Language/Southern-sotho/Vocabulary/Counting-Numbers

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Southern Sotho → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Counting Numbers

In learning any language, mastering numbers is a fundamental skill that opens doors to countless everyday conversations and situations. Whether you're shopping at the local market, telling the time, or counting friends at a gathering, knowing how to count in Southern Sotho will greatly enhance your experience and confidence in using the language. This lesson will guide you through cardinal and ordinal numbers in Southern Sotho, providing you with the tools to navigate daily interactions with ease.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to Cardinal Numbers

• Introduction to Ordinal Numbers

• Everyday Situations Using Numbers

• Practice Exercises

By the end of this lesson, you'll not only be able to count but also use numbers in practical contexts. Let's dive into the world of numbers in Southern Sotho!

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers are the numbers we use for counting. They represent quantity and are essential for basic communication.

Here is a list of cardinal numbers from one to ten in Southern Sotho:

Southern Sotho	Pronunciation	English
1	nku	one
2	mebiri	two
3	borai	three
4	bone	four
5	bofelo	five
6	tšeletseng	six
7	tsebeng	seven
8	borai	eight
9	borai	nine
10	leshome	ten

Now let’s expand our knowledge and learn to count up to twenty:

Southern Sotho	Pronunciation	English
11	leshome le motso	eleven
12	leshome le mebiri	twelve
13	leshome le borai	thirteen
14	leshome le bone	fourteen
15	leshome le bofelo	fifteen
16	leshome le tšeletseng	sixteen
17	leshome le tsebeng	seventeen
18	leshome le borai	eighteen
19	leshome le borai	nineteen
20	mashome a mabeli	twenty

Key Patterns:

• From 11-19, the pattern is formed by combining “leshome” (ten) with the respective number.

• “Mashome a mabeli” is the term for twenty.

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order rather than quantity. They are crucial when discussing rankings, dates, or sequences.

Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Southern Sotho:

Southern Sotho	Pronunciation	English
1st	wa pele	first
2nd	wa bobeli	second
3rd	wa borai	third
4th	wa bone	fourth
5th	wa bofelo	fifth
6th	wa tšeletseng	sixth
7th	wa tsebeng	seventh
8th	wa borai	eighth
9th	wa borai	ninth
10th	wa leshome	tenth

Using Ordinal Numbers in Sentences:

• "Ke moithuti wa pele." (I am the first student.)

• "O na le ngwaga ya borai." (He is in the second year.)

Everyday Situations Using Numbers

Understanding how to apply these numbers in real-life situations is just as important as knowing them. Here are a few scenarios where counting numbers come in handy:

1. Shopping:

• "Ke batla mebiri." (I want two.)

• "U na le leshome la makhasi?" (Do you have ten leaves?)

2. Time:

• "Ena ke hora ya borai." (This is the second hour.)

• "Re tla etela ka leshome." (We will visit at ten.)

3. Traveling:

• "Ke na le borai ba baeti." (I have three guests.)

• "Re etela mabenkele a mabeli." (We are visiting two shops.)

4. Celebrations:

• "Ke na le mebiri ya borai." (I have two cakes.)

• "O fetile wa borai." (You are the third one.)

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of counting numbers, here are some exercises for you to try!

1. Exercise 1: Translate the following cardinal numbers into Southern Sotho:

• 4

• 9

• 12

Solution:

• 4 = bone

• 9 = borai

• 12 = leshome le mebiri

2. Exercise 2: Write the ordinal number for the following positions:

• 6th

• 8th

• 10th

Solution:

• 6th = wa tšeletseng

• 8th = wa borai

• 10th = wa leshome

3. Exercise 3: Create sentences using cardinal numbers:

• (5)

• (3)

Example Solution:

• "Ke na le bofelo ba diphetho." (I have five votes.)

• "Re na le borai ba bana." (We have three children.)

4. Exercise 4: Match the cardinal number to its English equivalent:

• 15

• 19

• 2

Solution:

• 15 = leshome le bofelo

• 19 = leshome le borai

• 2 = mebiri

5. Exercise 5: Count in Southern Sotho. Write numbers from 1 to 10.

Solution:

• 1 = nku

• 2 = mebiri

• 3 = borai

• 4 = bone

• 5 = bofelo

• 6 = tšeletseng

• 7 = tsebeng

• 8 = borai

• 9 = borai

• 10 = leshome

6. Exercise 6: Use an ordinal number in a sentence about your routine.

Example Solution:

• "Ke etela ngwaga ya borai." (I visit in the second week.)

7. Exercise 7: Write the Southern Sotho word for the following numbers:

• 11

• 20

Solution:

• 11 = leshome le motso

• 20 = mashome a mabeli

8. Exercise 8: Listen to someone counting to five in Southern Sotho and repeat after them.

9. Exercise 9: Convert the following sentences into Southern Sotho:

• I have four apples.

• There are six chairs.

Solution:

• "Ke na le bone ya apole."

• "Ho na le tšeletseng ya ditlhopho."

10. Exercise 10: Discuss with a partner about your favorite numbers and use the vocabulary learned.

This lesson has provided you with a solid foundation in counting numbers in Southern Sotho. By practicing these exercises and incorporating the vocabulary into your daily life, you will enhance your language skills and confidence.

Happy counting, and may your Southern Sotho journey be as colorful and vibrant as the language itself!

Table of Contents - Southern Sotho Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Southern Sotho

• The Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Oneself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Classes
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Counting Numbers
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Everyday Activities

• Daily Routines
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing Nouns
• Describing Verbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Habits

  ---

Southern Sotho Traditions

• Traditional Clothing
• Traditional Music and Dance

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Destinations

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negating Sentences

  ---

Shopping and Money

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Money and Currency

  ---

Southern Sotho Family Life

• Family Structure
• Marriage and Ceremonies

Other Lessons

• Count to 10
• Daily Routines
• Animals
• Express Surprise
• Drinks
• Colors
• Telling Time
• Money and Currency
• How to say Good Bye?
• Food

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