Language/Telugu/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting
As a Telugu language teacher with 20 years of experience, I would like to introduce you to one of the most important parts of daily life: numbers and counting. In this lesson, you will learn how to count from 1 to 100 in Telugu, as well as understand some cultural information and interesting facts about Telugu numerals.
Telugu Numbers
Telugu has its own numbering system, which is different from the Arabic numerals that we usually use. Telugu numbers are written from left to right, where the digits are arranged in groups of two. Here are the Telugu numerals from 1 to 10:
| Telugu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ఒక | Ok | One |
| రెండు | Reṇḍu | Two |
| మూడు | Mūḍu | Three |
| నాలుగు | Nālugu | Four |
| ఐదు | Aidu | Five |
| ఆరు | Aaru | Six |
| ఏడు | Eadu | Seven |
| ఎనిమిది | Enimidhi | Eight |
| తొమ్మిది | Thommidhi | Nine |
| పది | Padi | Ten |
To form higher numbers, we combine these digits with the Telugu word for "ten" - పదము (padamu). For example:
- 11 - పదకొండు (padakondu)
- 12 - పదరెండు (padareṇḍu)
- 20 - ఇరవై (iravai)
- 30 - ముప్పై (muppai)
- 100 - నూరు (nūru)
As we can see from the Telugu numerals, counting in Telugu can be quite interesting and even fun once you get the hang of it. It is also worth noting that Telugu has its own symbols for representing larger numbers, such as లక్ష (lakṣa) for "one hundred thousand" and కోటి (kōṭi) for "ten million".
Useful Phrases
Knowing the Telugu numerals can be quite useful in many situations, especially when you need to give someone your phone number or ask about prices. Here are some useful Telugu phrases you can use:
- నేను ఒక నుండి పద వరకు లెక్కిస్తున్నాను (Nēnu ok nuṇḍi pada varaku lekkistunnānu) - I am counting from one to ten.
- మీ ఫోన్ నంబర్ ఎందుకు లేదు? (Mī phōn nambaru enduku lēdu?) - Why don’t you give me your phone number?
- ఈ విషయంలో కోటి కూడా ఉన్నాయి (Ī viṣayaṁlō kōṭi kūḍā unnāyi) - This matter involves a lot of money.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that Telugu is the third most spoken language in India with over 85 million speakers? Telugu is also one of the twenty-two official languages of India and is the primary language spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Moreover, Telugu numbers have a rich historical significance in the Indian subcontinent. The origins of Telugu numerals date back to the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled over the Deccan region from the second century BCE to the third century CE. The Satavahanas were known for their advancements in science, literature, and mathematics, and they contributed significantly to the development of the Telugu numbering system.
In conclusion, learning Telugu numerals is an essential aspect of speaking Telugu fluently. By mastering the numerals, you will be able to communicate more effectively with Telugu speakers and gain a deeper appreciation of Telugu culture and heritage.