Amharic

A Number’s Lesson

Numbers in Amharic are pretty straightforward. For numbers >10, a base word is required (asra, haya, selasa ) + a word for the ones place value (and, hulett, sost). When referencing a double digit value, the ones place value is limited to the same set of numbers that are used to represent 1-10. As numbers become larger and exceed double digit values, the same type of word combing procedure is conducted.

For example:

15 = asra (10) + amist (5) = asra amist

25 = haya (20) + amist (5) = haya amist

67 = silsa (60) + sebat (7) = silsa sebat

105 = meto (100) + amist (5) = meto amist

157 = meto (100) + amsa (50) + sebat (7) = meto amsa sebat

 

#:                            Amharic                     #:                             Amharic

1.                                and                           11.                              asra and

2.                              hulet                         12.                             asra hulett

3.                               sost                          13.                             asra sost

4.                               arat                          14.                              asra arat

5.                              amist                        15.                              asra amist

6.                             sidist                         16.                              asra sidist

7.                              sebat                         17.                              asra sebat

8.                             simint                        18.                             asra simint

9.                             zeten                         19.                              asra zeten

10.                             assir

 

#:                            Amharic

20.                            hay/haya

30.                             selasa

40.                              arba

50.                              amsa

60.                             sihlsa

70.                              seba

80.                           semanya

90.                            zetena

100.                            meto

1000.                            shi

10000.                         ihlf

 

 

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