Learning Yoruba numbers is one of the quickest ways to start using the language, and the counting system is fascinating. Yoruba counts in groups of twenty and uses subtraction for many numbers. This guide gives you the key numbers from 1 to 100 with simple explanations.
Yoruba Numbers 1 to 10
- 1: ọ̀kan
- 2: èjì
- 3: ẹ̀ta
- 4: ẹ̀rin
- 5: àrún
- 6: ẹ̀fà
- 7: èje
- 8: ẹ̀jọ
- 9: ẹ̀sán
- 10: ẹ̀wá
Yoruba Numbers 11 to 20
- 11: ọ̀kanlá
- 12: èjìlá
- 13: ẹ̀talá
- 14: ẹ̀rinlá
- 15: ẹ́ẹ̀dógún
- 16: ẹ̀rìndínlógún
- 17: ẹ̀tàdínlógún
- 18: èjìdínlógún
- 19: ọ̀kàndínlógún
- 20: ogún
Notice that 15 to 19 are formed by subtracting from twenty: for example, 16 means “twenty minus four”. This is one of the most interesting features of the Yoruba counting system.
Tens up to 100
- 30: ọgbọ̀n
- 40: ogójì
- 50: àádọ́ta
- 60: ọgọ́ta
- 70: àádọ́rin
- 80: ọgọ́rin
- 90: àádọ́rùn-ún
- 100: ọgọ́rùn-ún
Using Numbers at the Market
Numbers come alive when you use them. Try these simple market phrases:
- Èló ni? How much is it?
- Ó pọ̀ jù. It is too much.
- Mo fẹ́ ẹ̀ta. I want three.
- Ẹ ṣé. Thank you.
Say the price aloud in Yoruba and ask a Yoruba-speaking friend to correct your tones. Counting backwards from twenty is also a good exercise, because it trains the subtraction pattern that makes numbers 15 to 19 unusual.
Tips for Learning
- Say the numbers aloud and listen carefully to the tones. Our tone marks guide explains why this matters.
- Practise counting at the market, in recipes or while walking.
- Combine numbers with greetings from our Yoruba greetings guide.
Keep Going
Learn the letters in the Yoruba alphabet guide, follow the roadmap in how to learn Yoruba and learn the calendar in days of the week and months in Yoruba. For a detailed linguistic overview, see Wikipedia’s Yoruba language page.
Yoruba Numbers FAQs
How do you say one in Yoruba?
One is ọ̀kan.
Why are Yoruba numbers hard?
Many numbers are built by subtraction from twenty, which feels unusual if you are used to addition.
How do you say 100 in Yoruba?
One hundred is ọgọ́rùn-ún.
