Numbers are pretty much everywhere these days. You can find them on schedules, price tags, clocks, and signs. If you find yourself in a foreign country, it can be really useful to know how to talk about numbers for things like traveling and shopping.
This guide will teach you Amharic numbers from 1 to 100, how to pronounce them, and how to use them in real conversations. Once you get the hang of the patterns, it can be really fun and surprisingly addictive. By the end, you’ll feel confident using numbers in everyday situations.
How Do Amharic Numbers Work?
Amharic numbers use a system that combines traditional and modern elements.
The ancient script called Ge’ez has its own numerals, which you might see in religious or historical writing. Today, most people use Arabic numerals like 1, 2, and 3 for daily life, but knowing the Ge’ez numerals can help you understand the language and culture even more.
Pronouncing Amharic numbers is easier than it looks because each number has a clear, distinct sound. Pay attention to the vowels, as they help shape the correct pronunciation.
Amharic Numbers 1 To 10
To build a strong foundation, the best way is to start with the numbers 1 to 10.
Below is a list of the first ten numbers with their English names, Latin transliteration, and Amharic script. Use the pronunciation column to practice saying each number aloud.
| English | Latin script | Amharic script |
|---|---|---|
| one (1) | and | አንድ |
| two (2) | hulet | ሁለት |
| three (3) | sost | ሦስት |
| four (4) | arat | አራት |
| five (5) | amist | አምስት |
| six (6) | sidist | ስድስት |
| seven (7) | sebat | ሰባት |
| eight (8) | semint | ስምንት |
| nine (9) | zetegn | ዘጠኝ |
| ten (10) | asir | አስር |
Amharic Numbers 11 To 20
Numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by combining ten with the numbers one to nine.
The word asir (ten) changes to asra when combined with another number to make the pronunciation smoother.
| English | Latin script | Amharic script |
|---|---|---|
| eleven (11) | asra and | አስራ አንድ |
| twelve (12) | asra hulet | አስራ ሁለት |
| thirteen (13) | asra sost | አስራ ሦስት |
| fourteen (14) | asra arat | አስራ አራት |
| fifteen (15) | asra amist | አስራ አምስት |
| sixteen (16) | asra sidist | አስራ ስድስት |
| seventeen (17) | asra sebat | አስራ ሰባት |
| eighteen (18) | asra simint | አስራ ስምንት |
| nineteen (19) | asra zetegn | አስራ ዘጠኝ |
| twenty (20) | haya | ሃያ |
The Ge’ez Numerals
Learning Ge’ez numerals is important for anyone studying Amharic. You can see these numbers in books, signs, and other places in Ethiopia.
They look different from the Latin numbers we use, with special symbols for 1 to 10, tens, and 100. Knowing them makes it easier to read prices, dates, and addresses, and helps you learn Amharic numbers faster.
Here’s a table of Ge’ez numerals for numbers 1 to 20:
| Latin numeral | Ge’ez numeral |
|---|---|
| 1 | ፩ |
| 2 | ፪ |
| 3 | ፫ |
| 4 | ፬ |
| 5 | ፭ |
| 6 | ፮ |
| 7 | ፯ |
| 8 | ፰ |
| 9 | ፱ |
| 10 | ፲ |
| 11 | ፲፩ |
| 12 | ፲፪ |
| 13 | ፲፫ |
| 14 | ፲፬ |
| 15 | ፲፭ |
| 16 | ፲፮ |
| 17 | ፲፯ |
| 18 | ፲፰ |
| 19 | ፲፱ |
| 20 | ፳ |
Tens And Beyond
In Amharic, each multiple of ten has its own unique word, just like in English. In Amharic, multiples of ten have their own unique words: For example, thirty is selasa (ሰላሳ), forty is arba (አርባ), fifty is hamsa (አምሳ), and so on:
| English | Latin Script | Amharic Script |
|---|---|---|
| thirty | selasa | ሰላሳ |
| forty | arba | አርባ |
| fifty | hamsa | አምሳ |
| sixty | silisa | ስስሳ |
| seventy | seba | ሰባ |
| eighty | semana | ስምንት |
| ninety | zetena | ዘጠኝ |
To say numbers like 21 or 34 in Amharic, put the tens first, then ena (እና), which means ‘and’, then the units.
For example:
- 21 = haya ena and (ሃያ እና አንድ) = 20 + 1
- 34 = selasa ena arat (ሰላሳ እና አራት) = 30 + 4
| Example number | Latin script | Amharic script |
|---|---|---|
| fifty-seven (57) | hamsa ena sebat | አምሳ እና ሰባት |
| sixty-nine (69) | silisa ena zetegn | ስልሳ ዘጠኝ |
| seventy-two (72) | seba ena hulet | ሰብት እና ሁለት |
| eighty-five (85) | semana ena amist | ሰምንት እና አምስት |
| ninety-eight (98) | zetena ena simint | ዘጠና ስምንት |
And finally, the word for 100 in Amharic is meto (መቶ).
How Do You Say ‘Numbers’ In the Amharic Language?
The word for number is misale (ምሳሌ) and the plural of numbers is misaleoch (ምሳሌዎች).
Useful Vocabulary You Can Use With Numbers
Here are some common Amharic phrases that can be useful in everyday conversations:
| English | Latin script | Amharic script |
|---|---|---|
| phone number | telefon misale | ቴሌፎን ምሳሌ |
| age | idme | እድሜ |
| price | waga | ዋጋ |
| time | zemen | ጊዜ |
| quantity | miqdar | መጠን |
| phone number | telefon misale | ስልክ ቁጥር |
| age (years old) | amet | አመት |
| I’m 20 years old. (male) | ine esra amet new | እኔ ሀያ አመት ነኝ |
| I’m 20 years old. (female) | ine esra amet natt | እኔ ሀያ አመት ነች |
| One coffee, please. | and buna bicha | አንድ ቡና ብቻ |
| I want two tickets. | hulet tikitoch aydelem | ሁለት ቲኬቶች አይደለም |
| The price is five birr. | wagaw amist birr new | ዋጋው አምስት ብር ነው |
| The meeting is at three. | sibsaba sost new | ስብሰባው ሶስት ነው |
Tips For Learning Amharic Numbers
- Remember that age sentences change with gender. Use -new (ነኝ) if you’re male and -natt (ነች) if you’re female. To say the phrase ‘I am twenty years old’, say ine haya amet new if you’re a man and ine haya amet natt if you’re a woman.
- When combining tens and units, don’t forget the word ena (እና) meaning ‘and’. For example, 34 is selasa ena arat (30 and 4).
- Learn the Amharic alphabet to read and pronounce words correctly.
- Even though Amharic doesn’t have a traditional symbol for zero, zeros still appear in things like phone numbers, prices, or dates. When reading a phone number aloud in Amharic, say ‘zero’ as sifr (ስፍር), borrowed from Arabic, or simply say ‘zero’.
- Practice numbers daily by using simple phrases like ordering coffee or telling your age. The Ling app offers interactive exercises with real-life scenarios to help you master these quickly.
- Use Ling’s pronunciation tool to hear numbers spoken by native Amharic speakers. This helps you get the tones and rhythm right.
- Practice counting every day. Once you get the hang of the basics, move on to larger numbers.
FAQs About Amharic Numbers
Why Does Amharic Not Have A Symbol For The Number 0?
Amharic does not have a symbol for zero because the ancient Ge’ez number system, like Roman numerals, was designed for counting things. Most ancient cultures simply left a blank space where modern Arabic numerals would use 0.
Are Amharic Numbers Related To Arabic Numbers?
Yes, Amharic numbers are related to Arabic numbers because both are Semitic languages, so many number words share similar roots even though the scripts are different.
What Is Sost In Amharic?
In Amharic, sost (ሦስት) means three.
From One To Meto
This guide covered everything you need to know about counting in Amharic, with numbers 1 to 100. It explained how Amharic numbers work, including modern Arabic numerals and Geez numbers. It also showed you how to combine tens and units using the word ena (እና).
You got useful vocabulary to apply the numbers in daily situations, like telling age, prices, phone numbers and ordering coffee. Overall, this guide provides a clear and practical roadmap for anyone looking to confidently use numbers in Amharic.
Practice Amharic Daily With Ling
You’ve learned how to count to 100 in Amharic, but this is just the beginning. With Ling, you can practice Amharic greetings, numbers, phrases, and everyday conversations interactively, all at your own pace. Hear native speakers, record yourself, and get instant feedback so you can speak confidently in real-life situations.
Start learning Amharic with Ling and make your Ethiopian travels even more memorable.
