Numerals and nouns

You might have noticed that unlike English, nouns in Tuvan do not change if they have numerals in front of them.

Listen and repeat the phrases from the song «Үжелээн бис, дөртелээн бис» (Song 1)

Бир кижи Үжен кижи Дөртен кижи

One person Thirty people Forty people

Listen and repeat the phrases from the song «Коңгурой» (Song 2)

Бир кожуун Алды кожуун Чеди кожуун

One district Six districts Seven districts

Of course, there are plural forms of nouns in Tuvan: "кижи - кижилер" (= person - people) or "кожуун - кожууннар" (= district - districts). However, after numerals the nouns are used in the singular form.

To continue studying Song #1 and numerals in Tuvan, please click here.