Numbers in Trigedasleng
Numbers in Trigedasleng follow a unique counting system that combines elements of decimal and vigesimal structures. Spoken by the Grounders in the TV series The 100, this language has around 97 years of fictional history. With a small but dedicated speaker base, it is a descendant of Modern American English. What makes its counting system particularly interesting is how it blends straightforward base-10 elements with a vigesimal influence seen in the words for twenty and above. Learning the numbers in Trigedasleng reveals a fascinating linguistic pattern that reflects its cultural background and storytelling purpose.
Number system
Trigedasleng employs a vigesimal system where the tens are derived from English-like roots: tweni [20], thodi [30], fodi [40], etc. Numbers 1-9 are unique words: won [1], tu [2], thri [3], fou [4], fai [5], sis [6], sen [7], eit [8], nain [9]. Numbers from eleven to nineteen are formed with specific words like len [11], twel [12], and thotin [13], which do not follow a simple pattern but are memorized. Tens are constructed by combining the root with the number, e.g., tweni won [21], thodi fai [35], where the tens word is stated first, then the units. Compound numbers like 42 are formed as fodi fou [40 + 4], and 78 as sendi fou [70 + 4]. Hundreds are formed with the word 'honet' and the coordination 'en' (from and), e.g., sen honet en thri [703], and larger scales like thousand and million are added with specific words, e.g., won thauz [1,000], won miyon [1,000,000].
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Number words from 1 to 9
Digits 1-9 are unique words: won [1], tu [2], thri [3], fou [4], fai [5], sis [6], sen [7], eit [8], nain [9]. For example, 3 is 'thri', 7 is 'sen', and 9 is 'nain'.
Numbers from eleven to nineteen
Numbers 11-19 are specific words: len [11], twel [12], thotin [13], fotin [14], fitin [15], sistin [16], sentin [17], eitin [18], naitin [19]. For instance, 13 is 'thotin', 16 is 'sistin', and 19 is 'naitin'.
Tens are derived from English roots
Tens are formed from roots similar to English: ten [10], tweni [20], thodi [30], fodi [40], fidi [50], sisti [60], sendi [70], eidi [80], naidi [90]. For example, 20 is 'tweni', 30 is 'thodi', and 70 is 'sendi'.
Forming compound numbers
Numbers like 21 are formed by stating the ten first, then the unit: tweni won [21], thodi fai [35], and 78 as sendi fou [70 + 4]. The pattern is 'tens word' followed by 'unit' with a space.
Hundreds are formed with 'honet' and 'en'
To form hundreds, state the hundred, then 'honet en' and the remaining number. For example, 703 is 'sen honet en thri' (7 hundred + 3), and 867 is 'eit honet en sisti sen' (8 hundred + 60 + 7).
Large scale numbers
Scale words like 'honet' (hundred), 'thauz' (thousand), 'miyon' (million), and 'biyon' (billion) are always singular. For example, 1,000 is 'won thauz', and 1,000,000 is 'won miyon'. Commas or spaces can separate thousands and millions, e.g., 'tu thauz, fai honet en tweni won'.
Unique features
The number 6 is 'sis', which is a completely unique word not derived from other numbers, unlike many languages that build 6 from 5+1.
Unlike many languages that use a consistent base-10 system, Trigedasleng incorporates vigesimal elements, especially in words like 'tweni' for 20 and 'sendi' for 70.
A surprising pattern is that the words for 11-19 are mostly unique and do not follow a simple pattern, reflecting memorization rather than derivation.
Large numbers like millions and billions are formed by combining the scale words with the basic numbers, e.g., 'won miyon' for one million, which is similar to English but with a unique word for million.
The language borrows the word 'honet' for hundred from English, but combines it with 'en' for 'and', creating a distinct compound structure.
Cultural context
Trigedasleng is spoken by the Grounders, a group of survivors living in a post-apocalyptic Earth, depicted in the TV series The 100. Their culture emphasizes resilience and community, with numbers playing a crucial role in trade, leadership, and storytelling. Numbers are used in rituals, such as counting years or marking significant events. The number 7, 'sen', might be considered lucky, while 13, 'thotin', is not specifically taboo but is less frequently used. The language's numerical system reflects their adaptation to a harsh environment, blending English influences with their own innovations, symbolizing their connection to the old world and their new society.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 16 is 'sistin', which is a completely unique word, not derived from other numbers, highlighting the memorization aspect of the language.
Fact 2: Unlike English, which is purely decimal, Trigedasleng's use of 'tweni' for 20 shows a vigesimal influence similar to French 'quatre-vingts'.
Fact 3: The pattern of forming numbers like 42 ('fodi fou') demonstrates a consistent rule of combining tens and units with a space, similar to English but with unique words.
Fact 4: The word 'won' for one appears in all scale numbers, such as 'won thauz' for thousand, indicating a root word reused across scales, akin to a base form.
Fact 5: For very large numbers, such as a billion, the language simply extends the pattern with 'biyon', showing an elegant and scalable system for huge quantities.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Trigedasleng?
1 - won, 2 - tu, 3 - thri, 4 - fou, 5 - fai, 6 - sis, 7 - sen, 8 - eit, 9 - nain, 10 - ten.
What number base does Trigedasleng use?
It primarily uses a vigesimal (base-20) system, evidenced by words like 'tweni' for 20 and 'sendi' for 70, combined with decimal influences in forming numbers.
How do you say 42 in Trigedasleng?
42 is 'fodi fou' — 'fodi' (40) plus 'fou' (4), following the pattern of tens first, then units, separated by a space.
How do you say 100 in Trigedasleng?
100 is 'won honet'. To form larger hundreds, combine the number of hundreds with 'honet en' and the remaining number, e.g., 703 is 'sen honet en thri'.
How many people speak Trigedasleng?
The exact number of speakers is unknown, but it is spoken by the Grounders in the fictional universe of The 100, primarily on Earth after the nuclear war.
Is Trigedasleng related to other languages?
Trigedasleng is a constructed language inspired by Modern American English, with influences from other linguistic patterns, but it is a fictional language created specifically for storytelling.
What makes Trigedasleng counting unique?
Its blend of vigesimal and decimal elements, along with unique words for numbers 11-19, and the consistent use of 'won' across scales, makes its counting system distinctive among constructed languages.
Sources
- David Peterson’s Tumblr
- Trigedasleng dictionary
- The 100 Wikia