Language/Swahili-individual-language/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting
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Welcome to the lesson on Numbers and Counting in Swahili! This topic is essential because numbers are the building blocks of communication, helping you in everyday situations such as shopping, telling time, and even making friends. Understanding how to count and use numbers will give you a solid foundation as you continue your journey in learning Swahili.
In this lesson, we will cover the following:
Cardinal Numbers
Introduction to Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are used for counting. They allow us to quantify nouns and express how many items we are referring to. In Swahili, cardinal numbers play a crucial role as they are used in various contexts, from simple counting to describing quantities in conversations.
Here is a breakdown of some basic cardinal numbers in Swahili:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| moja | /ˈmɔdʒa/ | one |
| mbili | /ˈmbili/ | two |
| tatu | /ˈtatu/ | three |
| nne | /ˈnːe/ | four |
| tano | /ˈtano/ | five |
| sita | /ˈsita/ | six |
| saba | /ˈsaba/ | seven |
| nane | /ˈnane/ | eight |
| tisa | /ˈtisa/ | nine |
| kumi | /ˈkumi/ | ten |
As you can see, the numbers are quite distinct and easy to remember. Let's expand this table to include numbers from eleven to twenty:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kumi na moja | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈmɔdʒa/ | eleven |
| kumi na mbili | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈmbili/ | twelve |
| kumi na tatu | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈtatu/ | thirteen |
| kumi na nne | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈnːe/ | fourteen |
| kumi na tano | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈtano/ | fifteen |
| kumi na sita | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈsita/ | sixteen |
| kumi na saba | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈsaba/ | seventeen |
| kumi na nane | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈnane/ | eighteen |
| kumi na tisa | /ˈkumi nɑ ˈtisa/ | nineteen |
| ishirini | /iʃiˈrini/ | twenty |
Now, let’s look at the numbers from twenty-one to thirty:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ishirini na moja | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈmɔdʒa/ | twenty-one |
| ishirini na mbili | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈmbili/ | twenty-two |
| ishirini na tatu | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈtatu/ | twenty-three |
| ishirini na nne | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈnːe/ | twenty-four |
| ishirini na tano | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈtano/ | twenty-five |
| ishirini na sita | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈsita/ | twenty-six |
| ishirini na saba | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈsaba/ | twenty-seven |
| ishirini na nane | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈnane/ | twenty-eight |
| ishirini na tisa | /iʃiˈrini nɑ ˈtisa/ | twenty-nine |
| thelathini | /θeˈlathini/ | thirty |
As you practice, try to count things around you using these numbers. It can be as simple as counting the number of books on your shelf or the number of apples in a bowl.
Ordinal Numbers
Introduction to Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers help us indicate the position or order of items in a sequence. For example, first, second, third, and so on. In Swahili, ordinal numbers are also quite straightforward.
Here’s a list of some essential ordinal numbers in Swahili:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| wa kwanza | /wɑ ˈkwanʣa/ | first |
| wa pili | /wɑ ˈpili/ | second |
| wa tatu | /wɑ ˈtatu/ | third |
| wa nne | /wɑ ˈnːe/ | fourth |
| wa tano | /wɑ ˈtano/ | fifth |
| wa sita | /wɑ ˈsita/ | sixth |
| wa saba | /wɑ ˈsaba/ | seventh |
| wa nane | /wɑ ˈnane/ | eighth |
| wa tisa | /wɑ ˈtisa/ | ninth |
| wa kumi | /wɑ ˈkumi/ | tenth |
Using these ordinal numbers, you can easily express sequences, such as describing the order of participants in a race or listing your favorite movies.
Counting in Swahili
How to Count Beyond Ten
Once you are comfortable with the numbers up to ten, counting becomes much more manageable. Here’s a brief overview of how counting works in Swahili:
- Eleven to nineteen: As shown above, these numbers are formed by adding "kumi na" (ten and) before the units.
- Twenty and beyond: The pattern continues. For example, twenty-one is "ishirini na moja" (twenty and one), twenty-two is "ishirini na mbili" (twenty and two), and so on.
As you continue counting, the structure remains the same. Here’s a quick reference for numbers from thirty to fifty:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| thelathini na moja | /θeˈlathini nɑ ˈmɔdʒa/ | thirty-one |
| thelathini na mbili | /θeˈlathini nɑ ˈmbili/ | thirty-two |
| thelathini na tatu | /θeˈlathini nɑ ˈtatu/ | thirty-three |
| thelathini na nne | /θeˈlathini nɑ ˈnːe/ | thirty-four |
| thelathini na tano | /θeˈlathini nɑ ˈtano/ | thirty-five |
| arobaini | /aɾoˈbaini/ | forty |
| arobaini na moja | /aɾoˈbaini nɑ ˈmɔdʒa/ | forty-one |
| arobaini na mbili | /aɾoˈbaini nɑ ˈmbili/ | forty-two |
| arobaini na tatu | /aɾoˈbaini nɑ ˈtatu/ | forty-three |
| arobaini na nne | /aɾoˈbaini nɑ ˈnːe/ | forty-four |
This pattern continues, and once you grasp the concept, you can count indefinitely!
Telling Time in Swahili
Introduction to Telling Time
Knowing how to tell time is essential in any language, and Swahili is no different. In Swahili, time is usually expressed in a straightforward manner using cardinal numbers along with the word "saa," which means "hour." For example:
- 1:00 (one o'clock) is "saa moja"
- 2:00 (two o'clock) is "saa mbili"
Here’s a more detailed look at telling time:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| saa moja | /sɑː ˈmɔdʒa/ | one o'clock |
| saa mbili | /sɑː ˈmbili/ | two o'clock |
| saa tatu | /sɑː ˈtatu/ | three o'clock |
| saa nne | /sɑː ˈnːe/ | four o'clock |
| saa tano | /sɑː ˈtano/ | five o'clock |
| saa sita | /sɑː ˈsita/ | six o'clock |
| saa saba | /sɑː ˈsaba/ | seven o'clock |
| saa nane | /sɑː ˈnane/ | eight o'clock |
| saa tisa | /sɑː ˈtisa/ | nine o'clock |
| saa kumi | /sɑː ˈkumi/ | ten o'clock |
For times beyond ten, Swahili combines the cardinal numbers with "saa" and uses "na" to indicate minutes past the hour. For example:
- 1:15 (one fifteen) is "saa moja na kumi na tano" (one and ten and five – literally).
- 2:30 (two thirty) is "saa mbili na thelathini" (two and thirty).
Here’s a table for reference:
| Swahili (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| saa moja na kumi | /sɑː ˈmɔdʒa nɑ ˈkumi/ | one fifteen |
| saa mbili na thelathini | /sɑː ˈmbili nɑ θeˈlathini/ | two thirty |
| saa tatu na dakika kumi | /sɑː ˈtatu nɑ dɑˈkika ˈkumi/ | three ten minutes |
| saa nne na dakika ishirini | /sɑː ˈnːe nɑ dɑˈkika iʃiˈrini/ | four twenty minutes |
| saa tano na dakika thelathini | /sɑː ˈtano nɑ dɑˈkika θeˈlathini/ | five thirty minutes |
Exercises and Practice Scenarios
Now that you have a good understanding of numbers and counting in Swahili, it’s time to practice! Below are ten exercises designed to reinforce your learning.
Exercise 1: Cardinal Numbers Translation
Translate the following cardinal numbers from English to Swahili:
1. Three
2. Seven
3. Eleven
4. Eighteen
5. Twenty-five
Exercise 2: Ordinal Numbers Translation
Translate the following ordinal numbers from English to Swahili:
1. Fourth
2. Seventh
3. Tenth
4. First
5. Third
Exercise 3: Counting Objects
Count the following objects in Swahili:
1. Five apples
2. Eight books
3. Ten chairs
4. Twelve oranges
5. Sixteen pens
Exercise 4: Telling Time in Swahili
Convert the following times from English to Swahili:
1. One o'clock
2. Three fifteen
3. Five thirty
4. Two forty-five
5. Twelve noon
Exercise 5: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct Swahili cardinal number:
1. ____ (two)
2. ____ (nine)
3. ____ (fourteen)
4. ____ (thirty)
5. ____ (eighteen)
Exercise 6: Write Your Own Sentences
Create sentences in Swahili using the following numbers:
1. Three
2. Ten
3. Seven
4. Twenty
5. Fifteen
Exercise 7: Match the Numbers
Match the Swahili numbers to their English counterparts:
1. Kumi
2. Tatu
3. Nne
4. Mbili
5. Saba
Exercise 8: Identify the Ordinal Number
Identify the ordinal number in the following sentences:
1. She is the third in line.
2. This is my first book.
3. That was the second time I visited.
4. He finished in fourth place.
5. I am the seventh child.
Exercise 9: Time Conversion Challenge
Convert the following times to English:
1. Saa mbili
2. Saa tano na kumi
3. Saa tatu na dakika ishirini
4. Saa kumi na tatu
5. Saa nne na dakika kumi na tano
Exercise 10: Create a Number Dialogue
Write a short dialogue in Swahili using at least five different numbers. You can include cardinal and ordinal numbers.
Answers and Explanations
Below are the answers and explanations for the exercises:
Answer for Exercise 1
1. Tatu
2. Saba
3. Kumi na moja
4. Kumi na nane
5. Ishirini na tano
Answer for Exercise 2
1. Wa nne
2. Wa saba
3. Wa kumi
4. Wa kwanza
5. Wa tatu
Answer for Exercise 3
1. Maziwa matano
2. Vitabu nane
3. Viti kumi
4. Oranges kumi na mbili
5. Kalamu kumi na sita
Answer for Exercise 4
1. Saa moja
2. Saa tatu na kumi na tano
3. Saa tano na thelathini
4. Saa mbili na arobaini na tano
5. Saa kumi na mbili
Answer for Exercise 5
1. Mbili
2. Tisa
3. Kumi na nne
4. Thelathini
5. Kumi na nane
Answer for Exercise 6
1. Nina apples tatu.
2. Nina chairs kumi.
3. Nina books saba.
4. Nina oranges ishirini.
5. Nina pens kumi na tano.
Answer for Exercise 7
1. Kumi - Ten
2. Tatu - Three
3. Nne - Four
4. Mbili - Two
5. Saba - Seven
Answer for Exercise 8
1. Tatu
2. Kwanza
3. Pili
4. Nne
5. Saba
Answer for Exercise 9
1. Two o'clock
2. Five ten
3. Three twenty minutes
4. Thirteen o'clock
5. Four fifteen
Answer for Exercise 10
Example dialogue can vary, here is one possible answer:
- A: "Saa ngapi?" (What time is it?)
- B: "Saa mbili." (It's two o'clock.)
- A: "Nina mtoto wa kwanza." (I have the first child.)
- B: "Nina vitabu vitatu." (I have three books.)
- A: "Tuna watoto saba." (We have seven children.)
- B: "Ninataka orange kumi." (I want ten oranges.)
Congratulations on completing this lesson! Remember to practice your numbers regularly for better retention. The more you use them, the easier they will become. Keep up the great work, and continue to embrace the beauty of the Swahili language!
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