How to count in Motu, a Western Oceanic language spoken in parts of Papua New Guinea.
If any of the numbers are links, you can hear a recording by clicking on them. If you can provide recordings, please contact me.
| Numeral | Cardinal | Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ta | gini gunana |
| 2 | rua | iharuana |
| 3 | toi | ihatoina |
| 4 | hani | ihahanina |
| 5 | ima | ihaimana |
| 6 | tauratoi | ihatauratoina |
| 7 | hitu | ihahituna |
| 8 | taurahani | ihataurahanina |
| 9 | taurahani-ta | ihataurahani-tana |
| 10 | gwauta | ihagwautana |
| 11 | gwauta-ta | |
| 12 | gwauta-rua | |
| 13 | gwauta-toi | |
| 14 | gwauta-hani | |
| 15 | gwauta-ima | |
| 16 | gwauta-tauratoi | |
| 17 | gwauta-hitu | |
| 18 | gwauta-taurahani | |
| 19 | gwauta-taurahani-ta | |
| 20 | rauhui | |
| 21 | ruahui-ta | |
| 22 | ruahui-rua | |
| 23 | ruahui-toi | |
| 24 | ruahui-hani | |
| 25 | ruahui-ima | |
| 26 | ruahui-tauratoi | |
| 27 | ruahui-hitu | |
| 28 | ruahui-taurahani | |
| 29 | ruahui-taurahani | |
| 30 | toi-ahui | |
| 40 | hari-ahui | |
| 50 | imaahui | |
| 60 | tauratoi-ahui, rabu taurato | |
| 70 | hitu-ahui | |
| 80 | taurahani-ahui, rabu taurahani | |
| 90 | taurahani-ta-ahui, rabu taurahani-ta | |
| 100 | sinahu-ta | |
| 101 | sinahu-ta dikoana ta, sinahu-ta mai ta | |
| 102 | sinahu-ta dikoana rua, sinahu-ta mai rua | |
| 200 | sinahu-rua | |
| 300 | sinahu-toi | |
| 400 | sinahu-hani | |
| 500 | sinahu-ima | |
| 600 | sinahu-tauratoi | |
| 700 | sinahu-hitu | |
| 800 | sinahu-taurahani | |
| 900 | sinahu-taurahani-ta | |
| 1,000 | daha-ta | |
| 2,000 | daha-rua | |
| 3,000 | daha-toi | |
| 4,000 | daha-hani | |
| 5,000 | daha-ima | |
| 6,000 | daha-tauratoi | |
| 7,000 | daha-hitu | |
| 8,000 | daha-taurahani | |
| 9,000 | daha-taurahani-ta | |
| 10,000 | gerebu-ta | |
| 100,000 | damaga-ta |
The numbers 2-8 have special forms when counting people: 2 = rarua, 3 = tatoi, 4 hahani, 5 = laima, 6 = tatauratoi, 7 = hahitu, 8 = tataurahani.
Source: A grammar of the Motu language of Papua. by R. Lister-Turner and J.B. Clark. Edited by Percy Chatterton.
Information compiled by Wolfgang Kuhl
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Motu | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Araki, Balinese, Banjarese, Batak (Toba), Bugis, Central Sinama, Dhao, Ende-Li'o, Hawu, Helong, Iban, Javanese, Kei, Madurese, Malagasy, Malay and Indonesian, Manggarainese, Minangkabau, Moma-Kulawi, Muna, Motu, Ngadha, Rongga, Sumbawa, Sundanese, Tado-Lindu, Tetum, Tolaki, Wandamen
Alphabetical index | Language family index
Why not share this page:
If you need to type in many different languages, the Q International Keyboard can help. It enables you to type almost any language that uses the Latin, Cyrillic or Greek alphabets, and is free.
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com
Copyright © 1998–2021 Simon Ager | Email: 
| Hosted by Kualo
