Numerals

Cardinal Numbers:when used to list phone numbers or count objects without naming them

• To see a definition of cardinal numbers see Cardinal Number (definition)

Traditionally Gaelic used a vigesimal counting system. This means that it is based in 20s (equivalent to the old numbers in English based on "Score"). Within this system there are several different variants for counting larger complex numbers. A more modern decimal (10 based system) has been introduced and is taught in schools, but isn't favored by many native speakers. These are the forms that end in -ead or -ad.

The numbers below are used to count without saying a noun, list years, or phone numbers. See section 2 below for directions for use when counting nouns.

0 to 19

• 0-19 are identical in the vigesimal and decimal systems.
• Numbers 0-10 are formed using simple numbers
• Numbers 11-19 are formed by taking the basic numbers 1-9 and attaching deug to the end of it.
• Formally, when counting or listing phone numbers from 1 -40 each number is prefixed with the particle a^H (a h-aonan, a dha, a tri, a ceithir, a còig, a sia, a seachd, a h-ochd, a naoi, a deich, etc.). But this particle is rarely used anymore by speakers. Lamb (2003) reports that the particle is only really used on the Radio. The particle does, however appear as the last part of complex numbers such as ceithir fichead 's a tri (83)

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
0	neoni	10	deich
1	aonan/aona	11	aon deug
2	dhà	12	dà dheug
3	tri	13	tri deug
4	ceithir	14	ceithir deug
5	còig	15	còig deug
6	sia	16	sia deug
7	seachd	17	seachd deug
8	ochd	18	ochd deug
9	naoi	19	naoi deug

Vigesimal 20-29, 40-49, 60-69, 80-89

The vigesimal system is based on the number 20 (ie. with most numbers using some multiple of 20).

• The number twenty is fichead'
• There are three different ways to form numbers from 21-29
  • take the simple number 1-9 and add "air fhichead ("on twenty") on the end. (e.g. dà air fhichead)
  • take the simple number 1-9 and add thar fhichead ("over twenty") on the end. (e.g. trì thar fhichead)
  • take the number twenty and follow it with 's (and), then one of the digits 1-9 preceded by the counting particle (e.g. fichead 's a h-aon)
• Multiples of twenty (40, 60, 70, 80, and to a rarer degree 120, 140, 160, 180) are formed by putting one of the digits 2-4 or 5-9 in front of fichead', (e.g. dà fhichead "two twenties", trì fichead "three twenties", notice that dà lenites fhichead.
• numbers 41-49, 69-69, 80-89 are formed by taking 40, 60, 80, and appending 's (and) and then one of the digits 1-9 preceded by the counting particle (e.g. dà fhichead 's a h-aon)

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
20	Fichead	40	dà fhichead	60	trì fichead	80	ceithir fichead
21	fichead 's a h-aon aon air fhichead aon thar fhichead	41	dà fhichead 's a h-aon	61	trì fichead 's a h-aon	81	ceithir fichead 's a h-aon
22	fichead 's a dhà dà air fhichead dà thar fhichead	42	dà fhichead 's a dhà	62	trì fichead 's a dhà	82	ceithir fichead 's a dhà
23	fichead 's a trì trì air fhichead trì thar fhichead	43	dà fhichead 's a trì	63	trì fichead 's a trì	83	ceithir fichead 's a trì
24	fichead 's a ceithir ceithir air fhichead ceithir thar fhichead	44	dà fhichead 's a ceithir	64	tri fichead 's a ceithir	84	ceithir fichead 's a ceithir
25	fichead 's a còig còig air fhichead còig thar fhichead	45	dà fhichead 's a còig	65	trì fichead 's a còig	85	ceithir fichead 's a còig
26	fichead 's a sia sia air fhichead sai thar fhichead	46	dà fhichead 's a sia	66	trì fichead 's a sia	86	ceithir fichead 's a sia
27	fichead 's a seachd seachd air fhichead seachd thar fhichead	47	dà fhichead 's a seachd	67	trì fichead 's a seachd	87	ceithir fichead 's a seachd
28	fichead 's a h-ochd ochd air fhichead ochd thar fhichead	48	dà fhichead 's a h-ochd	68	trì fichead 's a h-ochd	88	ceithir fichead 's a h-ochd
29	fichead 's a naoi naoi air fhichead naoi thar fhichead	49	dà fhichead 's a naoi	69	trì fichead 's a naoi	89	ceithir fichead 's a naoi

Vigesimal 30-39, 50-59, 70-79, 90-99

• The numbers 30, 50, 70 and 90 are formed by taking the numbers 20, 40, 60, and 80 and attaching 's a deich
• The numbers between these are formed by taking the numbers 20, 40, 60, 80 and attaching the appropriate "teen" form (deug form). So 73 is "three twenties and thirteen" trì fichead 's a trì deug,
• leth-cheud (1/2 hundred) can also be used for 50.

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
30	deich air fhichead fichead 's a deich	50	dà fhichead 's a deich leth-cheud	70	trì fichead 's a deich	90	ceithir fichead 's a deich
31	aon deug air fhichead aon deug thar fhichead fichead 's a h-aon deug	51	dà fhichead 's a h-aon deug leth-cheud 's a h-aon	71	trì fichead 's a h-aon deug	91	ceithir fichead 's a h-aon deug
32	dà dheug air fhichead dà dheug thar fhichead fichead 's a dà dheug	52	dà fhichead 's a dà dheug leth-cheud 's a dhà	72	trì fichead 's a dà dheug	92	ceithir fichead 's a dà dheug
33	trì deug air fhichead trì deug thar fhichead fichead 's a trì deug	53	dà fhichead 's a trì deug leth-cheud 's a trì	73	trì fichead 's a trì deug	93	ceithir fichead 's a trì deug
34	ceithir deug air fhichead ceithir deug thar fhichead fichead 's a ceithir deug	54	dà fhichead 's a ceithir deug leth-cheud 's a ceithir	74	trì fichead 's a ceithir deug	94	ceithir fichead 's a ceithir deug
35	còig deug air fhichead còig deug thar fhichead fichead 's a còig deug	55	dà fhichead 's a còig deug leth-cheud 's a còig	75	trì fichead 's a còig deug	95	ceithir fichead 's a còig deug
36	sia deug air fhichead sia deug thar fhichead fichead 's a sia deug	56	dà fhichead 's a sia deug leth-cheud 's a sia	76	trì fichead 's a sia deug	96	ceithir fichead 's a sia deug
37	seachd deug air fhichead seachd deug thar fhichead fichead 's a seachd deug	57	dà fhichead 's a seachd deug leth-cheud 's a seachd	77	trì fichead 's a seachd deug	97	ceithir fichead 's a seachd deug
38	ochd deug air fhichead ochd deug thar fhichead fhichead 's a h-ochd deug	58	dà fhichead 's a h-ochd deug leth-cheud 's a h-ochd	78	trì fichead 's a h-ochd deug	98	ceithir fichead 's a h-ochd deug
39	naoi deug air fhichead naoi deug thar fhichead fhichead 's a naoi deug	59	dà fhichead 's a naoi deug leth-cheud 's a naoi	79	tri fichead 's a naoi deug	99	ceithir fichead 's a naoi deug

Decimal 20-99

The decimal system is similar to that of English, and is based on multiples of 10.

• Each "10" has it's own name (fichead, trithead, ceathrad, etc)
• take any of the 10s follow it with 's (and), then one of the digits 1-9 preceded by the counting particle (e.g. fichead 's a h-aon, trithead 's a dha etc.)

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
20	fichead	30	trithead	40	ceathrad	50	caogad	60	seasgad	70	seachdad	80	ochdad	90	naochad
21	fichead 's a h-aon	31	trithead 's a h-aon	41	ceathrad 's a h-aon	51	caogad 's a h-aon	61	seasgad 's a h-aon	71	seachdad 's a h-aon	81	ochdad 's a h-aon	91	naochad 's a h-aon
22	fichead 's a dhà	32	trithead 's a dha	42	ceathrad 's a dhà	52	caogad 's a dhà	62	seasgad 's a dhà	72	seachdad 's a dhà	82	ochdad 's a dhà	92	naochad 's a dhà
23	fichead 's a trì	33	trithead 's a trì	43	ceathrad 's a trì	53	caogad 's a trì	63	seasgad 's a trì	73	seachdad 's a trì	83	ochdad 's a trì	93	naochad 's a trì
24	fichead 's a ceithir	34	trithead 's a ceithir	44	ceathrad 's a ceithir	54	caogad 's a ceithir	64	seasgad 's a ceithir	74	seachdad 's a ceithir	84	ochdad 's a ceithir	94	naochad 's a ceithir
25	fichead 's a còig	35	trithead 's a còig	45	ceathrad 's a còig	55	caogad 's a còig	65	seasgad 's a còig	75	seachdad 's a còig	85	ochdad 's a còig	95	naochad 's a còig
26	fichead 's a sia	36	trithead 's a sia	46	ceathrad 's a sia	56	caogad 's a sia	66	seasgad 's a sia	76	seachdad 's a sia	86	ochdad 's a sia	96	naochad 's a sia
27	fichead 's a seachd	37	trithead 's a seachd	47	ceathrad 's a sia	57	caogad 's a seachd	67	seasgad 's a sia	77	seachdad 's a seachd	87	ochdad 's a sia	97	naochad 's a seachd
28	fichead 's a h-ochd	38	trithead 's a h-ochd	48	ceathrad 's a h-ochd	58	caogad 's a h-ochd	68	seasgad 's a h-ochd	78	seachdad 's a h-ochd	88	ochdad 's a h-ochd	98	naochad 's a h-ochd
29	fichead 's a naoi	39	trithead 's a naoi	49	ceathrad 's a naoi	59	caogad 's a naoi	69	seasgad 's a naoi	79	seachdad 's a naoi	89	ochdad 's a naoi	99	naochad 's a naoi

100+

• 100 ceud
• 120 sia fichead or ceud 's a fichead
• 140 seachd fichead or ceud 's a ceathrad
• 150 XXXXX
• 160 ochd fichead or XXX
• 180 naoi fichead or XXX
• 1000 mile
• 1999 naoi ceud deug ceithir fichead 's a naoi deug
• 2000 dà mhile
• 2002 dà mhile 's a dhà
• 6693 sia mile sia ceud ceithir fichead 's a tri deug
• 100,000 ceud mile
• 1,000,000 millean

Important note about large numbers

Lamb (2003) based on research by Macaulay (1982) reports that for many speakers, large numbers, especially those that fall between the "scores" (120, 140 etc), are avoided and they will code switch to English.

Cardinal Numbers:when used to count objects

• To see a definition of cardinal numbers see Cardinal Number (definition)

1 to 10

• The numbers 1-10 precede any noun they count
• 1 takes the singular form of the noun, (aon bhalach, aon chraobh)
• 2 takes a special dual form.
  • For masculine nouns the dual is identical to the common case form singular. eg. dà bhalach.
  • For feminine nouns, the dual is identical to the prepositional form of the singular (typically takes a slender final consonant.)) e.g. dà chraoibh
• 3-10 take the plural (trì balaich, trì craobhan)

English	Gaelic	Takes	Example
1	aonL	singular	aon chat
2	dhàL/dàL		dà chat
3	tri1	plural	tri cait
4	ceithir		ceithir cait
5	còig		còig cait
6	sia		sia cait
7	seachd		seachd cait
8	ochd		ocht cait
9	naoi		naoi cait
10	deich		deich cait

¹In some dialects 3-5 also lenite the following noun.

11 to 19

• when counting objects in the teens, the word deug follows the noun that's being counted. Literally, eleven is realized as "one cat teen". 11 and 12 take singulars and lenite the noun, all the others are plural.

English	Gaelic	Takes	Example
11	aonL X deug	singular	aon chat deug
12	dàL X dheug		dà chat dheug
13	tri X deug	plural	tri cait deug
14	ceithir X deug		ceithir cait deug
15	còig X deug		còig cait deug
16	sia X deug		sia cait deug
17	seachd X deug		seachd cait deug
18	ochd X deug		ochd cait deug
19	naoi X deug		naoi cait deug

Vigesimal 20-29, 40-49, 60-69, 80-89

• The vigesimal numbers are nearly identical to the "counting numbers" discussed above in section 1, except for the placement of the counted noun. Fichead and its multiples takes a singular, as do 21 and 22
• The name of the object counted comes after the major initial unit (aon chat air fichead), or after a 20 and it's multiplier (dà fichead cat 's a dhà). The counted noun always comes before "air/thar fichead" or any 's a NUMBER ending.

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
20	Fichead cat	40	dà fhichead cat	60	trì fichead cat	80	ceithir fichead cat
21	fichead cat 's a h-aon aon chat air fhichead aon chat thar fhichead	41	dà fhichead cat 's a h-aon	61	trì fichead cat 's a h-aon	81	ceithir fichead cat 's a h-aon
22	fichead cat 's a dhà dà chat air fhichead dà chat thar fhichead	42	dà fhichead cat 's a dhà	62	trì fichead cat 's a dhà	82	ceithir fichead cat 's a dhà
23	fichead cat 's a trì trì cait air fhichead trì cait thar fhichead	43	dà fhichead cat 's a trì	63	trì fichead cat 's a trì	83	ceithir fichead cat 's a trì
24	fichead cat 's a ceithir ceithir cait air fhichead ceithir cait thar fhichead	44	dà fhichead cat 's a ceithir	64	tri fichead cat 's a ceithir	84	ceithir fichead cat's a ceithir
25	fichead cat 's a còig còig cait air fhichead còig coit thar fhichead	45	dà fhichead cat 's a còig	65	trì fichead cat 's a còig	85	ceithir fichead cat 's a còig
26	fichead cat 's a sia sia cait air fhichead sai cait thar fhichead	46	dà fhichead cat 's a sia	66	trì fichead cat 's a sia	86	ceithir fichead cat 's a sia
27	fichead cat 's a seachd seachd cait air fhichead seachd cait thar fhichead	47	dà fhichead cat 's a seachd	67	trì fichead cat 's a seachd	87	ceithir fichead cat 's a seachd
28	fichead cat 's a h-ochd ochd cait air fhichead ochd cait thar fhichead	48	dà fhichead cat 's a h-ochd	68	trì fichead cat 's a h-ochd	88	ceithir fichead cat 's a h-ochd
29	fichead cat 's a naoi naoi cait air fhichead naoi cait thar fhichead	49	dà fhichead cat 's a naoi	69	trì fichead cat 's a naoi	89	ceithir fichead cat 's a naoi

Vigesimal 30-39, 50-59, 70-79, 90-99

• With 31-39, the noun comes between the single digit and the deug (in the aon chat deug air/thar fichead constructions). It will be singular or plural depending on what number precedes it (1-2 give singular and lenite, 3-9 are plural).
• With all other numbers in this range, the noun comes after the words fichead or ceud' and will be singular.

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
30	deich cait air fhichead fichead cat 's a deich	50	dà fhichead cat 's a deich leth-cheud cat	70	trì fichead cat 's a deich	90	ceithir fichead cait 's a deich
31	aon chat deug air fhichead aon chat deug thar fhichead fichead cait 's a h-aon deug	51	dà fhichead cat 's a h-aon deug leth-cheud cat 's a h-aon	71	trì fichead cat 's a h-aon deug	91	ceithir fichead cat 's a h-aon deug
32	dà chat dheug air fhichead dà chat dheug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a dà dheug	52	dà fhichead cat 's a dà dheug leth-cheud cat 's a dhà	72	trì fichead cat 's a dà dheug	92	ceithir fichead cat 's a dà dheug
33	trì cait deug air fhichead trì cait deug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a trì deug	53	dà fhichead cat 's a trì deug leth-cheud cat 's a trì	73	trì fichead cat 's a trì deug	93	ceithir fichead cat 's a trì deug
34	ceithir cait deug air fhichead ceithir cait deug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a ceithir deug	54	dà fhichead cat 's a ceithir deug leth-cheud cat 's a ceithir	74	trì fichead cat 's a ceithir deug	94	ceithir fichead cat 's a ceithir deug
35	còig cait deug air fhichead còig cait deug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a còig deug	55	dà fhichead cat 's a còig deug leth-cheud cat 's a còig	75	*trì fichead cat 's a còig deug	95	ceithir fichead cat 's a còig deug
36	sia cait deug air fhichead sia cait deug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a sia deug	56	dà fhichead cat 's a sia deug leth-cheud cat 's a sia	76	trì fichead cat 's a sia deug	96	ceithir fichead cat 's a sia deug
37	seachd cait deug air fhichead seachd cait deug thar fhichead fichead cat 's a seachd deug	57	dà fhichead cat 's a seachd deug leth-cheud cat 's a seachd	77	trì fichead cat 's a seachd deug	97	ceithir fichead cat 's a seachd deug
38	ochd cait deug air fhichead ochd cait deug thar fhichead fhichead cat 's a h-ochd deug	58	dà fhichead cat 's a h-ochd deug leth-cheud cat 's a h-ochd	78	trì fichead cat 's a h-ochd deug	98	ceithir fichead cat 's a h-ochd deug
39	naoi cait deug air fhichead naoi cait deug thar fhichead fhichead cat 's a naoi deug	59	dà fhichead cat 's a naoi deug leth-cheud cat 's a naoi	79	tri fichead cat 's a naoi deug	99	ceithir fichead cat 's a naoi deug

Decimal 20-99

• The noun appears after the word for 20, 30, 40 etc and before any 's a h-aon

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
20	fichead cat	30	trithead cat	40	ceathrad cat	50	caogad cat	60	seasgad cat	70	seachdad cat	80	ochdad cat	90	naochad cat
21	fichead cat 's a h-aon	31	trithead cat 's a h-aon	41	ceathrad cat 's a h-aon	51	caogad cat 's a h-aon	61	seasgad cat 's a h-aon	71	seachdad cat 's a h-aon	81	ochdad cat 's a h-aon	91	naochad cat 's a h-aon
22	fichead cat 's a dhà	32	trithead cat 's a dhà	42	ceathrad cat 's a dhà	52	caogad 'cat 's a dhà	62	seasgad 'cat 's a dhà	72	seachdad cat 's a dhà	82	ochdad 'cat 's a dhà	92	naochad cat 's a dhà
23	fichead cat 's a trì	33	trithead cat 's a trì	43	ceathrad cat 's a trì	53	caogad cat 's a trì	63	seasgad cat 's a trì	73	seachdad cat 's a trì	83	ochdad cat 's a trì	93	naochad cat 's a trì
24	fichead cat 's a ceithir	34	trithead cat 's a ceithir	44	ceathrad cat 's a ceithir	54	caogad cat 's a ceithir	64	seasgad cat 's a ceithir	74	seachdad cat 's a ceithir	84	ochdad cat 's a ceithir	94	naochad cat 's a ceithir
25	fichead cat 's a còig	35	trithead cat 's a còig	45	ceathrad cat 's a còig	55	caogad cat 's a còig	65	seasgad cat 's a còig	75	seachdad cat 's a còig	85	ochdadcat 's a còig	95	naochad cat 's a còig
26	fichead cat 's a sia	36	trithead cat 's a sia	46	ceathrad cat 's a sia	56	caogad cat 's a sia	66	seasgad cat 's a sia	76	seachdad cat 's a sia	86	ochdad cat 's a sia	96	naochad cat 's a sia
27	fichead cat 's a seachd	37	trithead cat 's a seachd	47	ceathrad cat 's a seachd	57	caogad cat 's a seachd	67	seasgad cat 's a seachd	77	seachdad cat 's a seachd	87	ochdad cat 's a seachd	97	naochad cat 's a seachd
28	fichead cat 's a h-ochd	38	trithead cat 's a h-ochd	48	ceathrad cat 's a h-ochd	58	caogad cat 's a h-ochd	68	seasgad cat 's a h-ochd	78	seachdad cat 's a h-ochd	88	ochdad cat 's a h-ochd	98	naochad cat 's a h-ochd
29	fichead cat 's a naoi	39	trithead cat 's a naoi	49	ceathrad cat 's a naoi	59	caogad cat 's a naoi	69	seasgad cat 's a naoi	79	seachdad cat 's a naoi	89	ochdad cat 's a naoi	99	naochad cat 's a naoi

100+

• 100 ceud
• 120 sia fichead or ceud 's a fichead
• 140 seachd fichead or ceud 's a ceathrad
• 150 XXXXX
• 160 ochd fichead or XXX
• 180 naoi fichead or XXX
• 1000 mile
• 1999 naoi ceud deug ceithir fichead 's a naoi deug
• 2000 dà mhile
• 2002 dà mhile 's a dhà
• 6693 sia mile sia ceud ceithir fichead 's a tri deug
• 100,000 ceud mile
• 1,000,000 millean

Distributive Numbers

e.g. pair, dozen

Distributive Numbers for humans

Number	Gaelic
1	aonan/aonar/aon fhear/aon tè (m)
2	dithis/dithist (f)
3	triùir (f)
4	ceathrar (m)
5	còignear (m)
6	sianar (m)
7	seachdnar/seachdar (m)
8	ochdnar/ochdar (m)
9	naoinear (m)
10	deichnear/deineir (m)

Lamb: numbers over 1 take genitive case. dithis fhear

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers describe a position in a series of objects. In English these are numbers like first second, third.

The abbreviation for ordinals is ^mh, so An darna is 2^mh

Number	Gaelic	Number	Gaelic
first	a' chiad	eleventh
second	an darna a dara	twelfth	an dara deug
third	an treas an trìtheamh an treasamh	thirteenth	an treas deug
fourth	an ceathramh	fourteenth	an ceathramh deug
fifth	an còigeamh	fifteenth
sixth	an siathamh1	sixteenth
seventh	an seachdamh1	seventeenth
eighth	an t-ochdamh	eighteenth
ninth	an naoidheamh	nineteenth
tenth	an deicheamh	twentieth	an ficheadamh

¹. For some speakers these nouns are feminine and show up as an t-seachdamh and an t-siathamh, especially before other nouns

• an deicheamh 'tenth'
• am ficheadamh 'twentieth'

Other Numbers

Multiplicative Numbers

represents repetition (once, twice, thrice)

Partitive Numbers

expresses a fraction (half, quarter, third)

• leth 'half'
• cairteal 'quarter'

Integrative-Cumulative Numbers

refer to something made up for several parts single, double, triple

External Links

• Highland Council Website on numbers
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigesimal
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_Number
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinal_number_(linguistics)

References

• Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
• Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. Munich: Lincom Europa.
• Macaulay, Donald (1982) Aspects of register range and choice in Scottish Gaelic. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 35:25-48.
• Robertson, Boyd and Ian MacDonald (2004) Gaelic Dictionary. Teach Yourself books.