Language/Fijian/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-10
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In today's lesson, we are going to explore a fundamental part of the Fijian language: numbers! Understanding numbers is essential in every language, as they help us in everyday situations—whether we are counting items, telling someone our age, or even shopping. Numbers are the building blocks of communication, and knowing how to use them in Fijian will greatly enhance your conversational skills.
This lesson will introduce you to the Fijian numbers from 1 to 10, including their pronunciation and usage. We will also provide practical examples and exercises to help you practice using these numbers in various contexts.
Overview of Fijian Numbers[edit | edit source]
Numbers in Fijian are quite straightforward. Each number has its unique word, and the pronunciation is generally phonetic, meaning that the way it's written closely corresponds to how it's pronounced. This makes it easier for English speakers to grasp.
Let's dive into the numbers!
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dua | ˈndua | one |
| rua | ˈruːa | two |
| tolu | ˈtoːlu | three |
| va | ˈvaː | four |
| lima | ˈliːma | five |
| ono | ˈono | six |
| vitu | ˈvitu | seven |
| walu | ˈwalu | eight |
| ciwa | ˈt͡ʃiwa | nine |
| toka | ˈtoka | ten |
Importance of Numbers in Daily Life[edit | edit source]
Numbers are more than just symbols; they are integral to daily life. Here are a few examples of how you might use Fijian numbers in different situations:
- Counting Objects: "I have three apples." – "E tolu na apeli."
- Telling Age: "I am five years old." – "E lima na noqu yabaki."
- Shopping: "How much is it? It costs two dollars." – "E levu na? E rua na dola."
- Time: "I will meet you at four o'clock." – "Au na vulavula vei iko ena va na siga."
Understanding these contexts will help you remember the numbers and use them naturally in conversation.
Practice Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Pronunciation is key to being understood. Here’s how to pronounce each number:
- Dua: Pronounced like "ndua," with a soft 'n' sound.
- Rua: Pronounced as "ruːa," elongating the 'u'.
- Tolu: Pronounced as "toːlu," again elongating the 'o'.
- Va: A simple and short "va."
- Lima: Pronounced as "liːma," with a long 'i'.
- Ono: Pronounced as "ono," with a soft 'o' sound.
- Vitu: Pronounced as "vitu," straightforward.
- Walu: Pronounced as "walu," keeping it simple.
- Ciwa: Pronounced as "t͡ʃiwa," with a 'ch' sound at the start.
- Toka: Pronounced as "toka," with a clear 'o'.
Usage Examples[edit | edit source]
Let's look at some examples in various contexts where you might use these numbers:
1. Shopping: "I want two of these." – "Au via rua ni."
2. Counting Items: "There are seven chairs." – "E vitu na seivi."
3. Expressing Age: "My brother is nine." – "Na noqu fraenai e ciwa."
4. Time: "It is six o'clock." – "E ono na hora."
5. Ordering Food: "I would like five fish." – "Au via lima na ika."
6. Games: "We play with eight balls." – "E da qito kei walu na volivoli."
7. Asking for Help: "Can you help me with three questions?" – "E rawa ni ko veivuke mai vei au me baleta na tolu na taro?"
8. Traveling: "I will be there in four days." – "Au na tiko e kea ena va na siga."
9. Events: "There will be ten people at the party." – "E na yaco e toka na tamata ena vakacagau."
10. Classes: "I have two classes today." – "Au sa tu e rua na class ena siga nikua."
Exercises to Practice[edit | edit source]
Now that you've learned the numbers, let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are ten exercises for you to try.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Fill in the blanks with the correct Fijian number.
1. I have ___ (one) dog.
2. There are ___ (four) trees.
3. My sister is ___ (two) years old.
4. We need ___ (seven) chairs for the meeting.
5. There are ___ (five) bananas in the basket.
Solutions:
1. dua
2. va
3. rua
4. vitu
5. lima
Exercise 2: Match the Number[edit | edit source]
Match the English numbers with their Fijian equivalent.
| English Number | Fijian Number |
| 1 | 1. tolu |
| 2 | 2. va |
| 3 | 3. toka |
| 4 | 4. ono |
| 5 | 5. lima |
Solutions:
1 - 2. toka
2 - 4. va
3 - 1. tolu
4 - 3. ono
5 - 5. lima
Exercise 3: Translation Practice[edit | edit source]
Translate the following sentences into Fijian.
1. I want three apples.
2. She is eight years old.
3. They have six fish.
4. We need one book.
5. There are nine students in the class.
Solutions:
1. Au via tolu na apeli.
2. E walu na yabaki ni.
3. E ratou sa tu e ono na ika.
4. E via dua na buku.
5. E tu e ciwa na gonevuli ena class.
Exercise 4: Number Recognition[edit | edit source]
Write the Fijian number for the following.
1. 5
2. 10
3. 3
4. 2
5. 6
Solutions:
1. lima
2. toka
3. tolu
4. rua
5. ono
Exercise 5: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]
Create sentences using the following Fijian numbers.
1. dua
2. va
3. walu
4. ciwa
5. lima
Solutions: (Sample Answers)
1. Au sa tu e dua na peni. (I have one pen.)
2. E va na vanua ni qito. (There are four places to play.)
3. E walu na tamata ni da qito. (There are eight people playing.)
4. E ciwa na noqu yabaki. (I am nine years old.)
5. E lima na ika e na lola. (There are five fish in the water.)
Exercise 6: Listening Practice[edit | edit source]
Listen to the numbers spoken aloud and write down the Fijian words you hear.
1. (Teacher says: "ono")
2. (Teacher says: "toka")
3. (Teacher says: "rua")
4. (Teacher says: "lima")
5. (Teacher says: "ciwa")
Solutions:
1. ono
2. toka
3. rua
4. lima
5. ciwa
Exercise 7: Counting Objects[edit | edit source]
Count the following objects in Fijian.
1. Three books
2. Two cats
3. Five oranges
4. Seven chairs
5. Four friends
Solutions:
1. E tolu na buku.
2. E rua na cat.
3. E lima na oranja.
4. E vitu na seivi.
5. E va na prijatelji.
Exercise 8: Age Questions[edit | edit source]
Ask and answer the following age-related questions using Fijian numbers.
1. How old is your friend? (Answer: seven)
2. How old is your brother? (Answer: five)
3. How old is your sister? (Answer: two)
4. How old are you? (Answer: ten)
5. How old is your pet? (Answer: three)
Solutions:
1. E sevu na yabaki ni noqu itokani.
2. E lima na yabaki ni noqu fraenai.
3. E rua na yabaki ni noqu sisiteri.
4. E toka na yabaki niu.
5. E tolu na yabaki ni noqu pet.
Exercise 9: Shopping Scenario[edit | edit source]
Imagine you are at a market. Respond to the following phrases in Fijian.
1. How many apples do you want? (Response: two)
2. What is the price of five bananas? (Response: five dollars)
3. Do you need one pineapple? (Response: yes)
4. How many fish do you want? (Response: three)
5. I have eight oranges for sale. (Response: I want four)
Solutions:
1. Au via rua na apeli.
2. E lima na dola.
3. Io, au via dua na pailate.
4. Au via tolu na ika.
5. Au via va na oranja.
Exercise 10: Create a Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Create a short dialogue using Fijian numbers between two friends discussing their ages and how many siblings they have.
Sample Dialogue:
- Friend A: "E tolu na noqu yabaki." (I am three years old.)
- Friend B: "E lima na noqu yabaki." (I am five years old.)
- Friend A: "E rua na noqu fraenai." (I have two brothers.)
- Friend B: "E tolu na noqu fraenai." (I have three brothers.)
In this lesson, you have learned the Fijian numbers from 1 to 10, their pronunciation, and how to use them in various contexts. With practice, you will become more comfortable using these numbers in your daily interactions in Fijian.
Keep practicing, and enjoy your journey in learning the Fijian language!
Videos[edit | edit source]
Fijian-Polynesian languages Comparison (Numbers, Phrases ...[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Relationships
- Colors
- Weather Vocabulary
- Days of the Week
- Seasons and Months
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Ordering at a Restaurant
- Geography
- Asking for Directions
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