Congratulations! Now you can count from 0 to 100 in Kazakh. But our numerical journey doesn't end here. Let's explore how to use numbers in various contexts.

Using Numbers in Context

Now that you have learned the Kazakh number system, let's see how we can use numbers in different contexts.

Talking about Age

When discussing age in Kazakh, we use the word "жас" (jas) to mean "years old." To express someone's age, simply state the number followed by "жас."

For example:

• Мен он сегіз жасымын. (Men on segiz jasymyn.) - I am eighteen years old.
• Алты жасындағы бала. (Alty jasındağı bala.) - A six-year-old child.

Telling the Time

Telling the time in Kazakh follows a simple pattern. To express the hour, use the number followed by "сағат" (sağat), which means "o'clock."

For example:

• Сағат екі. (Sağat eki.) - Two o'clock.
• Сағат алты. (Sağat alty.) - Six o'clock.

To express minutes, use the number followed by "минут" (minut).

For example:

• Сағат екі минут. (Sağat eki minut.) - Two minutes past [the hour].
• Сағат он минут. (Sağat on minut.) - Ten minutes past [the hour].

Counting Objects and Quantities

When counting objects or expressing quantities in Kazakh, use the cardinal numbers (e.g., бір, екі, үш).

For example:

• Менде екі қалам бар. (Mende eki qalam bar.) - I have two pens.
• Сенде төрт қарлық су бар ма? (Sende tört qarlıq su bar ma?) - Do you have four bottles of water?

Dates and Years

To express dates in Kazakh, use the cardinal numbers followed by the word "ай" (ay) for "month" and "жыл" (jıl) for "year."

For example:

• Мен қырк тамызда туғанмын. (Men qırk tamyzda tuğanmyn.) - I was born on the fortieth of July.
• Қазақстан Республикасы қайда жасалған? (Qazaqstan Respýblıkası qayda jasalğan?) - When was the Republic of Kazakhstan established?

Cultural Insights

The Kazakh number system reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Kazakh people. Numerical expressions often carry symbolic meanings and cultural significance.

For example, the number 7 (жеті) is considered a lucky number in Kazakh culture. It is believed to bring good fortune and protection from evil spirits. This belief is deeply rooted in the ancient Turkic traditions and shamanistic practices of the Kazakh nomadic tribes.

Similarly, the number 40 (қырк) holds special significance in Kazakh culture. It is associated with maturity and wisdom, as well as the completion of a full cycle. In traditional Kazakh culture, reaching the age of 40 is often celebrated as a milestone.

These cultural insights add depth and meaning to the numerical expressions in Kazakh, highlighting the interconnectedness of language and culture.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your newly acquired knowledge into practice! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of Kazakh numbers and counting.

Exercise 1: Number Identification

Identify the following numbers in Kazakh:

1. сегіз 2. үш жиырма 3. алпыс 4. оның бесінші 5. қазан

Solution: 1. сегіз - eight 2. үш жиырма - thirty-three 3. алпыс - sixty 4. оның бесінші - its fifth 5. қазан - pot

Exercise 2: Age Expression

Express the following ages in Kazakh:

1. 12 years old 2. 25 years old 3. 50 years old 4. 30 years old 5. 18 years old

Solution: 1. 12 years old - он екі жасында 2. 25 years old - он бес жасында 3. 50 years old - елу жасында 4. 30 years old - үш жиырма жасында 5. 18 years old - он сегіз жасында

Exercise 3: Telling the Time

Express the following times in Kazakh:

1. 3:45 2. 9:30 3. 12:15 4. 6:10 5. 1:55

Solution: 1. 3:45 - сағат үштен алпыс бес минут 2. 9:30 - сағат тоғыздан екі минут 3. 12:15 - сағат онадан екінші 4. 6:10 - сағат алтыдан он минут 5. 1:55 - сағат бірден үштен алпыс бес минут

Exercise 4: Counting Objects

Count the following objects in Kazakh:

1. Five apples 2. Ten books 3. Two cups 4. Three pens 5. Seven chairs

Solution: 1. Five apples - бес алма 2. Ten books - он кітап 3. Two cups - екі қап 4. Three pens - үш қалам 5. Seven chairs - жеті орын

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this comprehensive lesson on Kazakh numbers and counting! You have learned how to count from 0 to 100 and use numbers in various contexts, such as expressing age, telling the time, counting objects, and discussing dates.

Remember that practice is the key to mastery. Continue practicing your Kazakh numbers in everyday situations, and soon counting will become second nature to you. As you progress in your language learning journey, you will discover even more fascinating aspects of the Kazakh language and culture.

Keep up the great work, and soon you'll be well on your way to becoming a proficient Kazakh speaker!

Table of Contents - Kazakh Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Kazakh Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Stress and Intonation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Meeting and Greeting
• Expressions for Asking Questions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Kazakh Cases

• Nominative Case
• Accusative Case
• Genitive Case
• Dative Case
• Locative Case
• Instrumental Case

  ---

Food and Drink

• Basic Food Vocabulary
• Restaurant Phrases
• Cooking Verbs

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Imperative Mood

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Wedding Celebrations
• Festivals and Holidays
• Music and Dance
• Cuisine and Culinary Art

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Basic Family Vocabulary
• Romantic Relationships
• Friendship and Socializing

  ---

Adjectives

• Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• Possessive Adjectives

  ---

Traveling and Directions

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Asking for and Giving Directions
• Accommodation and Lodging

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns

  ---

Shopping and Consumerism

• Basic Shopping Vocabulary
• Sizes and Measurements
• Money and Payments

  ---

Art and Literature

• Famous Writers and Poets
• Folk Tales and Legends
• Visual Arts and Crafts

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Adverbs

• General Adverbs
• Temporal Adverbs
• Modal Adverbs

  ---

Health and Medical Emergencies

• Basic Medical Vocabulary
• Expressions for Medical Emergencies

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Popular Sports in Kazakhstan
• Traditional Games and Pastimes
• Entertainment and Nightlife

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Simple Prepositions
• Compound Prepositions and Postpositions

  ---

Nature and Environment

• Basic Nature Vocabulary
• Weather Expressions
• Ecology and Conservation Terms

Sources

• Kazakh Vocabulary - Count from 1 to 10
• Kazakh numbers — Of Languages and Numbers

Other Lessons

• Basic Family Vocabulary
• Money and Payments
• Family
• Expressions for Asking Questions
• Meeting and Greeting
• Animals
• Cooking Verbs
• Restaurant Phrases
• Romantic Relationships
• Basic Food Vocabulary

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