Counting in Yoruba looks hard at first because the numbers use subtraction: fifteen is “twenty take away five”. Once you see the pattern, it becomes easy. This guide gives you Yoruba numbers from 1 to 100, the logic behind them and practice sentences for the market.
Yoruba numbers 1 to 10
| Number | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| 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
From 11 to 14 the number adds to ten (the ending -lá comes from “ten”). From 15 to 19 it counts back from twenty (ogún).
| Number | Yoruba | Logic |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | ọ̀kànlá | 10 + 1 |
| 12 | èjìlá | 10 + 2 |
| 13 | ẹ̀talá | 10 + 3 |
| 14 | ẹ̀rinlá | 10 + 4 |
| 15 | ẹ̀ẹ́dógún | 20 − 5 |
| 16 | ẹ̀rìndínlógún | 20 − 4 |
| 17 | ẹ̀tàdínlógún | 20 − 3 |
| 18 | èjìdínlógún | 20 − 2 |
| 19 | ọ̀kàndínlógún | 20 − 1 |
| 20 | ogún | twenty |
Tens up to 100
| Number | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| 20 | ogún |
| 30 | ọgbọ̀n |
| 40 | ogójì |
| 50 | àádọ́ta |
| 60 | ọgọ́ta |
| 70 | àádọ́rin |
| 80 | ọgọ́rin |
| 90 | àádọ́rùn-ún |
| 100 | ọgọ́rùn-ún |
Notice the pattern: 40, 60 and 80 are built from twenty (2×20, 3×20, 4×20). The numbers between them, 50, 70 and 90, are “ten less” than the next one. For bigger numbers, 200 is igba and 1,000 is ẹgbẹ̀rún.
Practice in the market
- Èló ni? How much is it?
- Ọgọ́rùn-ún náírà. One hundred naira.
- Mo fẹ́ ẹ̀ta. I want three.
- Ẹ dín owó rẹ̀ kù. Please reduce the price.
Tips for remembering the numbers
- Learn 1 to 10 first, then the -lá numbers.
- Say the subtraction aloud: “twenty minus five” gives ẹ̀ẹ́dógún.
- Count objects around the house every day for a week.
- Pair numbers with the months of the year and telling the time.
Next, build your vocabulary with our common Yoruba words for beginners, the 30-day study plan and our Learn Yoruba hub. You can test yourself with the Yoruba language quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Yoruba numbers so complicated?
The traditional system is based on twenty and uses subtraction, so some numbers are written as “twenty minus something”.
How do you say 100 in Yoruba?
100 is ọgọ́rùn-ún.
Do Yoruba speakers always use these numbers?
In daily life many people switch to English for large sums and phone numbers, but the Yoruba numbers are used in speech, songs and when teaching children.
Images: Unsplash photographers (Emmanuel Ikwuegbu and Michael Ali). Spellings and tone marks follow common usage; check with a native speaker for formal writing.
