Numbers in Rohingya
Ruáingga
Numbers in Rohingya follow a mixed counting system combining irregularities with a decimal and vigesimal influence. Spoken by approximately 1.8 million people in Myanmar's Rakhine State, Rohingya is part of the Bengali–Assamese branch of Indo-Aryan languages. Its counting system is unique due to irregularities in the tens and teens, and the use of Indian-style grouping for large numbers. The language's numbers in everyday life, trade, and cultural practices reflect its rich history and regional influences. Understanding the numbers in Rohingya provides insight into their linguistic structure and cultural identity.
Number system
The Rohingya counting system is primarily decimal but features irregularities in tens and teens. Units from 1 to 9 are straightforward: ek [1], dui [2], tin [3], sair [4], fañs [5], só [6], háñt [7], añctho [8], no [9]. Tens are irregular: doc [10], kuri [20], tiríc [30], calic [40], fonjaic [50], áit [60], óttoir [70], ací [80], nobboi [90]. Teens are formed irregularly: egaro [11], baró [12], teró [13], soiddó [14], fundóroh [15], cúlloh [16], háñtaroh [17], añçároh [18], unnúic [19]. Hundreds are formed by prefixing the digit before 'cót': ek-cót [100], dui-cót [200], tin-cót [300], etc. Compound numbers like 42 are built as fañs có calic [500 + 40], and 78 as háñt có óttoir [700 + 70]. For larger numbers, Rohingya uses Indian grouping: ek-lák [100,000], doc-lák [1,000,000], and beyond, following the Vedic numeration system.
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Digits from 0 to 9
Numbers 0-9 are unique words: sifir [0], ek [1], dui [2], tin [3], sair [4], fañs [5], só [6], háñt [7], añctho [8], no [9]. For example, 3 is tin, 7 is háñt, and 9 is no.
Tens
Tens are irregular: 10 is doc, 20 is kuri, 30 is tiríc, 40 is calic, 50 is fonjaic, 60 is áit, 70 is óttoir, 80 is ací, 90 is nobboi. For example, 30 is tiríc, 50 is fonjaic, and 80 is ací.
Teens
Teens are irregular but sometimes recognizable: 11 is egaro, 12 is baró, 13 is teró, 14 is soiddó, 15 is fundóroh, 16 is cúlloh, 17 is háñtaroh, 18 is añçároh, 19 is unnúic. For example, 14 is soiddó, and 18 is añçároh.
Hundreds
Hundreds are formed by prefixing the digit before 'cót' with a hyphen: ek-cót [100], dui-cót [200], tin-cót [300], etc. For example, 300 is tin-cót, and 700 is háñt-cót. Numbers like 101 are formed as ekcó ek, combining the hundred and units.
Compound numbers
Compound numbers are formed by combining hundreds, tens, and units without hyphens, e.g., fañs có tiríc sair [540], meaning 500 + 30 + 4. For 78, it is háñt có óttoir [700 + 70].
Large numbers
Large numbers follow Indian grouping: 100,000 is ek-lák, 1,000,000 is doc-lák, 10,000,000 is ek-kutí, and so on. These are formed by prefixing the number with the appropriate multiplier and using the word 'lák' or 'kutí'.
Unique features
Irregular tens and teens, such as 13 'teró' and 18 'añçároh', which do not follow a simple pattern.
Use of hyphenated forms for hundreds like 'ek-cót' and 'tin-cót', with the exception of 100 'ekcó ek'.
Compound numbers like 534 'fañs có tiríc sair' combine hundreds, tens, and units without a strict pattern.
Large numbers use Indian grouping, e.g., 'ek-lák' (100,000), reflecting Vedic numeration influence.
The word 'lák' for hundred thousand is borrowed from Indian languages, showing cultural exchange.
Cultural context
The Rohingya people primarily reside in Myanmar's Rakhine State, with a vibrant culture rooted in their Indo-Aryan heritage. Numbers play a crucial role in daily life, from trade and market transactions to religious and cultural ceremonies. Large numbers like 'ek-lák' are used in land measurements and population counts. The language's unique counting system reflects their historical interactions with Indian culture and trade routes. While no specific taboo numbers are documented, numerology and cultural significance may influence number usage. Their language and counting system serve as a vital link to their identity and history, especially in a region with diverse ethnic groups.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 18 is 'añçároh', which is irregular and does not follow the pattern of 10 or 20 multiples.
Fact 2: Unlike English, where 30 is 'thirty', Rohingya's 30 'tiríc' is completely unrelated to the units 3 or 10.
Fact 3: The use of hyphenated forms like 'ek-cót' for 100 is unique among Indo-Aryan languages.
Fact 4: Large numbers like 'ek-lák' (100,000) show the influence of Indian numeration systems, which use grouping by twos and threes.
Fact 5: The word 'lák' for hundred thousand is borrowed from Indian languages, indicating cultural exchange and historical trade links.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Rohingya?
1 is ek, 2 is dui, 3 is tin, 4 is sair, 5 is fañs, 6 is só, 7 is háñt, 8 is añctho, 9 is no, 10 is doc.
What number base does Rohingya use?
Rohingya uses a decimal system with irregularities in tens and teens, and Indian grouping for large numbers. Evidence includes 10 'doc', 20 'kuri', and 100 'ek-cót'.
How do you say 42 in Rohingya?
42 is 'fañs có calic', combining 500 (fañs) and 40 (calic).
How do you say 100 in Rohingya?
100 is 'ekcó ek', formed by 'ek' (1) and 'có' (hundred).
How many people speak Rohingya?
Approximately 1.8 million people speak Rohingya, primarily in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
Is Rohingya related to other languages?
Yes, it is part of the Indo-European family, specifically the Indo-Aryan branch, related to Bengali and Assamese.
What makes Rohingya counting unique?
Its irregular tens and teens, hyphenated hundreds, and use of Indian grouping for large numbers make it distinctive among Indo-Aryan languages.