Numbers

Important: Different dialects might have different ways of expressing numbers. These recommendations are based on what is known of the original wordlist.

See Time, Tenses for suggestions on expressing time, including the time of day.

Cardinal numbers

For a list of known cardinal numbers, go to the cog and select only the "number" and "use expanded dictionary" filters at https://mandocreator.com/tools/dictionary/index.html

To express with words numbers greater than 10, write from left to right the word for each number in each place. For hundreds, add the number prefix used with the tens number to olan. For thousands, add the entire tens number to olan. Examples:

• eleven: ta'raysh solus
  (listed in original dictionary)

• thirty-three: ehn'eta ehn

• sixty-six: rol'eta resol
  (listed in original dictionary)

• four hundred six: cur'olan resol

• eight thousand nine hundred seventy-eight: shehn’eta’olan shek’olan tad’eta sh’ehn

There is no official way to express numbers greater than 9999. The simplest fan method is to write each number word individually. For example, write 18765 as solus sh'en e'tad resol rayshe'a. 

Fan options for writing large cardinal numbers

• Write each number out without specifying place, the same as for numbers larger than 9999; example for 9999: she'cu she'cu she'cu she'cu.

• Write numbers paired by 10s number; example for 9999: shek'eta she'cu shek'eta she'cu

• Write the largest number only as a special term and the others as single digits (this method starts with the largest number to indicate the size of the digit and lists the rest of the numbers as if they were single digits);  example for 9999: shek'eta'olan she'cu she'cu she'cu

Hundreds and Thousands

The words for the hundreds are deduced by fans based on the words for the tens.

100 - olan

200 - ad'olan

300 - ehn'olan

400 - cur'olan 

500 - raysh'olan (original), she'olan (fan update)

600 - rol'olan

700 - tad'olan

800 - shehn'olan

900 - shek'olan

1000 - ta'raysh'olan

2000 - ad'eta'olan

3000 - ehn'eta'olan

4000 - cur'eta'olan

5000 - she'eta'olan

6000 - rol'eta'olan

7000 - tad'eta'olan

8000 - shehn'eta'olan

9000 - shek'eta'olan

Ordinal numbers

The simplest way to create ordinal numbers is by adding a descriptor suffix to the end of the last word in a cardinal number. Because "first" is such a common word, it has its own variation, sol'yc.

Examples: Second is expressed as t'adyc. 9999th is expressed as shek’eta’olan shek’olan shek’eta she’cula or as shek’eta she’cu olan shek'eta she'cula.

Various dialects may have different rules for how to create ordinal numbers; follow local guidelines when asked.

Mathematical expressions

A few simple mathematical expressions can be presented using only the base dictionary.

• Addition: [number] bal [number] cuyi [sum]. Example: Solus bal solus cuyi t'ad. One and one is two. 1 + 1  = 2

• Subtraction (option 1): [number] teh [number] cuyi [difference]. Example: Solus teh solus cuyi naas. One from one is nothing. 1 - 1 = 0

• Subtraction (option 2): Te'habi [number] be [number] par [difference]. Example: Te'habi solus be solus par naas. Take one out of one for nothing. 1 - 1 = 0

• Multiplication (option 1): [number] de [number] cuyi [product]. Example: Solus de solus cuyi solus. One by one is one. 1 x 1 = 1
  (This is inspired by the formula for determining area.)

• Multiplication (option 2): [number] ti [number] cuyi [product]. Example: Solus ti solus cuyi solus. One with one is one. 1 x 1 = 1
  (This is a shorthand version of expressing a multiplication problem by saying "[number of] groups with [number of] parts each equals a total of [number].")

• Division: [number] lo [number] cuyi [quotient]. Example: T'ad lo cuir cuyi t'ad. Two into four is two. 4 / 2 = 2.

• Range of numbers: [number] at [number]. Example: Solus at cuir enaabe. One to four meters.

Various dialects may have different rules for how to present mathematical expressions; follow local guidelines when asked.

Other resources

• Mando'a Lessons video about numbers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kivf2n3hcxU

• Another video for numbers 1-20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZiDiN1QAQ

• Memrise course for colors and low numbers (you will need to sign in to view the course): https://community-courses.memrise.com/community/course/1492970/mandoa-numbers-colors-and-shapes/

• Download PDF book for numbers 1-20: Soletar ti sur’gaane (To count with pictures)

• Buy a print version of the above book: Soletar ti sur’gaane (To count with pictures)

• Coyote of Project Shereshoy discusses the roots seen Mando'a numbers: https://project-shereshoy.tumblr.com/post/714371254375874560/numbers