Wolof numeration system is based on 5 and 10. The system uses word phrases that use addition, multiplication functions on the base 5 and 10 to express individual numbers. The base numbers(5 10) are utilized to 100. The term ak( and or with) is used with every number except numbers 6 through 9, divisible by 10, except 10, up to 100. Twelve is expressed as fukk ak ñaar (10 & 2), "ten and two."
When a larger number is preceded by a smaller number, one adds. Sixteen is expressed as fukk ak juróom benn (10 & 6 or 10 & 5 &1), "ten and six" or "ten and five and one." All numbers till nineteen is expressed this way.
When a smaller number precede a larger number, one multiplies. Forty is expressed as ñeent fukk (4 & 10) which is multiplied. Numbers above twenty are expressed this way. Numbers above twenty requires the use of multiplication and addition, if not divisible by 10 up to 90. Thirty-two is ñett fukk ak ñaar (3 & 10 & 2), expressed mathematically as ( 3 x 10 + 2 ), which is thirty two.
Tus or dara is used to express 0. Thirty can be expressed as ñett fukk or fanweer.
| 0 | tus | | 1 | benn | | 2 | ñaar | | 3 | ñett | | 4 | ñeent |
| 5 | juróom | | 6 | juróom benn | | 7 | juróom ñaar | | 8 | juróom ñett | | 9 | juróom ñeent |
| 10 | fukk | | 11 | fukk ak benn | | 12 | fukk ak ñaar | | 13 | fukk ak ñett | | 14 | fukk ak ñeent |
| 15 | fukk ak juróom | | 16 | fukk ak juróom benn | | 17 | fukk ak juróom ñaar | | 18 | fukk ak juróom ñett | | 19 | fukk ak juróom ñeent |
| 20 | ñaar fukk | | 21 | ñaar fukk ak benn | | 22 | ñaar fukk ak ñaar | | 23 | ñaar fukk ak ñett | | 24 | ñaar fukk ak ñeent |
| 25 | ñaar fukk ak juróom | | 26 | ñaar fukk ak juróom benn | | 27 | ñaar fukk ak juróom ñaar | | 28 | ñaar fukk ak juróom ñett | | 29 | ñaar fukk ak juróom ñeent | | 30 | ñett fukk | | 40 | ñeent fukk | | 50 | juróom fukk | | 60 | juróom benn fukk | | 61 | juróom benn fukk ak benn | | 62 | juróom benn fukk ak ñaar | | 63 | juróom benn fukk ak ñett | | 64 | juróom benn fukk ak ñeent | | 65 | juróom benn fukk ak juróom | | 66 | juróom benn fukk ak juróom benn
| | 67 | juróom benn fukk ak juróom ñaar | | 68 | juróom benn fukk ak juróom ñett | | 69 | juróom benn fukk ak juróom ñeent
| | 70 | juróom ñaar fukk | | 80 | juróom ñett fukk |
| 90 | juróom ñeent fukk | | 100 | teemeer | | 1000 | junni | | 1,000,000 | fukki teemeeri junni |
Works Cited
Wolof, Jangalekat. Wolof Numbers & Counting. JANGA WOLOF,Wolof Language & Culture Blog.Friday, 23 November 2007 |
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