Language/Zulu/Vocabulary/Basic-Numbers
Introduction
Welcome to the amazing world of Zulu language. You are on your way to fluency! In this lesson, you will learn how to count from 1 to 100 in Zulu, as well as how to form larger numbers using some simple rules. Numbers are essential in any language, and this lesson will equip you to talk about basic mathematics, tell the time, and talk about the dates in Zulu. Let's get started!
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Health & Colors.
Basic Numbers
Cardinal Numbers
In Zulu, cardinal numbers are used to count things or objects. Below is a table showing the cardinal numbers from 1 to 20, their pronunciation, and their English translations.
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | oka- | one |
| 2 | tu- | two |
| 3 | thathu- | three |
| 4 | ne- | four |
| 5 | hlanu- | five |
| 6 | shanu- | six |
| 7 | isikhombisa- | seven |
| 8 | simi- | eight |
| 9 | esishiyi- | nine |
| 10 | ishumi- | ten |
| 11 | ishumi nanye no-ka- | eleven |
| 12 | ishumi nambili- | twelve |
| 13 | ishumi nantathu- | thirteen |
| 14 | ishumi nane- | fourteen |
| 15 | ishumi nahlano- | fifteen |
| 16 | ishumi nesithupha- | sixteen |
| 17 | ishumi nesikhombisa- | seventeen |
| 18 | ishumi nesiyi- | eighteen |
| 19 | ishumi nesishiyi sanhlanu- | nineteen |
| 20 | amashumi amabili- | twenty |
It's interesting to note that in Zulu, numbers 6 and 7 have special words (shanu- and isikhombisa- respectively) other than their ordinary form that ends with -ne. Numbers 1 to 9 are unique and don't follow a specific pattern, unlike English, where numbers 11-19 all end with "-teen."
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate the position of something in a sequence. They are formed by adding the suffix -ka to the cardinal number. For example, in English, you have first, second, third, fourth, and so on. In Zulu, they are as follows:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | okaS- | first |
| 2nd | tukaS- | second |
| 3rd | thathuS- | third |
| 4th | nes-ka | fourth |
Notes on Larger Numbers
Larger numbers are formed using a combination of cardinal numbers, starting from the largest to the smallest. For example:
- 21 would be ishumi nambili na-ne (i.e., ""twenty-one"") - 22 would be ishumi nambili na-tu (i.e., ""twenty-two"") - 23 would be ishumi nambili na-thathu (i.e., ""twenty-three"") - 30 would be amashumi asithathu (i.e., ""thirty"") - 40 would be amashumi amane (i.e., ""forty"") - 50 would be amashumi anahlanu (i.e., ""fifty"") - 60 would be amashumi ashanu (i.e., ""sixty"") - 70 would be amashumi asikhombisa (i.e., ""seventy"") - 80 would be amashumi asimi (i.e., ""eighty"") - 90 would be amashumi asishiyi (i.e., ""ninety"") - 100 would be iKhulu (i.e., ""one hundred"")
Counting Above 100
To count above 100, the same pattern of forming larger numbers is followed. For example:
- 200 would be izimbila ezi-Sibili (i.e., ""two hundred"") - 300 would be izimbila ezi-Thathu (i.e., ""three hundred"") - 1000 would be inyanga yokugcina (i.e., ""one thousand"") - 2000 would be izinyanga ezi-Sibili (i.e., ""two thousand"") - 3,000 would be izinyanga ezi-Thathu (i.e., ""three thousand"") - 10,000 would be amalukelo ayishumi (i.e., ""ten thousand"") - 100,000 would be amalukelo ayikhumalo (i.e., ""one hundred thousand"")
Telling Time
Telling time in Zulu requires forming a sentence that describes the hour and the minute. The hour is expressed using the cardinal numbers from 1 to 12, except for 1 o'clock, which is expressed as "umlambomunye" meaning "one hour."
The minute is expressed using the cardinal numbers from 1 to 59, except for 15, 30, and 45, which have special words: "kunye nokumpela," "etylukwe nesishiyagalombili," and "kadlule ne-" respectively.
To form the sentence, the hour is placed first, followed by "ngetshe meaning ""and,"" and then the minute. For example:
- 1:45 would be ""umlambomunye ngetshe kadlule ne-sishiyagalombili"" - 2:15 would be ""kubili ngetshe kunye nokumpela"" - 6:30 would be ""kusithupa ngetshe etylukwe nesishiyagalombili""
Note the use of "getshe. It is essential to use it when giving the time in Zulu.
Talking About Dates
Dates in Zulu follow the format of day-month-year. Here are some of the words to describe months, and their pronunciation in Zulu:
- January: uNhlolanja (oo-NHLAW-njuh) - February: uNtulikazi (oo-ntoo-lee-KAH-zee) - March: uNdasa (oo-NDAH-suh) - April: uMbaso (oo-MBAH-soh) - May: uNcwaba (oo-NJWAH-buh) - June: uNtulikwana (oo-ntoo-lee-KWAH-nuh) - July: uNtombazana (oo-ntohm-bah-ZAH-nuh) - August: uMgqibelo (oo-mmg-ke-BEH-loh) - September: uMsintsi (oo-mSSI-nn-tsee) - October: uMandulo (oo-mmahn-DOO-loh) - November: uNtuliyankulu (oo-ntoo-lee-YAHN-koo-loo) - December: uZibandlela (oo-zeeb-BUH-ndlehl-uh)
Next, let's learn how to ask and answer the question "what's the date?"
- "Usuku lwanamuhla ngubani?" means ""What is today's date?"" - "Lwanamuhla nguso-andlwana" means ""Today is the 3rd."" - "Lwesibili, kuNcwaba usuku lwesithathu kuNcwaba" means ""On Tuesday, it will be the 3rd of May.""
Conclusion
Congratulations on making it through the basic numbers in Zulu! You are well on your way to being able to confidently count and tell the time in Zulu. These skills will prove invaluable in daily life, so keep practicing!
Other Lessons
- Family Members
- Connecting words
- Weather
- Days of the week
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Animals
- Seasons
- Days, Months, and Seasons
- House
- Sports
Sources