If you're trying to learn Zulu Numbers which is also called isiZulu, check our courses about Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers... to help you with your Zulu grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and notice the pattern that occurs each time the word changes its place. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Zulu. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Learning the Zulu Numbers is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Zulu language. But first we need to know what the role of Numbers is in the structure of the grammar in Zulu.
Zulu cardinal number convey the "how many" they're also known as "counting numbers," because they show quantity. Here are some examples:
| English Numbers | Zulu Numbers |
|---|---|
| numbers | izinombolo |
| one | kunye |
| two | kubile |
| three | kuthathu |
| four | kune |
| five | kuhlanu |
| six | isithupha |
| seven | isikhombis |
| eight | isishiyagalombili |
| nine | isishiyagalolunye |
| ten | ishumi |
| eleven | ishumi nanye |
| twelve | ishumi nambili |
| thirteen | ishumi nantathu |
| fourteen | ishumi nane |
| fifteen | ishumi nanhlanu |
| sixteen | ishumi nesithupha |
| seventeen | ishumi nesikhombisa |
| eighteen | ishumi nesishiyagalombili |
| nineteen | ishumi nesishiyagalolunye |
| twenty | amashumi amabili |
| hundred | ikhulu |
| one thousand | inkulungwane |
| million | isigidi |
Notice the structure of the Numbers in Zulu.
Zulu Ordinal numbers tell the order of things in a set: first, second, third, etc. Ordinal numbers do not show quantity. They only show rank or position. Below is a list of the Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers in Zulu. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Zulu vocabulary.
| English Numbers | Zulu Numbers |
|---|---|
| Ordinal Numbers | izinombolo ezihlelekile |
| first | okukuqala |
| second | okwesibili |
| third | okwesithathu |
| fourth | okwesine |
| fifth | okwesihlanu |
| sixth | okwesithupha |
| seventh | okwesikhombisa |
| eighth | okwesishigalombili |
| ninth | okwesishigalolunye |
| tenth | okwesishumi |
| eleventh | okweshumi nanye |
| twelfth | okweshumi nambili |
| thirteenth | okweshumi nantathu |
| fourteenth | okweshumi nane |
| fifteenth | okweshumi nanhlanu |
| sixteenth | okweshumi nesithupha |
| seventeenth | okweshi nesikhombisa |
| eighteenth | okweshumi nesishiyagalombili |
| nineteenth | okweshumi nanye |
| twentieth | okwamashumi amabili |
| once | kanye |
| twice | kabili |
Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers have a very important role in Zulu. Once you're done with the isiZulu Numbers, you might want to check the rest of our Zulu lessons here: Learn Zulu. Don't forget to bookmark this page.
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