Igbo numbers play a vital role in the Igbo language. One cannot effectively communicate in Igbo without encountering numbers in various contexts. This article explores the Igbo numbering system, covering cardinal and ordinal numbers, their dialectical variations, and practical usage in sentences.
By the end of this guide, you will be able to:
- Count Igbo numbers.
- Use the numbers in sentence formation.
Since Igbo is a dialectical language, so are the numbers. Sometimes, you may hear a different dialectical version of the numbers. We will take a look at the numbers and their dialectical counterparts, fractions, percentages and frequency.
Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers in Igbo
Igbo cardinal numbers refer to the counting numbers, because they show quantity. Ordinal numbers, on the other hand, indicate the order of things and their rank.
Cardinal Numbers: These are used for counting and denoting quantity.
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Ordinal Numbers: These indicate the position or order in a sequence.
The Igbo ordinal and cardinal numbers differ only in number one and first. The other numbers stay the same.
Note: For number one (cardinal), the number is placed before the noun. For the rest of the numbers, the noun is place before the number.
Note: The Igbo ordinal and cardinal numbers differ only in number one and first. The other numbers stay the same.
For number one (cardinal), the number is placed before the noun. For the rest of the numbers, the noun is place before the number.
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Ordinal numbers are achieved in Igbo language by writing or saying nke before the cardinal numbers (with the exception of first, where mbụ or izizi is used in place of the cardinal number otu). So, first is nke mbụ or nke izizi.
Igbo Numbers from 1 to 20
Here are the dialectical numbers from 1 to 20. The only difference between the two dialects above stems from the first letters in numbers 1 to 10.
Below is a table showing the Igbo numbers from one to twenty, along with their English translations:
| Number | Igbo (Standard) | Igbo Dialect 1 | Igbo Dialect 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otu | Otu | Otu |
| 2 | Abụọ | Abụọ | Abụọ |
| 3 | Atọ | Atọ | Atọ |
| 4 | Anọ | Anọ | Anọ |
| 5 | Ise | Ise | Ise |
| 6 | Isii | Isii | Isii |
| 7 | Asaa | Asaa | Asaa |
| 8 | Asatọ | Asatọ | Asatọ |
| 9 | Itolu | Itolu | Itolu |
| 10 | Iri | Iri | Iri |
| 11 | Iri na otu | Iri na otu | Iri na otu |
| 12 | Iri na abụọ | Iri na abụọ | Iri na abụọ |
| 13 | Iri na atọ | Iri na atọ | Iri na atọ |
| 14 | Iri na anọ | Iri na anọ | Iri na anọ |
| 15 | Iri na ise | Iri na ise | Iri na ise |
| 16 | Iri na isii | Iri na isii | Iri na isii |
| 17 | Iri na asaa | Iri na asaa | Iri na asaa |
| 18 | Iri na asatọ | Iri na asatọ | Iri na asatọ |
| 19 | Iri na itolu | Iri na itolu | Iri na itolu |
| 20 | Iri abụọ | Iri abụọ | Iri abụọ |
Numbers can also be used as quantifiers. For example, 'two people came' is 'mmadụ abụọ bịara'.
The Standard Igbo Numbering System
As part of the Igbo Izugbe project, the Society for Promoting Igbo Language and Culture (Otu Iwelite Asụsụ na Omenaala Igbo) developed the standard Igbo numbering system. They achieved this by borrowing from various Igbo dialects, and ensuring the numbering system is decimal.
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They also ensured only addition is used, subtraction is not used. For example, 19 is now iri na itolu (ten plus nine), instead of bere otu n'ọgụ (twenty minus one). This numbering system is recommended for teaching in schools, it does not replace the numbering systems in various dialects.
Another important feature of this numbering system is that it can be used to count to millions and even trillions. Before this development, the numbering systems in most Igbo dialects could only count to thousands, and after that it becomes nnụ kwuru nnụ kwuru nnụ...
This numbering system also accommodates variations in dialects while maintaining the decimal system.
Using Numbers in Sentences
Here are some examples of how to use numbers in Igbo sentences:
- M nwe ọtụtụ akwụkwọ. (I have a lot of books.)
- Ha nwe akwa atọ. (They have three eggs.)
- Ọ nwe akpa iri na ise. (He/She has fifteen bags.)
- Ị nwe akpụkpụ ụkwụ atọ. (You have three pairs of shoes.)
- Anyi nwe okpu anọ. (We have four hats.)
Asking Questions About Quantity
Here are some examples of how to ask questions about quantity in Igbo:
- Akwụkwọ ole ka ị nwe? (How many books do you have?)
- Akpa ole ka unu nwe? (How many bags do you (plural) have?)
- Ụlọ ole ka ha nwe? (How many houses do they have?)
Responding to Quantity Questions:
- Ha nwe ụlọ… (They have …houses) or E nwe ha….
- Oche ole ka ị nwe? (How many chairs do you have?)
- M nwe oche atọ. (I have three chairs.)
- I nwe akwụkwọ anọ? (Do you have four books?)
- Mba, e nweghi m akwụkwọ anọ. ma ọbụ (or) M nweghi akwụkwọ anọ. (No, I don't have four books.)
Possessive Pronouns
Here are some examples of possessive pronouns used with numbers:
- Azụtara m akwụkwọ nke m na Bọstịn. (I bought my book in Boston.)
- Ị zutara akwụkwọ nke gị na Abuja. (You bought your book in Abuja.)
- Ọ zụtara akwụkwọ nke ya na Owerri. (He/She bought his/her book in Owerri.)
- Anyị zụtara akwụkwọ nke anyị na Benin. (We bought our book in Benin.)
- Unu zụtara akwụkwọ nke unu na Kano. (You (plural) bought your book in Kano.)
- Ha zụtara akwụkwọ nke ha na Lagos. (They bought their book in Lagos.)
Learn to Count in Igbo | 1 to 10 | Nigerian Numbers | For Kids |
Conversation in Igbo
Now we finally reach the last part, the practice of the daily conversations. These phrases are used to get to know new people, and break the ice.
- Where are you from? - kedụ ebe ị si?
- Where do you live? - Kedụ ebe ị bi?
- What do you do for a living? - gịnị ka ị na arụ?
Additional Vocabulary
Here are some additional words related to numbers in Igbo:
- Zero: efu
- Hundred: narị
- I think: Ana m eche
- I count: Ana m agụ
Naira (N) is the official Nigerian currency.
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