An diofar eadar na mùthaidhean a rinneadh air "Numerals or How to write a cheque in Gaelic"
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Loidhne 292: | Loidhne 292: | ||
So, do learn how to express these numbers, but we advise caution as to with whom you can use them: learners, teachers, very literate native speakers and young people who have had GME. If you feel like doing some language planning, you can always use the Gaelic numbers, regardless of with whom you're speaking, then gloss it by following it with the number in English. | So, do learn how to express these numbers, but we advise caution as to with whom you can use them: learners, teachers, very literate native speakers and young people who have had GME. If you feel like doing some language planning, you can always use the Gaelic numbers, regardless of with whom you're speaking, then gloss it by following it with the number in English. | ||
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! scope="col" width="5%" align="left" | № | ! scope="col" width="5%" align="left" | № | ||
! scope="col" width="20%" align="left" | counting | ! scope="col" width="20%" align="left" | counting |
Mùthadh on 01:51, 2 dhen Dàmhair 2013
Numbers ... yes, oh what joy, but there's no avoiding them. There are three sets of numbers in Gaelic, just to keep life interesting, plus an old 'new way' they've dug up to make mathematics 'easier' for children in Gaelic Medium Education.
The first set of numbers is the "basic" set of numbers, the one you use for counting things. The second set is used if you're simply counting or giving a phone number, and the third for counting people which is the same in both systems. Because we do not have the same space restrictions as books have, we're going to give you both systems up to a hundred. The traditional shows first, the new old system shows further down, and then come plenty of examples above 100. Because we'll need to explain a few things half way, and again, we've made a break after the 10's and the 20's, stuck in the explanations at those breaks, and then continue with 11/31, etc. There are two examples for each number, one for masculine and one for feminine nouns.
Zero to ten
№ | counting | cardinal numbers (one beak, two beaks ...) |
ordinal numbers (first, second ...) |
---|---|---|---|
0 | a neoini | neoini gob neoini bròg |
|
1 | a h-aon | aon ghob (m) aon bhròg (f) |
a' chiad ghob a' chiad bhròg |
2 | a dhà | dà ghob dà bhròig |
an dàrna gob an dàrna bròg |
3 | a trì | trì guib trì brògan |
an treas gob an treas bròg |
4 | a ceithir | ceithir guib ceithir brògan |
an ceathramh gob a' cheathramh bròg |
5 | a cóig | cóig guib cóig brògan |
an cóigeamh gob a' chóigeamh bròg |
6 | a sia | sia guib sia brògan |
an siathamh gob an t-siathamh bròg |
7 | a seachd | seachd guib seachd brògan |
an seachdamh gob an t-seachdamh bròg |
8 | a h-ochd | ochd guib ochd brògan |
an t-ochdamh gob an ochdamh bròg |
9 | a naoidh | naoidh guib naoidh brògan |
an naoidheamh gob an naoidheamh bròg |
10 | a deich | deich gob deich bròg |
an deicheamh gob an deicheamh bròg |
Notes
Fun, isn't it? It's going to get even better ... but first the footnotes:
1) Aon and dà lenite the following consonant but keep in mind the rule about blocked lenition. If the noun is followed by adjectives, dà lenites these as well e.g. dà thaigh mhór bhrèagha.
2) Dà is not followed by the plural, but what appears to be the singular. Yet again, this is not as bizarre as it may sound. Old Irish had something called the 'dual', a special number for counting things that presented in the number two. The dual forms looked very similar to the singular. So, when the dual case went out the window, pairs of things were grouped with the singular, in grammatical terms anyway. The only reminder of this not being the singular case, but something else, is seen with feminine nouns which slenderise after dà i.e. dà bhròig. Today, this is mostly restricted to written Gaelic - but not restricted to such a degree that you'll sound odd if you use it in spoken Gaelic, so the choice is yours. Dà also lenites adjectives following a noun regardless of its gender, but it does not slenderise, for example, dà ghob mhór, dà bhròig mhór. If the numeral phrase is in the dative or genitive, the adjectives decline normally, thus: leis an dà ghob mhór, leis an dà bhròig mhóir and an dà ghuib mhóir, an dà bhròige móire. Notice that an is used in the genitive with feminine nouns rather than na.
3) When preceded by a, dà changes to a dhà. Notwithstanding, you'll hear people say things like dhà chù. Also, a prefixes h- to the numbers beginning with a vowel, thus you get a h-aon and a h-ochd.
4) The singular is used with dusan, fichead, multiples of fichead, ceud and mìle, millean etc. The singular is also used with measures such as length and monetary units such as mìle, tròigh, pùnnd, clach. With sgillinn, the singular is used but it's not used with not, a 'pound', which takes the plural, notaichean...
Bliadhna, which actually IS an old plural form, also does not change when counting, even though you say things like bliadhnaichean air ais 'years ago'. Other time terms take the plural just as other nouns e.g. uairean, mionaidean, seachdainnean ...
5) Remember to lenite your adjectives after a masculine noun that pluralises by slenderisation, for example, seachd craobhan móra but seachd guib mhóra.
6) Instead of aon, aonan can be used in an emphatic sense, for example, có mheud a bha ann? Aonan!! 'How many were there? One!!'. Alternatively, you could answer Dìreach aon!
7) The ordinal numbers obey the rules for case according to gender i.e. prefix t- in front of s and nothing before vowels for feminine nouns and t- before vowels for masculine nouns. A' chiad however is always a' chiad regardless of the gender of the noun. Deug lenites after feminine nouns as if it were an adjective. Adjectives themselves behave "normally" as if it were a simple noun phrase i.e. an t-siathamh bhròg mhór dheug 'the 16th big shoe' or air an t-siathamh bhròig mhóir dheug 'on the 16th big shoe'.
EXCEPT that only a' chiad lenites a following noun i.e. even though it may be followed by a feminine noun, a' cheathramh never lenites.
8) Instead of aonamh you will see a number of variations such as aon and aona. Some people always prefer to use a' chiad instead of aonamh. Tritheamh is a variant of treas (behaves exactly the same way) as is dara of dàrna (behaving the same way too). We recommend the use of the system outlined here, however.
9) Ordinal numbers are "abbreviated" as follows: a' chiad » 1d; an dàrna » 2na; an treas » 3as; -eamh » Nmh. Above 20, however, 1d becomes 1mh because it changes from a' chiad to an aonamh.
10) a' chiad becomes na ciad in phrases like na ciad eòin 'the first birds', similarly na dàrna, na treas etc. Ordinal numbers can also be lenited, for example, by the possessive pronouns do dhàrna bean 'your second wife'.
11) There is a strong tendency in the spoken language to neutralise the masc/fem distinction if a numeral occurs between the definite article and the thing being counted. In other words, lots of people say an aonamh gob deug instead of an t-aonamh gob deug.
OK, enough footnotes ... here are the numbers up to 30
Eleven to thirty
№ | counting | cardinal numbers (one beak, two beaks ...) |
ordinal numbers (first, second ...) |
---|---|---|---|
11 | a h-aon deug | aon ghob deug aon bhròg dheug |
an t-aonamh gob deug an aonamh bròg dheug |
12 | a dhà dheug | dà ghob deug dà bhròig dheug |
an dàrna gob deug an dàrna bròg dheug |
13 | a trì deug | trì guib dheug trì brògan deug |
an treas gob deug an treas bròg dheug |
14 | a ceithir deug | ceithir guib dheug ceithir brògan deug |
an ceathramh gob deug a' cheathramh bròg dheug |
15 | a cóig deug | cóig guib dheug cóig brògan deug |
an cóigeamh gob deug a' chóigeamh bròg dheug |
16 | a sia deug | sia guib dheug sia brògan deug |
an siathamh gob deug an t-siathamh bròg dheug |
17 | a seachd deug | seachd guib dheug seachd brògan deug |
an seachdamh gob deug an t-seachdamh bròg dheug |
18 | a h-ochd deug | ochd guib dheug ochd brògan deug |
an t-ochdamh gob deug an ochdamh bròg dheug |
19 | a naoi deug | naoidh guib dheug naoidh brògan deug |
an naoidheamh gob deug an naoidheamh bròg dheug |
20 | fichead | fichead gob fichead bròg |
am ficheadamh gob an fhicheadamh bròg |
21 | a h-aon ar fhichead | aon ghob ar fhichead aon bhròg ar fhichead |
an t-aonamh gob ar fhichead an aonamh bròg ar fhichead |
22 | a dhà ar fhichead | dà ghob ar fhichead dà bhròig ar fhichead |
an dàrna gob ar fhichead an dàrna bròg ar fhichead |
23 | a trì ar fhichead | trì guib dheug ar fhichead trì brògan deug ar fhichead |
an treas gob ar fhichead an treas bròg ar fhichead |
24 | a ceithir ar fhichead | ceithir guib dheug ar fhichead ceithir brògan deug ar fhichead |
an ceathramh gob ar fhichead a' cheathramh bròg ar fhichead |
25 | a cóig ar fhichead | cóig guib dheug ar fhichead cóig brògan deug ar fhichead |
an cóigeamh gob ar fhichead a' chóigeamh bròg ar fhichead |
26 | a sia ar fhichead | sia guib dheug ar fhichead sia brògan deug ar fhichead |
an siathamh gob ar fhichead an t-siathamh bròg ar fhichead |
27 | a seachd ar fhichead | seachd guib dheug ar fhichead seachd brògan deug ar fhichead |
an seachdamh gob ar fhichead an t-seachdamh bròg ar fhichead |
28 | a h-ochd ar fhichead | ochd guib dheug ar fhichead ochd brògan deug ar fhichead |
an t-ochdamh gob ar fhichead an ochdamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
29 | a naoidh ar fhichead | naoidh guib dheug ar fhichead naoidh brògan deug ar fhichead |
an naoidheamh gob ar fhichead an naoidheamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
30 | a deich ar fhichead | fichead gob deug fichead bròg dheug |
am ficheadamh gob deug an fhicheadamh bròg dheug |
Notes
1) Where to start? Slightly contrary to current usage (and of course GOC), we've used ar instead of air. Actually the Gaelic way of saying thirty etc. is not <ten on twenty> but <ten over twenty> - deich thar fhichead, with thar shortened to ar. OK, it still doesn't really explain the lenition, but it does explain why many people pronounce air as /ar/ rather than /ɛrʲ/ in this situation. Some people do pronounce it with a slender r, probably because of seing it written air all the time.
2) Note that the nouns lenite the numbers as if they were adjectives - so bròg being feminine lenites deug and guib lenites deug because it is an indefinite masculine noun which forms its plural by slenderisation. Don't you just love it?
3) Full multiples of twenty are not preceded by a when counting, thus a deich, but fichead, and fichead is a deich, but dàichead.
OK, you're bursting for more, yes?
Thirty to 100+
№ | counting | cardinal numbers (one beak, two beaks ...) |
ordinal numbers (first, second ...) |
---|---|---|---|
31 | a h-aon deug ar fhichead | aon ghob deug ar fhichead aon bhròg dheug ar fhichead |
an t-aonamh gob deug ar fhichead an aonamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
32 | a dhà dheug ar fhichead | dà ghob dheug ar fhichead dà bhròig dheug ar fhichead |
an dàrna gob deug ar fhichead an dàrna bròg dheug ar fhichead |
33 | a trì deug ar fhichead | trì guib dheug ar fhichead trì brògan deug ar fhichead |
an treas gob deug ar fhichead an treas bròg dheug ar fhichead |
34 | a ceithir deug ar fhichead | ceithir guib dheug ar fhichead ceithir brògan deug ar fhichead |
an ceathramh gob deug ar fhichead a' cheathramh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
35 | a cóig deug ar fhichead | cóig guib dheug ar fhichead cóig brògan deug ar fhichead |
an cóigeamh gob deug ar fhichead a' chóigeamh bhròg dheug ar fhichead |
36 | a sia deug ar fhichead | sia guib dheug ar fhichead sia brògan deug ar fhichead |
an siathamh gob deug ar fhichead an t-siathamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
37 | a seachd deug ar fhichead | seachd guib dheug ar fhichead seachd brògan deug ar fhichead |
an seachdamh gob deug ar fhichead an t-seachdamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
38 | a h-ochd deug ar fhichead | ochd guib dheug ar fhichead ochd brògan deug ar fhichead |
an t-ochdamh gob deug ar fhichead an ochdamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
39 | a naoidh deug ar fhichead | naoidh guib dheug ar fhichead naoidh brògan deug ar fhichead |
an naoidheamh gob deug ar fhichead an naoidheamh bròg dheug ar fhichead |
40 | dàichead | dàichead gob dàichead bròg |
an dàicheadamh gob an dàicheadamh bròg |
41 | dàichead is a h-aon | dàichead gob is a h-aon dàichead bròg is a h-aon |
an dàicheadamh gob is a h-aon an dàicheadamh bròg is a h-aon |
42 | dàichead is a dhà | dàichead gob is a dhà dàichead bròg is a dhà |
an dàicheadamh gob is a dhà an dàicheadamh bròg is a dhà |
43 | dàichead is a trì | dàichead gob is a trì dàichead bròg is a trì |
an dàicheadamh gob is a trì an dàicheadamh bròg is a trì |
44 | dàichead is a ceithir | dàichead gob is a ceithir dàichead bròg is a ceithir |
an dàicheadamh gob is a ceithir an dàicheadamh bròg is a ceithir |
45 | dàichead is a cóig | dàichead gob is a cóig dàichead bròg is a cóig |
an dàicheadamh gob is a cóig an dàicheadamh bròg is a cóig |
46 | dàichead is a sia | dàichead gob is a sia dàichead bròg is a sia |
an dàicheadamh gob is a sia an dàicheadamh bròg is a sia |
47 | dàichead is a seachd | dàichead gob is a seachd dàichead bròg is a seachd |
an dàicheadamh gob is a seachd an dàicheadamh bròg is a seachd |
48 | dàichead is a h-ochd | dàichead gob is a h-ochd dàichead bròg is a h-ochd |
an dàicheadamh gob is a h-ochd an dàicheadamh bròg is a h-ochd |
49 | dàichead is a naoidh | dàichead gob is a naoidh dàichead bròg is a naoidh |
an dàicheadamh gob is a naoidh an dàicheadamh bròg is a naoidh |
50 | dàichead is a deich | dàichead gob is a deich dàichead bròg is a deich |
an dàicheadamh gob is a deich an dàicheadamh bròg is a deich |
51 | dàichead is a h-aon deug | dàichead gob is a h-aon deug dàichead bròg is a h-aon deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a h-aon deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a h-aon deug |
52 | dàichead is a dhà dheug | dàichead gob is a dhà dheug dàichead bròg is a dhà dheug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a dhà dheug an dàicheadamh bròg is a dhà dheug |
53 | dàichead is a trì deug | dàichead gob is a trì deug dàichead bròg is a trì deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a trì deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a trì deug |
54 | dàichead is a ceithir deug | dàichead gob is a ceithir deug dàichead bròg is a ceithir deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a ceithir deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a ceithir deug |
55 | dàichead is a cóig deug | dàichead gob is a cóig deug dàichead bròg is a cóig deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a cóig deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a cóig deug |
56 | dàichead is a sia deug | dàichead gob is a sia deug dàichead bròg is a sia deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a sia deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a sia deug |
57 | dàichead is a seachd deug | dàichead gob is a seachd deug dàichead bròg is a seachd deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a seachd deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a seachd deug |
58 | dàichead is a h-ochd deug | dàichead gob is a h-ochd deug dàichead bròg is a h-ochd deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a h-ochd deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a h-ochd deug |
59 | dàichead is a naoidh deug | dàichead gob is a naoidh deug dàichead bròg is a naoidh deug |
an dàicheadamh gob is a naoidh deug an dàicheadamh bròg is a naoidh deug |
60 | trì fichead | trì fichead gob trì fichead bròg |
an trì ficheadamh gob an trì ficheadamh bròg |
61 | trì fichead is a h-aon | trì fichead gob is a h-aon trì fichead bròg is a h-aon |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a h-aon an trì ficheadamh bròg is a h-aon |
62 | trì fichead is a dhà | trì fichead gob is a dhà trì fichead bròg is a dhà |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a dhà an trì ficheadamh bròg is a dhà |
63 | trì fichead is a trì | trì fichead gob is a trì trì fichead bròg is a trì |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a trì an trì 20mh bròg is a trì |
64 | trì fichead is a ceithir | trì fichead gob is a ceithir trì fichead bròg is a ceithir |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a ceithir an trì 20mh bròg is a ceithir |
65 | trì fichead is a cóig | trì fichead gob is a cóig trì fichead bròg is a cóig |
an trì ficheadmh gob is a cóig an trì ficheadamh bròg is a cóig |
66 | trì fichead is a sia | trì fichead gob is a sia trì fichead bròg is a sia |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a sia an trì ficheadamh bròg is a sia |
67 | trì fichead is a seachd | trì fichead gob is a seachd trì fichead bròg is a seachd |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a seachd an trì ficheadamh bròg is a seachd |
68 | trì fichead is a h-ochd | trì fichead gob is a h-ochd trì fichead bròg is a h-ochd |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a h-ochd an trì ficheadamh bròg is a h-ochd |
69 | trì fichead is a naoidh | trì fichead gob is a naoidh trì fichead bròg is a naoidh |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a naoidh an trì ficheadamh bròg is a naoidh |
70 | trì fichead is a deich | trì fichead gob is a deich trì fichead bròg is a deich |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a deich an trì ficheadamh bròg is a deich |
71 | trì fichead is a h-aon deug | trì fichead gob is a h-aon deug trì fichead bròg is a h-aon deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a h-aon deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a h-aon deug |
72 | trì fichead is a dhà dheug | trì fichead gob is a dhà dheug trì fichead bròg is a dhà dheug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a dhà dheug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a dhà dheug |
73 | trì fichead is a trì deug | trì fichead gob is a trì deug trì fichead bròg is a trì deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a trì deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a trì deug |
74 | trì fichead is a ceithir deug | trì fichead gob is a ceithir deug trì fichead bròg is a ceithir deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a ceithir deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a ceithir deug |
75 | trì fichead is a cóig deug | trì fichead gob is a cóig deug trì fichead bròg is a cóig deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a cóig deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a cóig deug |
76 | trì fichead is a sia deug | trì fichead gob is a sia deug trì fichead bròg is a sia deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a sia deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a sia deug |
77 | trì fichead is a seachd deug | trì fichead gob is a seachd deug trì fichead bròg is a seachd deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a seachd deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a seachd deug |
78 | trì fichead is a h-ochd deug | trì fichead gob is a h-ochd deug trì fichead bròg is a h-ochd deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a h-ochd deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a h-ochd deug |
79 | trì fichead is a naoidh deug | trì fichead gob is a naoidh deug trì fichead bròg is a naoidh deug |
an trì ficheadamh gob is a naoidh deug an trì ficheadamh bròg is a naoi deug |
80 | ceithir fichead | ceithir fichead gob ceithir fichead bròg |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob an ceithir ficheadamh bròg |
81 | ceithir fichead is a h-aon | ceithir fichead gob is a h-aon ceithir fichead bròg is a h-aon |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a h-aon an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a h-aon |
82 | ceithir fichead is a dhà | ceithir fichead gob is a dhà ceithir fichead bròg is a dhà |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a dhà an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a dhà |
83 | ceithir fichead is a trì | ceithir fichead gob is a trì ceithir fichead bròg is a trì |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a trì an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a trì |
84 | ceithir fichead is a ceithir | ceithir fichead gob is a ceithir ceithir fichead bròg is a ceithir |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a ceithir an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a ceithir |
85 | ceithir fichead is a cóig | ceithir fichead gob is a cóig ceithir fichead bròg is a cóig |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a cóig an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a cóig |
86 | ceithir fichead is a sia | ceithir fichead gob is a sia ceithir fichead bròg is a sia |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a sia an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a sia |
87 | ceithir fichead is a seachd | ceithir fichead gob is a seachd ceithir fichead bròg is a seachd |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a seachd an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a seachd |
88 | ceithir fichead is a h-ochd | ceithir fichead gob is a h-ochd ceithir fichead bròg is a h-ochd |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a h-ochd an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a h-ochd |
89 | ceithir fichead is a naoi | ceithir fichead gob is a naoidh ceithir fichead bròg is a naoidh |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a naoidh an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a naoidh |
90 | ceithir fichead is a deich | ceithir fichead gob is a deich ceithir fichead bròg is a deich |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a deich an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a deich |
91 | ceithir fichead is a h-aon deug | ceithir fichead gob is a h-aon deug ceithir fichead bròg is a h-aon deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a h-aon deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a h-aon deug |
92 | ceithir fichead is a dhà dheug | ceithir fichead gob is a dhà dheug ceithir fichead bròg is a dhà dheug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a dhà dheug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a dhà dheug |
93 | ceithir fichead is a trì deug | ceithir fichead gob is a trì deug ceithir fichead bròg is a trì deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a trì deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a trì deug |
94 | ceithir fichead is a ceithir deug | ceithir fichead gob is a ceithir deug ceithir fichead bròg is a ceithir deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a ceithir deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a ceithir deug |
95 | ceithir fichead is a cóig deug | ceithir fichead gob is a cóig deug ceithir fichead bròg is a cóig deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a cóig deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a cóig deug |
96 | ceithir fichead is a sia deug | ceithir fichead gob is a sia deug ceithir fichead bròg is a sia deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a sia deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a sia deug |
97 | ceithir fichead is a seachd deug | ceithir fichead gob is a seachd deug ceithir fichead bròg is a seachd deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a seachd deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a seachd deug |
98 | ceithir fichead is a h-ochd deug | ceithir fichead gob is a h-ochd deug ceithir fichead bròg is a h-ochd deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a h-ochd deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a h-ochd deug |
99 | ceithir fichead is a naoidh deug | ceithir fichead gob is a naoidh deug ceithir fichead bròg is a naoidh deug |
an ceithir ficheadamh gob is a naoidh deug an ceithir ficheadamh bròg is a naoidh deug |
100 | ceud | ceud gob ceud bròg |
an ceudamh gob an ceudamh bròg |
101 | ceud is a h-aon | ceud gob is a h-aon ceud bròg is a h-aon |
an ceudamh gob is a h-aon an ceudamh bròg is a h-aon |
102 | ceud is a dhà | ceud gob is a dhà ceud bròg is a dhà |
an ceudamh gob is a dhà an ceudamh bròg is a dhà |
103 | ceud is a trì | ceud gob is a trì ceud bròg is a trì |
an ceudamh gob is a trì an ceudamh bròg is a trì |
Notes
And the footnotes:
1) 50: Instead of dàichead is a deich, leth cheud can be used, which does not lenite.
2) In spoken Gaelic, is a is often shortened to 's a /sə/ - not to be confused with sa 'in the'.
3) Dàichead is a shortened form of dà fhichead. Dàichead is both easier to read and also reflects the actual stress placement better (only on the dà-) when counting, which is why we prefer it.
4) Once you reach ceudamh, no gender distinctions are necessary any more.
5) Sometimes, the vigesimal system is used up to 200 i.e. cóig fichead, sia fichead, seachd fichead, ochd fichead, naoi fichead, but never beyond that.
Higher Still
Yes, we said we'd only go up to a hundred, but in real life we need to tackle larger numbers too. So, here are a few further key numbers so you'll get an understanding of how to deal with larger numbers. And yes, many a Gaelic teacher will tell you that most Gaels use English numbers when counting anything complex above 50 or 100. First of all, that's beside the point, and secondly that has much to do with the fact that almost all Gaelic speaking adults over 20 have been educated through the medium of English, particularly when it comes to maths which is not a subject commonly taught in GME, especially not at secondary level. Go on, how good are your number skills in French or German over 50?
So, do learn how to express these numbers, but we advise caution as to with whom you can use them: learners, teachers, very literate native speakers and young people who have had GME. If you feel like doing some language planning, you can always use the Gaelic numbers, regardless of with whom you're speaking, then gloss it by following it with the number in English.
№ | counting | cardinal numbers (one beak, two beaks ...) |
ordinal numbers (first, second ...) |
---|---|---|---|
105 | ceud is a cóig | ceud gob is a cóig | an ceudamh gob is a còig |
125 | ceud, fichead is a cóig | ceud, fichead gob is a cóig | an ceudamh, cóig guib ar fhichead |
220 | dà cheud is fichead | dà cheud gob is fichead | an dà cheudamh gob ar fhichead |
400 | ceithir ceud | ceithir cheud gob | an ceithir cheudamh gob |
552 | cóig cheud, dàichead is a dhà dheug | cóig cheud, dàichead gob is a dhà dheug | an cóig cheudamh, dàichead gob is a dhà dheug |
592 | cóig ceud, ceithir fichead is a dhà dheug | cóig ceud, ceithir fichead gob is a dhà dheug | an ceithir ceudamh, ceithir fichead gob is a dhà dheug |
1,000 | mìle | mìle gob | am mìleamh gob |
1,238 | mìle, dà cheud, ochd deug ar fhichead | mìle, dà cheud, ochd guib dheug ar fhichead | am mìleamh, dà cheud,
ochd guib dheug ar fhichead |
4,673 | ceithir mìle, sia ceud, trì fichead is trì deug | ceithir mìle, sia cheud, trì fichead gob is trì deug | an ceithir mìleamh, sia cheud, trì fichead gob is trì deug |
10,000 | deich mìle | deich mìle gob | an deich mìleamh gob |
16,745 | sia mìle deug, seachd ceud, dàichead is a cóig | sia mìle deug, seachd ceud, dàichead gob is a cóig | an sia mìleamh deug, seachd ceud, dàichead gob is a cóig |
56,965 | dàichead mìle is sia deug, naoidh ceud, trì fichead is a cóig | dàichead mìle is a sia deug, naoidh ceud, trì fichead gob is a cóig | an dàichead mìleamh is sia deug, naoidh ceud, trì fichead gob is a cóig |
200,000 | dà cheud mìle | dà cheud mìle gob | an dà cheud mìleamh gob |
143,976 | ceud mìle dàichead is a trì, naoidh ceud, trì fichead is a sia | ceud mìle dàichead is a trì, naoidh ceud, trì fichead gob is a sia | an ceud mìleamh dàichead is a trì, naoidh ceud, trì fichead gob is a sia |
999,999 | naoidh ceud mìle ceithir fichead is a naoidh deug, naoidh ceud, ceithir fichead is a naoidh deug | naoidh ceud mìle ceithir fichead is a naoidh deug, naoidh ceud, ceithir fichead gob is a naoidh deug | naoidh ceud mìleamh ceithir fichead is a naoidh deug, naoidh ceud, ceithir fichead gob is a naoidh deug |
1,000,000 | millean | millean gob | am milleanamh gob |
5,867,835 | cóig millean, ochd ceud mìle trì fichead is seachd, ochd ceud, cóig deug ar fhichead | cóig millean, ochd ceud mìle trì fichead is a seachd, ochd ceud, cóig guib dheug ar fhichead | an cóig milleanamh, ochd ceud mìle trì fichead is seachd, ochd ceud, cóig guib dheug ar fhichead |
Notes
Footnote or ten ...
1) The comma is only "notional" that is, it's a "speech break" you put in when saying the number. You don't actually write it when spelling out numbers. We just put them in here to demonstrate where the breaks would be.
2) The numbers 2-6 lenite ceud, so you get dà cheud, trì cheud, ceithir cheud, cóig cheud and sia cheud. This is NOT completely arbitrary but the last remaining vestiges of something Gaelic lost. Traditionally (well, several hundred years back in Gaelic terms), the number 1-6 lenited while the numbers 7-10 nasalized. Meaning? Well, seeing Irish still does this, let's have a look at how you count boats in Irish: bád, dhá bhád, trí bhád, ceithre bhád, cúig bhád, sé bhád, seacht mbád, ocht mbád, naoi mbád, deich mbád. Cool, isn't it? Gaelic stopped doing this a long time ago - except with the word ceud, for whatever reason. In older texts, you might occasionally come across things like trì thaighean.
3) Between 1001 and 9999, you can employ "splitting" into hundreds as you would with a year, e.g. 1267 as dà cheud dheag, trì fichead is a seachd.
4) As mentioned above, there is the possibility to express numbers up to 200 in twenties e.g. 136 as ceud, sia deug ar fhichead or sia fichead is a sia deug. So 136 ice-creams would be sia fichead reòiteag is a deich.
5) Leth refers to a half of the previous largest round 100, 1.000, 10.000 etc unit. This gives a value of 50, 500, 5.000 etc. These are then combined to give 150, 1.500, 15.000 etc. Enter the "illogical" step. You might imagine that trì cheud gu leth equals 450. Wrong. It equals 350. This principle applies at each level (100, 1.000, 10.000 etc). You can then add the numbers 1-9 to these expressions, but once you hit the next full 10, you have to revert to the "normal" way of counting, e.g. dà mhìle gu leth, dà mhìle gu leth is a h-aon, dà mhìle gu leth is a dhà ... dà mhìle gu leth is a naoi, dà mhìle is trì fichead. Leth cheud, leth mhìle etc. work the same way. Alternatively, you can just stick to the "normal" numbers
6) Possessives ... the ones that lenite, lenite numbers and the ones that add n- add n- to numbers beginning with vowels: mo dhà shùil, a thrì taighean, ar n-ochd caraidean, and so on.
7) Plurals. Numbers form their plurals 'relatively' regularly by adding -(e)an, -than, -dhean, -tean: aon » aonan, dà » dàthan, trì » trìthean, ceithir » ceithirean, cóig » cóigean, sia » siathan, seachd » seachdan, ochd » ochdan, naoi » naoidhean, deich » deichean, fichead » ficheadan, ceud » ceudan, mìle » mìltean, millean » milleanan. When will you ever need that? Well, try saying "I shook four sixes in a row" without using a plural of six ...
8) And last but not least, there is a tendency to stick the thing being counted at the very end with large numbers, especially with monetary units, so ¥51.655 would be dàichead mìle, sia ceud, trì fichead is a cóig Yen rather than dàichead mìle, sia ceud, trì fichead Yen is a cóig.
Hooray, you've cracked it ... except that Gaelic educationalists have had other plans .... Oh, and there's a separate page on how to give the date and time in Gaelic.
Beagan gràmair | ||||||||||||
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