Language/Southern-sotho/Vocabulary/Counting-Numbers
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on counting numbers in Southern Sotho! In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of numbers and their use in everyday situations. Numbers are an essential part of any language, and mastering them will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Southern Sotho. We will cover cardinal and ordinal numbers, as well as their pronunciation and usage. So let's dive in and start counting!
Cardinal Numbers[edit | edit source]
Cardinal numbers are used to represent quantity or amount. They are the basic building blocks of our number system and are used in various contexts, such as counting objects, telling time, and expressing ages. In Southern Sotho, cardinal numbers are relatively easy to learn as they follow a straightforward pattern. Let's start by learning the numbers from 1 to 10:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | le tse ling | one |
| 2 | le tse pedi | two |
| 3 | le tse tharo | three |
| 4 | le tse nne | four |
| 5 | le tse hlano | five |
| 6 | le tse tshela | six |
| 7 | le tse supa | seven |
| 8 | le tse robong | eight |
| 9 | le tse shome | nine |
| 10 | le tse lesome | ten |
Now that we have learned the numbers from 1 to 10, let's continue counting to 20:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | lesome le le nngwe | eleven |
| 12 | lesome le le pedi | twelve |
| 13 | lesome le le tharo | thirteen |
| 14 | lesome le le nne | fourteen |
| 15 | lesome le le hlano | fifteen |
| 16 | lesome le le tshela | sixteen |
| 17 | lesome le le supa | seventeen |
| 18 | lesome le le robong | eighteen |
| 19 | lesome le le shome | nineteen |
| 20 | lesome le le letsatsi | twenty |
Great job! You are now able to count up to 20 in Southern Sotho. As you can see, the numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by combining the word for "ten" (lesome) with the numbers from 1 to 9. The number 20 is expressed as "lesome le le letsatsi."
Let's continue our journey and learn the numbers from 21 to 100. The pattern is similar to what we have learned so far:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | lesome le le letsatsi le mong | twenty-one |
| 22 | lesome le le letsatsi le pedi | twenty-two |
| 30 | lesome le le metsoalle | thirty |
| 40 | lesome le le leshome | forty |
| 50 | lesome le le lefatše | fifty |
| 60 | lesome le le metso | sixty |
| 70 | lesome le le metsoalle le mong | seventy |
| 80 | lesome le le metsoalle le pedi | eighty |
| 90 | lesome le le lesome | ninety |
| 100 | lesome le le lefatše | one hundred |
Congratulations! You can now count up to 100 in Southern Sotho. It's important to practice these numbers regularly to reinforce your knowledge and improve your fluency.
Ordinal Numbers[edit | edit source]
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or order of something. They are formed by adding the suffix "-eng" to the cardinal numbers. Let's take a look at the ordinal numbers from 1st to 10th:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | le tse lingeng | first |
| 2nd | le tse peding | second |
| 3rd | le tse tharong | third |
| 4th | le tse nneng | fourth |
| 5th | le tse hlanoeng | fifth |
| 6th | le tse tsheleng | sixth |
| 7th | le tse supeng | seventh |
| 8th | le tse robongeng | eighth |
| 9th | le tse shomeng | ninth |
| 10th | le tse lesomeng | tenth |
To form the ordinal numbers from 11th onwards, we add the suffix "-eng" to the cardinal numbers:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 11th | lesome le le nngweng | eleventh |
| 12th | lesome le le peding | twelfth |
| 13th | lesome le le tharong | thirteenth |
| 14th | lesome le le nneng | fourteenth |
| 15th | lesome le le hlanoeng | fifteenth |
| 16th | lesome le le tsheleng | sixteenth |
| 17th | lesome le le supeng | seventeenth |
| 18th | lesome le le robongeng | eighteenth |
| 19th | lesome le le shomeng | nineteenth |
| 20th | lesome le le letsatsing | twentieth |
Continue practicing and familiarizing yourself with the ordinal numbers from 21st to 100th, using the same pattern:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 21st | lesome le le letsatsing le mong | twenty-first |
| 22nd | lesome le le letsatsing le peding | twenty-second |
| 30th | lesome le le metsoalleng | thirtieth |
| 40th | lesome le le leshomeng | fortieth |
| 50th | lesome le le lefatšeng | fiftieth |
| 60th | lesome le le metsoeng | sixtieth |
| 70th | lesome le le metsoalleng le mong | seventieth |
| 80th | lesome le le metsoalleng le peding | eightieth |
| 90th | lesome le le lesomeng | ninetieth |
| 100th | lesome le le lefatšeng | one hundredth |
Well done! You have now learned how to count in Southern Sotho using cardinal and ordinal numbers. Make sure to practice regularly to reinforce your knowledge and improve your fluency.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
In Southern Sotho culture, numbers hold significant cultural and symbolic meanings. For example, the number 7 (supa) is considered a lucky number and often associated with good fortune and blessings. It is believed that events or activities performed in sevens will bring prosperity and success. The number 8 (robong) is associated with abundance and wealth, as it sounds similar to the word for "rich."
Additionally, in Southern Sotho tradition, certain numbers are considered sacred and are often used in rituals and ceremonies. For instance, the number 3 (tharo) represents the past, present, and future, symbolizing completeness and unity. It is often used in traditional dances and songs to evoke a sense of harmony and balance.
Understanding the cultural significance of numbers in Southern Sotho will not only enrich your language learning experience but also provide valuable insights into the vibrant heritage and traditions of the Sotho people.
Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now let's put your knowledge of counting numbers to the test with some exercises. Choose the correct Southern Sotho translation for the given English numbers:
1. Five a) le tse ling b) le tse hlano c) le tse tshela
2. Twelve a) le tse pedi b) lesome le le pedi c) lesome le le metsoalle
3. Seventy a) le tse supa b) lesome le le metso c) lesome le le metsoalle le mong
4. Forty-five a) le tse leshome b) lesome le le hlanoeng c) lesome le le hlano le tse leshome
5. Ninety-nine a) le tse shome b) lesome le le letsatsi c) lesome le le shomeeng
Solutions: 1. b) le tse hlano 2. b) lesome le le pedi 3. c) lesome le le metsoalle le mong 4. c) lesome le le hlano le tse leshome 5. c) lesome le le shomeeng
Explanation: 1. "le tse hlano" is the correct translation for "five." 2. "lesome le le pedi" is the correct translation for "twelve." 3. "lesome le le metsoalle le mong" is the correct translation for "seventy." 4. "lesome le le hlano le tse leshome" is the correct translation for "forty-five." 5. "lesome le le shomeeng" is the correct translation for "ninety-nine."
Keep practicing to strengthen your understanding of counting numbers in Southern Sotho!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Count to 10
- Daily Routines
- Animals
- Express Surprise
- Drinks
- Colors
- Telling Time
- Money and Currency
- How to say Good Bye?
- Food
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