Language/Tagalog/Vocabulary/Counting-and-Numbers
Tagalog counting numbers follow the same pattern with English counting (hundreds, tens, ones order).
0 - 10
- Zero - Zero
- Isa - One
- Dalawa - Two
- Tatlo - Three
- Apat - Four
- Lima - Five
- Anim - Six
- Pito - Seven
- Walo - Eight
- Siyam - Nine
- Sampu - Ten
11-19
- Labing-Isa - Eleven
- Labing-dalawa - Twelve
- Labing-tatlo - Thirteen
- Labing-apat - Fourteen
- Labing-lima - Fifteen
- Labing-anim - Sixteen
- Labing-pito - Seventeen
- Labing-walo - Eighteen
- Labing-siyam - Nineteen
20 - 99
For numbers 20 up to 99, the naming follows a general format: tens-digit number + pu't + ones-digit number. If the tens-digit number ends in a vowel, it is followed by an "m" before the pu. If the vowel is "o", it is replaced by a "u" and followed by the "m". The ('t) following pu represents the word at, meaning "and". So forty-seven is apatnapu't pito; sixty-six is animnapu't anim, but fifty-three is limampu't tatlo and eighty-one is walumpu't isa. If there is no ones digit, such as in fifty (limampu), no ('t) is added: thirty = tatlumpu.
Example Numbers
- Tatlumpu't anim: Thirty-six
- Apatnapu't tatlo: Forty-three
- Limampu't dalawa: Fifty-two
- Pitompu: Seventy
- Siyamnapu't isa: Ninety-one
100 - 999
For numbers 100 up to 999, we must first note that the Filipino word for "hundred" is daan. The naming also follows a predictable format: "hundreds-digit number + na + daan + at + rest on the number", where the at (and) represents the connection between the hundreds and tens. So 649 is anim na daan at apatnapu't siyam. For numbers that end in a vowel, the (na) is not used - instead, an -ng suffix is appended to the end, i.e. dalawang daan; limang daan. However, in colloquial, literary or other terms (such as in the Filipino currency, the peso), the naming of numbers is often further shortened. See the following examples.
- Labintatlo: Labing-tatlo (thirteen)
- Dalawandaan: Dalawang daan (two hundred)
- Tatlong daa't tatlumpu't tatlo: Tatlong daan at tatlumpu't tatlo (333)
The shortcut in the first example is simply eliminating the "g" and hyphen, merging the two words into a single one. The same process is applied for the second example, sans the hyphen. Note that only the numbers that end with "a" can use the second example (dalawa, lima; isa does not normally apply). The third example merges the end of daan with "at", forming daa't and continuing with the rest.
However, in formal speech, avoid from using the shortcuts, especially the combination of the second and third examples (i.e., limandaa't), as it is practically slang and is almost difficult to decipher.
Example Numbers
- Isang daa't tatlo: One hundred and three
- Tatlong daan at limampu't lima: Three hundred and fifty-five
- Apat na daan: Four hundred
- Limandaa't siyam-na-pu't isa: Five hundred and ninety-one
Example Phrases
- May apat na ahas akong nakita: I saw four snakes. (Lit. There four snakes I saw.)
- Labing-dalawa ang nasugatan ngayon: Twelve are currently injured. (Lit. Twelve the injured now.)
- Dalawampung guro ay nandito sa paaralan: Twenty teachers are here at school. Note the addition of "-ng" after the number, denoting its use as a counting adjective for guro, meaning "teacher".
- Apatnapu't-walong magsasaka ang nawala: Forty-eight farmers are missing.
- Si Hesus ay may labindalawang disipulo: Jesus has twelve disciples.
- Anim na daan at walumpu't pitong sundalo ang bumuo sa batalyon ni Kapitan Villamor: 687 soldiers composed the battalion of Captain Villamor.