Kongo Numbers
Welcome to the sixth Kongo lesson about numbers. This time we will learn about cardinal and ordinal numbers, followed by grammar rules, then animal names, finally a conversation in Kongo to help you practice your daily phrases.
| Cardinal and Ordinal - Kongo |
|---|
| one mosi |
| first ya ntete |
| two zole |
| second ya zole |
| three tatu |
| third ya tatu |
| four iya |
| fourth ya iya |
| five tanu |
| fifth ya tanu |
| six sambanu |
| sixth ya sambanu |
| seven nsambwadi |
| seventh ya nsambwadi |
| eight nana |
| eighth ya nana |
| nine uvwa |
| ninth ya uvwa |
| ten kumi |
| tenth ya kumi |
| eleven kumi na mosi |
| eleventh ya kumi na mosi |
| twelve kumi na zole |
| twelfth ya kumi na zole |
| thirteen kumi na tatu |
| thirteenth ya kumi na tatu |
| fourteen kumi na iya |
| once ya kumi na iya |
| fifteen kumi na tanu |
| twice mbala zole |
| sixteen kumi na sambanu |
| Monday kintete |
| seventeen kumi na nsambwadi |
| Tuesday kizole |
| eighteen kumi na nana |
| Wednesday kitatu |
| nineteen kumi na uvwa |
| Thursday kiya |
| twenty makumi zole |
| Friday kitanu |
| seventy one makumi nsambwadi na mosi |
| Saturday mposo |
| one hundred nkama mosi |
| Sunday lumingu |
Numbers Grammar Rules
Kongo cardinal numbers refer to the counting numbers, because they show quantity. For example: I speak two languages. Ordinal numbers on the other hand tell the order of things and their rank: my first language is Kongo. The examples below use numbers in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
| Grammar + Rules - Kongo |
|---|
| I have three dogs [number + noun] mono kele na bambwa tatu |
| my daughter has two cats [number + noun] mwana na mono ya nkento kele na pusu zole |
| she speaks seven languages [verb + number] yandi ke tubaka minoko nsambwadi |
| my brother has one son [number + singular noun] mpangi na mono ya yakala ke na mwana mosi ya yakala |
| this is my second lesson [ordinal number + noun] yai ikele dilongi na mono ya zole |
| did you read the third book? [ordinal number + noun] nge tangaka munkanda ya tatu? |
We're not done yet! The following is a list of animals.
cow ngombe |
goat nkombo |
donkey mwa mpunda |
horse mpunda |
dog mbwa |
cat pusu |
mouse mpuku |
bird ndeke |
Conversation in Kongo
Now we finally reach the last part, the practice of the daily conversations. These phrases are used to get to know new people, and break the ice.
| English - Kongo |
|---|
| Where are you from? nge me katuka wapi? |
| I'm from the U.S mono me katuka na etazini |
| I'm American mono kele amerikani |
| Where do you live? nge ke vandaka wapi? |
| I live in the U.S mono ke vandaka na etazini ya amerika |
| What do you do for a living? nki nge ke salaka sambu na kuzinga? |
| I'm a student mono kele mwana nzonkanda |
Did you enjoy this lesson about numbers in Kongo? I hope so, if you have any problem with this lesson contact me with questions you have homepage. You can now check the next lesson below.
Inspirational Quote: Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William B. Sprague |