Yoruba Numbers
Welcome to the sixth Yoruba lesson about numbers. This time we will learn about cardinal and ordinal numbers, followed by grammar rules, then animal names, finally a conversation in Yoruba to help you practice your daily phrases.
| Cardinal | Yoruba | Ordinal | Yoruba |
|---|---|---|---|
| one | eyokan | first | okan |
| two | meji | second | ekeji |
| three | meta | third | eketa |
| four | merin | fourth | ekerin |
| five | marun | fifth | ekarun |
| six | mefa | sixth | ekefa |
| seven | meje | seventh | ekeje |
| eight | mejo | eighth | ikejo |
| nine | mesan | ninth | ikesan |
| ten | mewa | tenth | ikewa |
| eleven | mokanla | eleventh | ikokanla |
| twelve | mejila | twelfth | ikejila |
| thirteen | metala | thirteenth | iketala |
| fourteen | merinla | once | okan |
| fifteen | meedogun | twice | meji |
| sixteen | merindinlogun | Monday | ojo-aje |
| seventeen | metadinlogun | Tuesday | ojo-isegun |
| eighteen | mejidinlogun | Wednesday | ojo'ru |
| nineteen | mokandinlogun | Thursday | ojo alamisi |
| twenty | ogun | Friday | ojo-eti |
| seventy one | mokan-le-laadorin | Saturday | ojo abameta |
| one hundred | ogorun | Sunday | ojo aiku |
Numbers Grammar Rules
Yoruba 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 Yoruba. The examples below use numbers in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
| Grammar + Rules | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| I have three dogs [number + noun] | mo ni aja meta |
| my daughter has two cats [number + noun] | omobirin mi ni ologbo meji |
| she speaks seven languages [verb + number] | o (arabirin) nso ede meje |
| my brother has one son [number + singular noun] | arakunrin mi ni omokunrin kan |
| this is my second lesson [ordinal number + noun] | eyi ni eko keji mi |
| did you read the third book? [ordinal number + noun] | nje o ka iwe keta? |
We're not done yet! The following is a list of animals.
cow maalu | goat ewure | donkey rakunmi | horse esin |
dog aja | cat ologbo | mouse ekute | bird eye |
Conversation in Yoruba
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 | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Where are you from? | nibo lo ti wa? |
| I'm from the U.S | mo wa lati u.s. |
| I'm American | omo orile-ede amerika ni mi |
| Where do you live? | nibo lo ngbe? |
| I live in the U.S | mo ngbe ni u.s |
| What do you do for a living? | kini ise ti o fi njeun? |
| I'm a student | omo ile-iwe ni mi |
Did you enjoy this lesson about numbers in Yoruba? I hope so, if you have any problem with this lesson contact me with questions you have here. You can now check the next lesson below.
| Yoruba Phrases |
Inspirational Quote: Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William B. Sprague |