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Ọnụọgụgụ  means Numbers in Igbo. 

 In this lesson, we go over Igbo number 1-10 and then using this knowledge formulate other numbers from 1-99. 

Igbo Numbers in Igbo Izugbe (Central Igbo) 

1:   otu (ofu- very common to hear) 

2:  abụọ

3:  atọ

4:  anọ

5:   ise

6:   isii

7:   asaa

8:   asatọ

9:   itoolu (itenani) (eteghiete)

10:  iri

Note: in Parentheses are other common ways to hear the Igbo number being called. In this audio we also cover how numbers are pronounced in the Anambra dialect where there are smaller variations in spelling and thus pronunciation

::Exercise 1- Udaume of the numbers::

Listen to the pronunciation of each number and identify which vowel group you are hearing. this will be a great way to reinforce some of those vowel sounds and your ability to recognize them! 

Remember (refer episode 5)

-  heavy vowels (udaaro) ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘o’,’u’ 

- light vowels (udamfe) ‘a’, ị ọ ụ

Listen to audio and try to answer before viewing

• 1:     otu : Heavy vowels
• 2:    abụọ
• 3:    atọ: Light vowels
• 4:    anọ: Light Vowels 
• 5:     ise: Heavy vowels
• 6:     isii: Heavy vowels 

Numbers 1-99 

Once you know Igbo numbers from 1-10 you can figure out any other number with addition or using “and” in igbo which is (in this case)“na.”

So for example 11 is 10+1 or iri na otu

11- iri na otu

12- iri na abụọ

13- iri na atọ

14- iri na anọ

15- iri na ise 

16- iri na isii

Note: in pronunciation, there is vowel swallowing that occurs in normal speech between the “na” and the word that follows. 

Multiplication is needed when counting by 10s so example 20 is 10*2 or 10 two times 

10 iri 

20 iri abụọ

30 iri atọ

40 iri anọ

50 iri ise 

60 iri isii 

::Exercise 2- Question game::

Listen to the numbers given by Onyinye in English and try and figure out how to say the number in Igbo. 

Common Phrase to know using numbers to come across meaning 

- Things with pronouns 

     · Ha abụọ- them two 

     · Unu abụọ - you two (the two of you)

     · Anyi anọ- the 4 of us

- Other Phrases

· Ugboro – Times 

o Ex Ugboro olee ka m kpọrọ gi?- how many times did I call you 

o Ugboro ise – 5 times 

· Ofu ihe – same thing 

o Ex: Ha bu ofu ihe. 

Exercise 3: Numbers in Names of Places 

· Mbaise  

· Mbanọ

· Ochasiatọ

· Mbaitoolu 

Note: mba here can mean “town,” “community,” “nation” “the people of a place, ” typically used when describing a place that is not your own. 

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