How to Count in Zulu
Whatever your purpose for learning the Zulu counting system, you're in for a lot of memorization and practice. In addition to having long and difficult names for each number, the Zulu language treats all numbers as adjectives that alter the following word. The complexity of the Zulu counting system may explain why just about all Zulu speakers now use the English system of counting.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Learn the correct pronunciation. The Zulu "k" is as close to the English "g" as it is the English "k" while "kh" is a pronounced like the "k" in "kit."
-
2
Learn the click consonants. The letter "c" is pronounced by softly clicking the tongue off the back of the teeth. "X" is pronounced by clicking off the molars, and "q," generally the hardest click for foreigners to master, is pronounced by pushing the tongue against the upper gum and then quickly pulling it off to make a "pop" sound.
-
-
3
Count from one to ten: iqanda (0), ukunye (1), isibili (2), kuthathu (3), okune (4), isihlanu (5), isithupha (6), isikhombisa (7), isishiyagalombili (8), isishiyagalolunye (9), ishumi (10).
-
4
Count the teens: ishumi nanye (11), ishumi nambili (12), ishumi nantathu (13), ishumi nane (14), ishumi nesihlanu (15), ishumi nesithupha (16), ishumi nesikhombisa (17), ishumi nesishiyagalombili (18), ishumi nesishiyagalolunye (19).
-
5
Count from 20 to 99. All begin with "amashumi" and use the following pattern: amashumi amabili (20), amashumi amabili nanye (21), amashumi amabili nambili (22), amashumi amathathu (30), amashumi amathathu nanye (31), amashumi amathathu nambili (32), amashumi amane (40), amashumi amahlanu (50), amashumi ayisithupha (60), amashumi ayisikhombisa (70), amashumi ayisishiyagalombili (80), amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye (90).
-
6
Count 100 to 1,000: ikhulu (100), ikhulu nanye (101), ikhulu nambili (102), amakhulu amabili (200), amakhulu amathathu (300), amakhulu amane (400), amakhulu amahlanu (500), amakhulu ayisithupha (600), amakhulu ayisikhombisa (700), amakhulu ayisishiyagalombili (800), amakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye (900), inkulugwane (1,000).
-
1
