Language/Zulu/Vocabulary/Numbers

Zulu Vocabulary - Counting and Numbers

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➡ In today's lesson you will learn how to count in Zulu.

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After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you:Shapes, Colors, Family Members & How to say Good Bye?.

Cardinal Numbers

Counting with fingers in Zulu

The Zulus count on their fingers starting with the little finger of the left hand to the left thumb, and continuing with the thumb of the right hand. The numbers from six to nine retain the meaning of this method of counting: the word for six, isithupha, means "thumb", that for seven, isikhombisa, means "the one who designates", the number eight, isishiyagalombili, means " two remain”, and finally the number nine, isishiyagalolunye, means “only one remains”.

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Numbering rules in Zulu

Now that you have had an overview of the most common numbers, let's move on to the rules for writing tens, composite numbers, and why not hundreds, thousands and beyond (if possible).

Numbers from zero to nine are rendered by specific words: iqanda [0], kunye [1], kubili [2], kuthathu [3], kune [4], kuhlanu (or isihlanu) [5], isithupha [6 ], isikhombisa [7], isishiyagalombili [8] and isishiyagalolunye [9]. The digits one through five are actually roots prefixed with ku when used for counting in general, as are the digits five (its second form) through nine, prefixed with isi. When compounded, the root of the unit is prefixed with na, nam, nan, or nes depending on its first letter. Thus, the dialed digits are: nanye [1], nambili [2], nantathu [3], nane [4], nanhlanu (or nesihlanu) [5], nesithupha [6], nesikhombisa [7], nesishiyagalombili [8] and nesishiyagalolunye [9].

The names of the tens are constructed starting with the word amashumi (plural of ishumi, ten) before the multiplier digit separated by a space, with the exception of ten itself: ishumi [10], amashumi amabili [20], amashumi amathathu [30], amashumi amane [40], amashumi amahlanu [50], amashumi ayisithupha [60], amashumi ayisikhombisa [70], amashumi ayisishiyagalombili [80] and amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye [90]. Compound numbers are formed starting with the ten, then the compound form of the unit separated by a space (e.g.: ishumi nesikhombisa [17], amashumi amahlanu nesishiyagalolunye [59]).

The hundreds are formed with the word for hundred (ikhulu, and amakhulu in the plural), then the root of the multiplier digit prefixed by ama or ay according to its first letter, and separated by a space, except for hundred: ikhulu [100], amakhulu amabili [200], amakhulu amathathu [300], amakhulu amane [400], amakhulu amahlanu [500], amakhulu ayisithupha [600], amakhulu ayisikhombisa [700], amakhulu ayisishiyagalombili [800] and amakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye [900].

The thousands follow the same structure, the word for thousand being inkulungwane (plural of which is izinkulungwane), the unit prefix being ezim or ezin: inkulungwane [1,000], izinkulungwane ezimbili [2,000], izinkulungwane ezintathu [3,000], izinkulungwane ezine [4,000], izinkulungwane ezinhlanu [5,000], izinkulungwane eziyisithupha [6,000], izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa [7,000], izinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili [8,000] and izinkulungwane galiyeishiya [90000] ezolyeish].

The following large numbers are: isigidi (million), whose plural is izigidi, then we have ibhiliyoni or isigidimbili (billion), ithriliyoni or isigidintathu (trillion), ikhwadriliyoni (billiard) and ikhwintiliyoni (trillion).

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Cardinal Number	isiZulu
0	iQanda
1	kuNye
2	kuBili
3	kuThathu
4	kuNe
5	isiHlanu
6	isiThupha
7	isiKhombisa
8	isiShiyagalombili, isiBhozo
9	isiShiyagalolunye
10	ishumi
11	iShumi nanye
12	iShumi nambili
13	iShumi nantathu
14	iShumi nane
15	iShumi nanhlanu
16	iShumi nesithupha
17	iShumi nesikhombisa
18	iShumi nesishiyagalombili
19	iShumi nesishiyagalolunye
20	amaShumi amabili
30	amaShumi amathathu
40	amaShumi amane
50	amaShumi amahlanu
60	amaShumi ayisithupha
70	amaShumi ayisikhombisa
80	amaShumi ayisishiyagalombili
90	amaShumi ayisishiyagalolunye
100	iKhulu / amaKhulu
1,000	inKulungwane / izinKulungwane
1,000,000	isiGidi / iziGidi
1,000,000,000	isiGidigidi / iziGidigidi

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal Number	isiZulu	English
1o	-okuqala	first
2o		second
3o	isiThathu	third
	-landela	next
	-gcinile	last

Fractions

Fraction	isiZulu	English
1/2	iHHafu	half
1/3	inGxenye yeSithathu / izinGxenye zeSithathu, uCezu lweSithathu / izinGCezu zeSithathu	third
1/4	iKota	quarter
%	iPhesenti / amaPhesenti	percent
	isiBali / iziBali	calculator(s)

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