Numbers in Malagasy
Numbers in Malagasy follow a primarily decimal system with unique features influenced by compound formations and specific naming conventions for large numbers. Spoken by about 20 million people mainly in Madagascar, Malagasy is part of the Austronesian family. Its counting system is distinctive, combining base-10 patterns with special words for hundreds, thousands, and larger scales. The language's structure reflects cultural and historical influences, making its numbers in Malagasy both fascinating and complex. Understanding these rules provides insight into daily life, trade, and tradition in Madagascar, where numbers are woven into storytelling, rituals, and commerce.
Number system
Counting in Malagasy is primarily decimal, with specific words for units (iray, roa, telo, etc.), tens (folo, roapolo, telopolo, etc.), and hundreds (zato, roanjato, telonjato, etc.). Numbers 1-9 are unique words, such as iray for 1 and sivy for 9. Tens are formed by combining the unit with the word for ten: dimy amby folo (15), enina amby folo (16). Multiples of ten like 20, 30, 40 are roapolo, telopolo, efapolo, respectively. Compound numbers like 42 are formed by combining units and tens: valo amby efapolo (45). Hundreds are formed by prefixing the word for hundred: zato (100), roanjato (200). Larger numbers combine these elements with 'amby' (and) and 'sy' (and) for complex figures, e.g., enina amby valopolo sy dimanjato (96).
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Counting units and teens
Numbers 1-9 are unique words: iray (1), roa (2), telo (3), efatra (4), dimy (5), enina (6), fito (7), valo (8), sivy (9). Teens are formed by stating the unit first, then 'ambin’ny folo' (in excess of ten): iraika ambin’ny folo (11), roa ambin’ny folo (12), telo ambin’ny folo (13).
Forming tens
Tens are formed by prefixing the unit with the word for ten: folo (10), roapolo (20), telopolo (30), efapolo (40). For example, dimy amby roapolo (25) combines five and twenty, and enina amby telopolo (36) combines six and thirty.
Constructing hundreds
Hundreds are formed by prefixing the word for hundred 'zato' with the multiplier: zato (100), roanjato (200), telonjato (300). For example, valo amby efapolo amby telonjato (348) combines 8, 40, and 300.
Building larger numbers
Thousands are formed by placing the multiplier before 'arivo' (thousand): arivo (1,000), roa arivo (2,000), telo arivo (3,000). Complex numbers like 2,586 are built as enina amby valopolo sy dimanjato sy roa arivo (1586).
Large scale numbers
Numbers beyond thousands have specific names: alina (10,000), hetsy (100,000), tapitrisa (million), safatsiroa (ten million), tsitamboisa (hundred million). For example, 1,000,000 is tapitrisa, and 10 billion is lavitrisa or arivo tapitrisa.
Unique features
Numbers 11-19 are formed by stating the unit first, then 'ambin’ny folo' (e.g., roa ambin’ny folo for 12), unlike many languages that use a base-20 or other system.
The formation of compound numbers uses 'amby' (in excess of) for tens and hundreds, creating a clear pattern: valo amby efapolo (45).
Large numbers like billion (lavitrisa) are derived from specific words, not just multiples of 10,000, reflecting cultural importance of scale.
The word 'alina' for ten thousand is unique and not a simple multiple of 10,000, showing a special linguistic term for this scale.
The language incorporates borrowed words for very large numbers, like 'tsitokotsiforohana' for trillion, illustrating cultural adaptation.
Cultural context
Spoken mainly in Madagascar, Malagasy is central to daily life, trade, and cultural rituals. Numbers appear in traditional storytelling, ceremonies, and commerce. Certain numbers, like 3 (telo) and 7 (fito), are considered significant in cultural practices. Large numbers are used in describing land, population, and wealth. The language’s unique naming for large numbers reflects a rich oral tradition and respect for scale. There are no widely known taboo numbers, but traditional beliefs influence numerical symbolism. The use of specific words for scales like 'alina' and 'lavitrisa' highlights the importance of numeracy in societal hierarchy and history.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 15 is 'dimy ambin’ny folo', literally 'five in excess of ten', illustrating the decimal base with a unique compound form.
Fact 2: Unlike English, which uses a base-20 system for some numbers, Malagasy strictly follows decimal patterns with specific words for large numbers.
Fact 3: The formation of 42 as 'valo amby efapolo' (8 in excess of 40) shows a consistent pattern of combining units and tens with 'amby'.
Fact 4: The word for 10, 'folo', is used as a root in forming all tens, similar to how 'ten' functions in English, but with a distinct word.
Fact 5: For very large numbers like 10^12 (trillion), Malagasy uses 'tsitokotsiforohana', a borrowed term, demonstrating linguistic adaptation for modern scales.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Malagasy?
1 - iray, 2 - roa, 3 - telo, 4 - efatra, 5 - dimy, 6 - enina, 7 - fito, 8 - valo, 9 - sivy, 10 - folo.
What number base does Malagasy use?
Malagasy uses a decimal (base-10) system, evidenced by the formation of numbers like 20 - roapolo, 30 - telopolo, and 40 - efapolo, with consistent patterns for tens and units.
How do you say 42 in Malagasy?
42 is 'valo amby efapolo' — eight (valo) plus in excess of forty (efapolo).
How do you say 100 in Malagasy?
100 is 'zato'. Larger hundreds are formed by prefixing 'zato' with the multiplier, e.g., 'roanjato' for 200.
How many people speak Malagasy?
About 20 million people speak Malagasy, mainly in Madagascar, with some speakers in Mayotte and the Comoros archipelago.
Is Malagasy related to other languages?
Yes, Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian family, specifically the East Barito group, linking it to languages spoken in parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania.
What makes Malagasy counting unique?
Its use of 'amby' for forming compound numbers, specific large number names like 'lavitrisa', and the consistent decimal pattern make its counting system distinctive.
Sources
- Le malgache de poche, by Helena Voahanginirina, Assimil (2000)