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
Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, Avava, Babatana, Bariai, Big Numbas, Bola, Cheke Holo, Daakaka, Dorig, East Ambae, Fijian, Hiw, Hoava, Kara, Kilivila, Kokota, Kove, Kwamera, Lakon, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Manam, Maskelynes, Mavea, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwerlap, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Nali, Namakura, Naman, Nduke, Neve‘ei, North Efate, Nume, Paama, Papapana, Rotuman, Roviana, Seimat, Siar, Sio, Sobei, Sudest, Sursurunga, Tigak, Tamambo, Ubir, Ughele, Vitu, Western Fijian, Vurës, Yabem, Yapese
Alphabetical index | Language family index
[top]
You can support this site by Buying Me A Coffee, via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways.
If you find all the adverts annoying, there is now an Ad-free version of Omniglot which you can access for a small monthly or annual donation.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com
[top]
