Numbers

1. Emu, bbiri, ssatu

   One, two, three

   Usage

   The basic count. The doubled bb and ss are long consonants and part of the spelling.

   Grammar Note

   Numerals 1 to 5 change form with the class of the noun counted (abantu babiri = two people). These are the bare counting forms. Evidence: Wikivoyage number list and the dictionary (biri, satu); the doubling follows Wikivoyage and lg.wikipedia.

2. Nnya, ttaano, mukaaga

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   The basic count. The doubled nn and tt are long consonants.

   Grammar Note

   From 6 upward the numerals do not change with the noun class. Evidence: Wikivoyage number list, lg.wikipedia article "Ennamba" (same spelling).

3. Musanvu, munaana, mwenda, kkumi

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Seven to ten. Note that mwenda here means "nine".

   Grammar Note

   The initial kk of kkumi is part of the spelling. Eleven is kkumi n'emu and twelve is kkumi na bbiri. Evidence: Wikivoyage number list, lg.wikipedia "Ennamba".

4. Kkumi n'emu, kkumi na bbiri

   Eleven, twelve

   Usage

   Eleven and twelve. "And" is na, which becomes n' before a vowel.

   Grammar Note

   "Kkumi na ..." means "ten and ...". Before emu, na shortens to n'. Evidence: Wikivoyage number list (kkumi n'emu, kkumi na bbiri).

5. Amakumi abiri, amakumi asatu, amakumi ana

   Twenty, thirty, forty

   Usage

   Twenty, thirty, forty. Amakumi is a noun meaning "tens".

   Grammar Note

   Tens are "amakumi + numeral", with the numeral agreeing with amakumi (a- class). Evidence: Wikivoyage number list (amakumi abiri, asatu, ana).

6. Amakumi ataano, nkaaga, nsanvu

   Fifty, sixty, seventy

   Usage

   Fifty, sixty, seventy. From 60 upward there are separate words, not amakumi plus a numeral.

   Grammar Note

   Sixty to ninety are separate words (nkaaga, nsanvu, kinaana, kyenda). Single source: Wikivoyage number list; the dictionary does not list them. Native review advisable.

7. Kinaana, kyenda, kikumi

   Eighty, ninety, one hundred

   Usage

   Eighty, ninety, one hundred. The dictionary writes one hundred as ekikumi.

   Grammar Note

   Kikumi is ekikumi without the initial vowel, the form used when counting. Eighty and ninety are single-source (Wikivoyage); one hundred is in the dictionary as ekikumi.

8. Lukumi

   One thousand

   Usage

   One thousand. Two thousand is nkumi bbiri.

   Grammar Note

   Lukumi is olukumi without its initial vowel; a million is akakadde. Evidence: dictionary (thousand: lukumi; million: akakadde) and Wikivoyage number list.

9. Silingi nkumi bbiri

   Two thousand shillings

   Usage

   Stating a price in Ugandan shillings. People often say the amount in English as well.

   Grammar Note

   "Nkumi bbiri" is 2,000 (Wikivoyage). Silingi is attested in lg.wikipedia ("Silingi za Uganda"). Composed by putting the two verified parts together.

10. Nnina emyaka amakumi abiri mu musanvu

    I am 27 years old

    Usage

    Stating your age; literally "I have 27 years". The question is "Olina emyaka emeka?".

    Grammar Note

    "Mu" adds the unit, so "amakumi abiri mu musanvu" = 20 + 7 (Wikivoyage shows "amakumi abiri mu emu" = 21). Change the number to give another age. The question "Olina emyaka emeka?" is Tatoeba.

11. Mpa ebitundu bitaano, mwattu

    Please give me five pieces

    Usage

    Asking for a number of items. Ekitundu "piece" works for small goods.

    Grammar Note

    The numeral five agrees with the noun class: ebitundu (ebi- class) takes bitaano, as in Wikivoyage "bikumi bisatu". Composed from dictionary-verified words (piece: ekitundu).

12. Omulundi gumu, emirundi ebiri

    Once, twice

    Usage

    For counting times; omulundi means "time, occasion".

    Grammar Note

    The numeral agrees with the noun: omulundi takes gumu, emirundi takes ebiri. Evidence: dictionary (once: omulundi gumu; twice: emirundi ebiri).

13. Zeero

    Zero

    Usage

    Zero, a loanword used when reading out numbers.

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English "zero", with the long vowel written ee. Evidence: Wikivoyage number list and the lg.wikipedia article on numbers (Ennamba, "0 Zeero").

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