Numbers in Igbo



Learn numbers in Igbo

Knowing numbers in Igbo is probably one of the most useful things you can learn to say, write and understand in Igbo. Learning to count in Igbo may appeal to you just as a simple curiosity or be something you really need. Perhaps you have planned a trip to a country where Igbo is the most widely spoken language, and you want to be able to shop and even bargain with a good knowledge of numbers in Igbo.

It's also useful for guiding you through street numbers. You'll be able to better understand the directions to places and everything expressed in numbers, such as the times when public transportation leaves. Can you think of more reasons to learn numbers in Igbo?

The Igbo language belongs to the Niger-Congo family. It is mainly spoken in southeastern Nigeria and parts of the Niger Delta, and counts about 18 million speakers.

List of numbers in Igbo

Here is a list of numbers in Igbo. We have made for you a list with all the numbers in Igbo from 1 to 20. We have also included the tens up to the number 100, so that you know how to count up to 100 in Igbo. We also close the list by showing you what the number 1000 looks like in Igbo.

• 1) otu
• 2) abụọ
• 3) atọ
• 4) anọ
• 5) ise
• 6) isii
• 7) asaa
• 8) asato
• 9) eteghiete
• 10) iri
• 11) iri na otu
• 12) iri na abụọ
• 13) iri na atọ
• 14) iri na anọ
• 15) iri na ise
• 16) iri na isii
• 17) iri na asaa
• 18) iri na asato
• 19) iri na eteghiete
• 20) iri abụọ
• 30) iri atọ
• 40) iri anọ
• 50) iri ise
• 60) iri isii
• 70) iri asaa
• 80) iri asato
• 90) iri eteghiete
• 100) nnari
• 1,000) puku
• one million) nde
• one billion) ijeri

Numbers in Igbo: Igbo numbering rules

Each culture has specific peculiarities that are expressed in its language and its way of counting. The Igbo is no exception. If you want to learn numbers in Igbo you will have to learn a series of rules that we will explain below. If you apply these rules you will soon find that you will be able to count in Igbo with ease.

The way numbers are formed in Igbo is easy to understand if you follow the rules explained here. Surprise everyone by counting in Igbo. Also, learning how to number in Igbo yourself from these simple rules is very beneficial for your brain, as it forces it to work and stay in shape. Working with numbers and a foreign language like Igbo at the same time is one of the best ways to train our little gray cells, so let's see what rules you need to apply to number in Igbo

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Digits from zero to nine are specific words, namely adigi [0], otu [1], abụọ [2], atọ [3], anọ [4], ise [5], isii [6], asaa [7], asato [8], and eteghiete [9].

Tens are formed by setting the multiplier digit before the word for ten (iri) separated with a space, except for ten itself: iri [10], iri abụọ [20], iri atọ [30], iri anọ [40], iri ise [50], iri isii [60], iri asaa [70], iri asato [80], and iri eteghiete [90].

Compound numbers are formed by saying the ten, then the coordinator na, and the unit (e.g.: iri na asato [18], iri ise na anọ [54]).

Hundreds are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word for hundred (nnari), except for one hundred: nnari [100], nnari abụọ [200], nnari atọ [300], nnari anọ [400], nnari ise [500]…

Thousands are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word for thousand (puku), except for one thousand: puku [1,000], puku abụọ [2,000], puku atọ [3,000], puku anọ [4,000], puku ise [5,000]…

Millions and billions are formed the same way as lower scale numbers, i.e. by setting the multiplier digit after the scale word (e.g.: nde [1 million], nde abụọ [2 million], ijeri [1 billion], ijeri ise [5 billion]).

Each group of numbers is linked to the others with na (and), tens and units, but also hundreds and tens, thousands and hundreds… (e.g.: iri abụọ na atọ [23], nnari na iri ise [150], puku na nnari abụọ na iri atọ na anọ [1,234]).

Igbo Basic Course