First Lessons in Maori

VI. Numerals

VI. Numerals.

§ 28. Table of Cardinal Numbers.

Hia? How many?

1	Tahi, or Kotahi.
2	Rua.
3	Toru
4	Wha.
5	Rima.
6	Ono.
7	Whitu.
8	Waru.
9	Iwa.
10	Tekau, or Ngahuru.
11	Tekau ma tahi.
12	Tekau ma rua.
13	Tekau ma toru.
14	Tekau ma wha.
20	Rua tekau.
21	Rua tekau ma tahi.
30	Toru tekau.
40	Wha tekau.
100	Kotahi rau.
101	Kotahi rau ma tahi.
123	Kotahi rau e rua tekau ma toru.
1000	Kotahi mano.
2001	E rua mano ma tahi.
2384	E rua mano e toru rau e waru tekau ma wha.

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It is to be noted that, for the numbers from 10 to 19, “kotahi” is often expressed with “tekau” and that from 100 to 199 it is generally required with “rau.” (See examples under §§ 29 and 30.)

§ 29.

In Counting use ka before the numerals, thus:

Ka hia? how many?
Ka tahi, one; ka rua, two; ka toru, three, etc.; ka tekau, ten; ka tekau ma tahi, eleven; ka rua tekau, twenty; ka kotahi rau ka rua tekau ma rima, one hundred and twenty-five.

In asking for any number of things use kia in the same way before the numeral, thus:

Mauria mai etahi toki, kia rua, bring two axes.
Kia hia? how many? Kia rua, two.

§ 30. With Nouns.

i. When used in immediate connexion with a noun, let kotahi stand for one, not tahi, and put e before the other numerals from two to nine.

Examples.

He tangata kotahi, one man.
Nga whare e toru, the three houses.
Nga tao e wha tekau, the forty spears.
He waka kotahi tekau ma rua, twelve canoes.
Mo etahi waka kotahi tekau ma rua, for twelve canoes.

ii. In speaking of persons the numerals from rua to iwa inclusive, the interrogative hia, and the adjective maha, have toko- prefixed instead of e.

Examples.

Tokohia? how many? (i.e., persons).
Nga tangata tokoiwa, the nine men.
He tokomaha ratou, they are many.

§ 31.

In using the numerals distributively prefix taki- to the simple numeral, thus:

Takirua, by twos, two and two.
Takitahi, singly, or by ones.

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§ 32.

Ordinals used absolutely, i.e. not in immediate connexion with nouns, are expressed by the simple numerals with te, thus:

Te tahi, the first.
Te rua, the second.
Te hia? which in order?

§ 33.

When using an ordinal as an adjective in immediate connexion with a noun, prefix tua-^* to the simple numeral from one to nine, thus:

Te tangata tuatahi, the first man.

Above nine, without tua-, thus:

Te tekau o nga manu, the tenth of the birds, or the tenth bird.
Te rua tekau ma toru o nga whare, the twenty-third of the houses, or the twenty-third house.

^* This prefix may also be used with the interrogative hia?

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