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
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