Numbers: Two Counting Systems

01

The Native Tagalog Numbers

• 1 isa · 2 dalawa · 3 tatlo · 4 apat · 5 lima
• 6 anim · 7 pito · 8 walo · 9 siyam · 10 sampu
• 11 labing-isa · 12 labindalawa · 13 labintatlo · 15 labinlima
• 20 dalawampu · 30 tatlumpu · 40 apatnapu · 100 daan · 1000 libo

The teens are built from labing- plus the unit, with the final consonant adapting to the sound that follows: labing-isa, labindalawa, labimpito.

02

Numbers Need the Linker

Counting anything requires the linker between the number and the noun. This is where beginners meet it constantly.

• Bibili ako ng isang saging at anim na itlog.

  I am buying one banana and six eggs.

• Mayroon akong dalawang anak.

  I have two children.

• Mangyaring pumunta ka sa tindahan at bumili ng isang dosenang itlog.

  Please go to the store and buy a dozen eggs.

Vowel-final numbers take -ng (isang, dalawang, tatlong); anim ends in a consonant, so it takes the separate na.

03

The Spanish-Derived Numbers

• 1 uno · 2 dos · 3 tres · 4 kuwatro · 5 singko
• 6 sais · 7 siyete · 8 otso · 9 nuwebe · 10 diyes
• 11 onse · 12 dose

04

Which Set Goes Where

• Native: counting objects and people, ages, dates, most general quantities.
• Spanish: telling the time, and very often money and prices in markets.

• Alas sais y medya na ng gabi.

  It is now half past six in the evening. (time → Spanish)

• Mayroon akong dalawang kotse.

  I have two cars. (objects → native)

English numbers are also heard constantly, especially for phone numbers, years, and larger prices. All three systems coexist without anyone finding it strange.

05

Ordinals with 'ika-'

Prefix ika- to the native number to get "first", "second", "third".

• ikalawa (second) · ikatlo (third) · ikaapat (fourth) · ikalima (fifth)
• ikaanim (sixth) · ikalabindalawa (twelfth)

"First" is irregular: una, not a form with ika-.

• Ang ikalimang araw ng linggo

  the fifth day of the week