Numbers

1. Kow, labo, saddex

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Counting forms. Before a noun "2" is laba (laba qof, two people) and "1" is hal.

   Grammar Note

   There are separate counting and attributive forms: labo/laba and kow/hal.

2. Afar, shan, lix

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   The numbers 4 to 6, used as they are when counting.

   Grammar Note

   A numeral goes before the noun (shan qof, five people).

3. Toddoba, siddeed, sagaal, toban

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   The numbers 7 to 10. Toddoba is also written toddobo.

   Grammar Note

   Siddeed "8" is spelled with the double consonant dd; length is written and must not be dropped.

4. Labaatan, soddon, afartan

   Twenty, thirty, forty

   Usage

   The tens. Frequently used in shopping and price talk.

   Grammar Note

   Forty is afar "4" plus -tan. Soddon is irregular and does not look like saddex.

5. Konton, lixdan, toddobaatan

   Fifty, sixty, seventy

   Usage

   The numbers 50, 60 and 70.

   Grammar Note

   Konton and lixdan differ somewhat in shape from 5 and 6; toddobaatan is toddoba plus -aatan.

6. Siddeetan, sagaashan, boqol

   Eighty, ninety, one hundred

   Usage

   The numbers 80, 90 and 100, needed for larger prices and quantities.

   Grammar Note

   Eighty changes shape from siddeed to siddeetan. Boqol "100" is a numeral like the others.

7. Kun

   One thousand

   Usage

   Means 1,000. Used for large sums and quantities.

   Grammar Note

   Kun alone means "1,000"; no separate word for "one" is added.

8. Immisa shilin?

   How many shillings?

   Usage

   Asks a sum in shillings. Shilin is "shilling".

   Grammar Note

   The noun after the question word immisa stays in the singular.

9. Nus iyo rubuc

   Half and a quarter

   Usage

   Fractions used for portions and quantities.

   Grammar Note

   Iyo joins two nouns as "and".

10. Shan i sii

    Give me five

    Usage

    Orders a quantity. Use it while pointing at the item.

    Grammar Note

    The numeral comes first as the object, with the verb sii last; "i sii" means "give me".

11. Toddoba iyo labaatan jir baan ahay

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Gives your age. Somali says literally "I am a 27-year-old one".

    Grammar Note

    Compound numbers put the ones first: "7 and 20" is 27. Jir is the age noun and follows the number.

12. Sannadkan waxaan noqonayaa siddeed iyo labaatan jir

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Says what age you reach this year; useful for visa or insurance questions.

    Grammar Note

    Sannad "year" plus -ka and the near marker -an gives "this year". The frame waxaan + verb puts "what I do" in focus.

13. Koowaad, labaad, saddexaad

    First, second, third

    Usage

    Ordinal numbers, used for floors and order.

    Grammar Note

    Ordinals are formed by adding -aad to the number (labo to labaad, saddex to saddexaad).

14. Eber

    Zero

    Usage

    The word for 0.

    Grammar Note

    The standard dictionary word for zero; sifir is also used.

15. Kow iyo toban, laba iyo toban

    Eleven, twelve

    Usage

    Eleven and twelve, also used for times and dates.

    Grammar Note

    11 to 19 are built as "ones iyo toban". Before a noun, "2" is laba, not labo.

16. Boqol iyo konton

    One hundred and fifty

    Usage

    How to say numbers in the hundreds, for prices.

    Grammar Note

    The lower part follows the hundred after iyo.

17. Laba boqol, saddex boqol

    Two hundred, three hundred

    Usage

    Two hundred and three hundred.

    Grammar Note

    The numeral goes before boqol. "2" takes the form laba because it stands before a noun.

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