Numbers

1. Kunye, kubili, kuthathu

   Ku-nye, ku-bi-li, ku-tha-thu

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic Zulu numbers 1–3. The foundation of counting.

   Grammar Note

   Zulu numbers use noun class prefixes. "ku-" is the basic form here. Prefixes change by noun class.

2. Kune, kuhlanu, isithupha

   Ku-ne, ku-hla-nu, i-si-thu-pha

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Zulu numbers 4–6. Useful for quantities at markets and shops.

   Grammar Note

   "isithupha" (6) has the isi- class prefix. Zulu numbers change prefixes according to context.

3. Isikhombisa, isishiyagalombili, isishiyagalolunye

   I-si-khom-bi-sa, i-si-shi-ya-ga-lom-bi-li, i-si-shi-ya-ga-lo-lu-nye

   Seven, eight, nine

   Usage

   Zulu numbers 7–9. Eight and nine have fascinating etymologies meaning "take away from ten".

   Grammar Note

   "isishiyagalo-" comes from "to leave behind". Eight = leave 2 from 10, nine = leave 1 from 10.

4. Ishumi

   I-shu-mi

   Ten

   Usage

   The Zulu word for ten. Very useful for prices and telling the time.

   Grammar Note

   "ishumi" is an i-class noun. Larger numbers are made with "ishumi na-" + digit, e.g. "ishumi nanye" (11).

5. Ikhulu, inkulungwane

   I-khu-lu, in-ku-lun-gwa-ne

   One hundred, one thousand

   Usage

   Large numbers. Useful for shopping and currency exchange in South African Rand (ZAR).

   Grammar Note

   South African currency is the Rand (R). Combine: "amakhulu amabili" (200), "izinkulungwane ezintathu" (3000).

6. Amashumi amabili

   A-ma-shu-mi a-ma-bi-li

   Twenty

   Usage

   Zulu for twenty. Essential for prices and quantities.

   Grammar Note

   "amashumi amabili" literally means "two tens". Number adjectives agree with their noun class

7. Amashumi amahlanu

   A-ma-shu-mi a-ma-hla-nu

   Fifty

   Usage

   Essential for South African Rand payments. A 50 Rand note is commonly used.

   Grammar Note

   "amahlanu" is the adjective form of five. South African Rand notes: R10, R20, R50, R100, R200

8. Ngicela ngamashumi amabili

   Ngi-ce-la nga-ma-shu-mi a-ma-bi-li

   Please give me twenty (Rand worth)

   Usage

   Used at markets and stalls to buy a specific amount worth of goods

   Grammar Note

   "nga-" is the instrumental prefix meaning "for/by". "ngamashumi amabili" = "for twenty (Rand)"

9. Izinto ezimbili

   I-zi-nto e-zi-mbi-li

   Two things / two items

   Usage

   Used when specifying a quantity of items while shopping or ordering

   Grammar Note

   "izinto" is izi-class plural. Adjective "-mbili" takes "ezi-" prefix to agree with the noun class

10. Yisikhombisa neshumi — ishumi nesikhombisa

    Yi-si-khom-bi-sa ne-shu-mi — i-shu-mi ne-si-khom-bi-sa

    Seven plus ten equals seventeen

    Usage

    Shows how to form compound number 17 in Zulu. Useful for market calculations.

    Grammar Note

    "ishumi ne + number" forms 11–19. The prefix after "ne-" may change according to the noun class

11. Ngineminyaka engamashumi amabili nesikhombisa

    Ngi-ne-mi-nya-ka e-nga-ma-shu-mi a-ma-bi-li ne-si-khom-bi-sa

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age — the answer to "Uneminyaka emingaki?" ("How old are you?")

    Grammar Note

    "Ngi- + na- + iminyaka" coalesces to "ngine-" (the second person gives u- + na- + i- = une-); this vowel coalescence is regular and is not a class mismatch. "Iminyaka" is class 4, so the relative prefix is e-, and the whole phrase "engamashumi amabili nesikhombisa" qualifies the number of years.

12. Kulo nyaka ngizoba neminyaka engamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili

    Ku-lo nya-ka ngi-zo-ba ne-mi-nya-ka e-nga-ma-shu-mi a-ma-bi-li ne-si-shi-ya-ga-lom-bi-li

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying the age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    The future inserts -zo- after the subject concord: ngi- + -zo- + -ba gives ngizoba. "Unyaka" is a class 3 noun, taking the demonstrative "lo". "Ngizoba ne-" means "I will come to have", which is how reaching an age is stated.

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