Detailed description of the Ethiopian numerical system
This manual has been taken from here, an article called Numbers in Tigrinya; minor amendments applied.
Especially Eastern African Countries like Ethiopia or Eritrea used to write in those numbers. However it is sad, that they do not use it in public newspapers like "Hadas Ertra" anymore, which really upset me.
Because the script is a big part of our culture, when we lose our culture we lose our identity as well.
Here are the numbers. However it has a completely other system when you compare it with arabic numbers:
1 = ፩ |
2 = ፪ |
3 = ፫ |
4 = ፬ |
5 = ፭ |
6 = ፮ |
7 = ፯ |
8 = ፰ |
9 = ፱ |
10 = ፲ |
20 = ፳ |
30 = ፴ |
40 = ፵ |
50 = ፶ |
60 = ፷ |
70 = ፸ |
80 = ፹ |
90 = ፺ |
100 = ፻ |
200 = ፪፻ |
300 = ፫፻ |
400 = ፬፻ |
500 = ፭፻ |
600 = ፮፻ |
700 = ፯፻ |
800 = ፰፻ |
900 = ፱፻ |
1,000 = ፲፻ |
2,000 = ፳፻ |
3,000 = ፴፻ |
4,000 = ፵፻ |
5,000 = ፶፻ |
6,000 = ፷፻ |
7,000 = ፸፻ |
8,000 = ፹፻ |
9,000 = ፺፻ |
10,000 = ፼ |
20,000 = ፪፼ |
30,000 = ፫፼ |
40,000 = ፬፼ |
50,000 = ፭፼ |
60,000 = ፮፼ |
70,000 = ፯፼ |
80,000 = ፰፼ |
90,000 = ፱፼ |
By analogy, 100,000 = ፲፼; 200,000 = ፳፼; 300,000 = ፴፼; etc.
As far as millions are concerned, we have the following: 1,000,000 = ፼፻; 2,000,000 = ፪፼፻; 3,000,000 = ፫፼፻; etc.
Which logic do we have in this system? Many numbers in Tigrina look like one letter while in latin it is two digits or even more than two. For example, ፻ means 100, so ፻ contains two nulls. Then we have ፼, it contains 4 nulls, that is why it is 10,000. And, of course, when we have 3 times ፻, i.e. ፻፻፻, it contains 6 nulls, so ፻፻፻ is 1,000,000 (a million).
When we want to write the number 2010 in Tigrina we first have to split it in 2 digits, that means 20 10. And then we have to convert every pair. We write ፳ (=20). Then we need a ፻ (=100) because we have 2 following digits. That rule is everytime required. And at last we write ፲ (= 10).
Let’s collect every number and the result is 2010 = ፳፻፲.
More examples:
2003 → 20 03 → ፳፻፫.
2513 → 25 13 → ፳፭፻፲፫.
5489 → 54 89 → ፶፬፻፹፱.
When we have a longer number it looks more complex but it’s also easy:
2,009,560 → 02 00 95 60 → ፪፻፼፺፭፻፷.
Explanation:
1. Write the number in 2 digit-pairs from right to left.
2. Then 02 = ፪ and the two nulls mean ፻.
3. Then we need ፼ because 4 digits follow (those are 9560). That rule is everytime required.
4. Then we convert 9560 just like in the above rule: 95 = ፺፭, two digits follow = ፻, 60 = ፷.
At last we have the whole number: ፪፻፼፺፭፻፷.
More examples:
50,456,789 → 50 45 67 89 → ፶፻፵፭፼፷፯፻፹፱.
50,009 → 05 00 09 → ፭፻፻፱ (or, in other words, ፭፼፱).
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