How to count in Igbo

Enter a number and get it written in full in Igbo.

Language overview

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.

Igbo numbering rules

  • 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]).

Books

Igbo for BeginnersIgbo for Beginners
by Joyce Okwumo, editors Morris Publishing (2009)
[ Amazon.com]

Igbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and PhrasebookIgbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook
by Nicholas Awde, editors Hippocrene Books (1999)
[ Amazon.com]

Dictionnaire Igbo-FrançaisDictionnaire Igbo-Français
by Françoise Ugochukwu, Peter Okafor, editors Karthala (2004)
[ Fnac.com]

Le pays igbo du NigeriaLe pays igbo du Nigeria
by Françoise Ugochukwu, editors L’Harmattan (2010)
[ Fnac.com, Amazon.com]

Numbers list

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

Links

Volta-Congo languages

Igbo.

Other supported languages

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