Numbers (Asigibii’iganan)
Numbers are used often and it is good to learn them early and memorize them thoroughly. Many people refer to numbers as “asigibii’iganan” which is the verb “asigibii’ige” (to write a tally) turned into a noun. In some areas numbers are referred to as “agindaasowinan” which is the verb “agindaaso” (to count) turned into a noun.
In this lesson you will learn patterns you can use to count. How to use numbers as dates, when telling time, and to count or do math will be covered later.
The act of counting is a VAI verb.
To tell one person to count you say:
Agindaason! One of you count.
To tell more than one person to count you say:
Agindaasog! All of you count.
To count with a group you say:
Agindaasodaa! Let’s count!
Counting Zero to Two Thousand
0 – gaawiin gegoo
1 – bezhig
2 – niizh
3 – niswi
4 – niiwin
5 – naanan
6 – ingodwaaswi
7 – niizhwaaswi
8 – nishwaaswi
9 – zhaangaswi
10 – midaaswi
11 – midaaswi-ashi-bezhig
12 – midaaswi-ashi-niizh
13 – midaaswi-ashi-niswi
14 – midaaswi-ashi-niiwin
15 – midaaswi-ashi-naanan
16 – midaaswi-ashi-ingodwaaswi
17 – midaaswi-ashi-niizhwaaswi
18 – midaaswi-ashi-nishwaaswi
19 – midaaswi-ashi-zhaangaswi
20 – niizhtana
21 – niizhtana-ashi-bezhig
22 – niizhtana-ashi-niizh
23 – niizhtana-ashi-niswi
24 – niizhtana-ashi-niiwin
25 – niizhtana-ashi-naanan
26 – niizhtana-ashi-ingodwaaswi
27 – niizhtana-ashi-niizhwaaswi
28 – niizhtana-ashi-nishwaaswi
29 – niizhtana-ashi-zhaangaswi
30 – nisimidana
40 – niimidana
50 – naanimidana
60 – ingodwaasimidana
70 – niizhwaasimidana
80 – nishwaasimidana
90 – zhaangasimidana
100 – ingodwaak
200 – niizhwaak
300 – niswaak
400 – niiwaak
500 – naanwaak
600 – ingodwaaswaak
700 – niizhwaaswaak
800 – nishwaaswaak
900 – zhaangaswaak
1000 – ingoding-midaaswaak
2000 – niizhing-midaaswaak
Using Numbers in Phrases
| Counting. . . Numbers-7 |
Putting things in order . . . Numbers-8 |
How many times . . . Numbers-9 |
|---|---|---|
| Bezhig – one | Bezhigo/Ingo – first | Ingoding – one time |
| Niizh – two | Niizho – second | Niizhing – two times |
| Niswi – three | Niso – third | Nising – three times |
| Niiwin – four | Niiwo/Niiyo – fourth | Niiwing – four times |
| Naanan – five | Naano – fifth | Naaning – five times |
| Ingodwaaswi – six | Ingodwaaso – sixth | Ingodwaaching – six times |
| Niizhwaaswi – seven | Niizhwaaso – seventh | Niizhwaaching – seven times |
| Zhaangaswi – nine | Zhaangaso – ninth | Zhaangaching – nine times |
| Midaaswi – ten | Midaaso – tenth | Midaaching – ten times |
| Nishwaaswi – eight | Nishwaaso – eighth | Nishwaaching – eight times |
Using Numbers as Verbs
| Thing Numbers-10 |
Being Numbers-11 |
|---|---|
| Bezhigwan – one in number | Bezhigo – one in number |
| Niizhin – two in number | Niizhi – two in number |
| Nisin – three in number | Nisi – three in number |
| Niiwin – four in number | Niiwi – four in number |
| Naananin – five in number | Naanani – five in number |
| Ingodwaachin – six in number | Ingodwaachi – six in number |
| Niizhwaachin – seven in number | Niizhwaachi – seven in number |
| Nishwaachin – eight in number | Nishwaachi – eight in number |
| Zhaangachin – nine in number | Zhaangachi – nine in number |
| Midaachin – ten in number | Midaachi – ten in number |