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.

Numbers 1

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

Numbers-2

0 – gaawiin gegoo
1 – bezhig
2 – niizh
3 – niswi
4 – niiwin
5 – naanan
6 – ingodwaaswi
7 – niizhwaaswi
8 – nishwaaswi
9 – zhaangaswi

Numbers-3

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

Numbers-4

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

Numbers-5

30 – nisimidana
40 – niimidana
50 – naanimidana
60 – ingodwaasimidana
70 – niizhwaasimidana
80 – nishwaasimidana
90 – zhaangasimidana

Numbers-6

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

The way we say numbers changes when we use them differently in a phrase.

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
A row of flowers in the Woodland art style by Neebin Southall

Using Numbers as Verbs

Numbers can also be used as verbs and appear as the following:

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
A row of flowers in the Woodland art style by Neebin Southall

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