Let's learn to count in Odia! Numbers are essential for shopping, telling time, and everyday conversations.
Numbers 1-10
| Number | Odia Numeral | Odia Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ୧ | ଏକ | eka |
| 2 | ୨ | ଦୁଇ | dui |
| 3 | ୩ | ତିନି | tini |
| 4 | ୪ | ଚାରି | cāri |
| 5 | ୫ | ପାଞ୍ଚ | pāñca |
| 6 | ୬ | ଛଅ | chaʼa |
| 7 | ୭ | ସାତ | sāta |
| 8 | ୮ | ଆଠ | āṭha |
| 9 | ୯ | ନଅ | naʼa |
| 10 | ୧୦ | ଦଶ | daśa |
Practice: Writing Numerals
Odia numerals are different from Arabic numerals. Practice writing:
୧ ୨ ୩ ୪ ୫
୬ ୭ ୮ ୯ ୧୦
Numbers 11-20
| Number | Odia Numeral | Odia Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | ୧୧ | ଏଗାର | egāra |
| 12 | ୧୨ | ବାର | bāra |
| 13 | ୧୩ | ତେର | tera |
| 14 | ୧୪ | ଚଉଦ | cauda |
| 15 | ୧୫ | ପନ୍ଦର | pandara |
| 16 | ୧୬ | ଷୋଳ | ṣoḷa |
| 17 | ୧୭ | ସତର | satara |
| 18 | ୧୮ | ଅଠର | aṭhara |
| 19 | ୧୯ | ଊଣେଇଶ | ūṇeiśa |
| 20 | ୨୦ | କୋଡ଼ିଏ | koḍie |
Useful Phrases with Numbers
- ✦କେତେ? (kete?) — "How many?" / "How much?"
- ✦ଏକ ଟଙ୍କା (eka ṭaṅkā) — "One rupee"
- ✦ଦୁଇଟା ଆମ୍ବ (duiṭā āmba) — "Two mangoes"
- ✦ତିନି ଘଣ୍ଟା (tini ghaṇṭā) — "Three hours"
Practice Dialogue
At the market:
- ✦Customer: ଏହା କେତେ? (ehā kete?) — "How much is this?"
- ✦Seller: ପାଞ୍ଚ ଟଙ୍କା (pāñca ṭaṅkā) — "Five rupees"
Exercise: Match the Numbers
Try matching:
- ✦୫ → ?
- ✦୮ → ?
- ✦୩ → ?
Answers: 5, 8, 3
Key Pattern
Notice that 11-19 follow unique names, but from 20 onwards, Odia uses a base-20 counting system!
Great progress! Next, we'll learn essential greetings to start conversations.