Numbers

1. Abantu ababili

   Two people

   Usage

   To give a number of people, for a table, tickets and so on

   Grammar Note

   Numerals change shape with the noun class. For people: "ababili" (2), "abathathu" (3), "abane" (4), "abahlanu" (5). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Abantu abathathu

   Three people

   Usage

   To say there are three of you

   Grammar Note

   The form used for counting people. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Amalanga amabili

   Two days

   Usage

   To give the length of a stay or a wait in days

   Grammar Note

   "amalanga" (plural of "ilanga") takes the "ama-" numerals. "Bazokuhlala amalanga amabili" is "They will stay two days"

4. Amalanga alikhomba

   Seven days

   Usage

   For about a week

   Grammar Note

   "ikhomba" is seven; the numeral's prefix agrees with the noun

5. Amalanga alitjhumi

   Ten days

   Usage

   For the duration of a process or stay

   Grammar Note

   "itjhumi" is ten. "amalanga wokusebenza alitjhumi" is "ten working days"

6. Amalanga wokusebenza amahlanu

   Five working days

   Usage

   How long an official process takes; weekends are not counted

   Grammar Note

   "Iimbawo zingathatha amalanga wokusebenza amahlanu" is "Applications may take five working days"

7. Iimveke ezibunane

   Eight weeks

   Usage

   For a period given in weeks

   Grammar Note

   "bunane" is eight. "iimveke ezisithandathu" is six weeks

8. Iinyanga ezisithandathu

   Six months

   Usage

   For a period given in months

   Grammar Note

   "isithandathu" is six

9. Amatjhumi amabili

   Twenty

   Usage

   Twenty, for amounts and quantities

   Grammar Note

   Tens are "amatjhumi" plus a numeral. Ninety is "amatjhumi alithoba"

10. Ikhulu lamaranda

    One hundred rand

    Usage

    Saying one hundred in the South African currency, the rand

    Grammar Note

    "ikhulu" is "hundred", as in a theatre ticket costing about "ikhulu lamaranda"

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