Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Marathi is no exception. Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Maharashtra. With over 83 million speakers, it stands as one of India’s most spoken languages. One of the foundational aspects of learning any language is mastering its numbers and counting system. In this article, we will delve into the numbers and counting in Marathi, making it easier for English speakers to grasp and utilize in everyday conversations.
The Basics: Numbers 1 to 10
To begin with, let’s look at the numbers from 1 to 10 in Marathi. These form the building blocks for learning higher numbers and are crucial for everyday use.
1. One – एक (Eka)
2. Two – दोन (Dōna)
3. Three – तीन (Tīna)
4. Four – चार (Chāra)
5. Five – पाच (Pāca)
6. Six – सहा (Sahā)
7. Seven – सात (Sāta)
8. Eight – आठ (Āṭha)
9. Nine – नऊ (Naū)
10. Ten – दहा (Dahā)
Notice that each number has its unique word, and there isn’t a pattern like in some other languages. This means you’ll need to memorize these numbers individually.
Numbers 11 to 20
Once you’re comfortable with 1 to 10, it’s time to move on to 11 through 20. These numbers introduce a slightly more complex structure but are still manageable with some practice.
11. Eleven – अकरा (Akarā)
12. Twelve – बारा (Bārā)
13. Thirteen – तेरा (Tērā)
14. Fourteen – चौदा (Chaudā)
15. Fifteen – पंधरा (Pandharā)
16. Sixteen – सोळा (Sōḷā)
17. Seventeen – सत्तरा (Sattarā)
18. Eighteen – अठरा (Aṭharā)
19. Nineteen – एकोणीस (Ekōṇīsa)
20. Twenty – वीस (Vīsa)
In Marathi, the numbers from 11 to 19 are unique and do not follow a pattern from the numbers 1 to 10. However, once you hit 20 (वीस), you’ll start to see a recurring pattern.
Counting by Tens: 30 to 100
Understanding how to count by tens in Marathi is crucial for building larger numbers. Here’s how you say the tens:
30. Thirty – तीस (Tīsa)
40. Forty – चाळीस (Chāḷīsa)
50. Fifty – पन्नास (Pannāsa)
60. Sixty – साठ (Sāṭha)
70. Seventy – सत्तर (Sattara)
80. Eighty – ऐंशी (Ainśī)
90. Ninety – नव्वद (Navvada)
100. One Hundred – शंभर (Śambhara)
By learning these, you can start to form numbers like 21 (एकवीस – Eka-vīsa), 32 (बत्तीस – Battīsa), and so on.
Constructing Compound Numbers
In Marathi, constructing compound numbers is somewhat straightforward once you know the basic tens and units. For example:
– 21 – एकवीस (Eka-vīsa)
– 34 – चौतीस (Chautīsa)
– 47 – सत्तेचाळीस (Sattē-chāḷīsa)
– 58 – अठ्ठावन्न (Aṭṭhāvanna)
– 99 – नव्याण्णव (Navyāṇṇava)
Notice the pattern: the unit number is added directly after the tens number, often with a slight modification in pronunciation to make it flow better.
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers in Marathi are equally important. Here are the first ten:
1st – पहिला (Pahilā)
2nd – दुसरा (Dusara)
3rd – तिसरा (Tisara)
4th – चौथा (Chauthā)
5th – पाचवा (Pāchawā)
6th – सहावा (Sahawā)
7th – सातवा (Sātawā)
8th – आठवा (Āṭhawā)
9th – नववा (Navawā)
10th – दहावा (Dahawā)
These are useful for ranking, ordering, and giving directions. For instance, “first house” would be “पहिला घर” (Pahilā ghar).
Practical Applications
Learning numbers is not just about rote memorization; it’s about applying them in real-life contexts. Here are a few practical applications:
Telling Time
Telling time in Marathi involves knowing both numbers and some specific vocabulary:
– What time is it? – किती वाजले? (Kitī vājalē?)
– It’s 3 o’clock – तीन वाजले (Tīn vājalē)
– It’s half past 4 – साडेचार वाजले (Sāḍēchār vājalē)
Shopping
When shopping, you’ll need to know numbers to ask about prices and quantities:
– How much is this? – हे कितीला आहे? (Hē kitīlā āhē?)
– This is 50 rupees – हे पन्नास रुपये आहे (Hē pannāsa rupyē āhē)
– I want 3 apples – मला तीन सफरचंद पाहिजेत (Malā tīna safaracanda pāhijet)
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding, here are a few exercises:
1. Write the numbers 1-20 in Marathi.
2. Translate these numbers into Marathi: 25, 37, 49, 58, 72.
3. Construct sentences using ordinal numbers. Example: “This is my second book” – “हे माझं दुसरं पुस्तक आहे” (Hē mājhāṁ dusarāṁ pustaka āhē).
Common Mistakes
While learning numbers in Marathi, beginners often make a few common mistakes:
– Confusing similar-sounding numbers: For example, आठ (Āṭha) and अठरा (Aṭharā) can be easily mixed up.
– Mispronouncing compound numbers: It takes practice to get the flow right, like in the case of 47 (सत्तेचाळीस – Sattēchāḷīsa).
– Forgetting the unique structure of 11-19: Unlike English, these numbers don’t have a straightforward pattern and need to be memorized.
Conclusion
Numbers and counting in Marathi are fundamental skills that will serve as a cornerstone for your language learning journey. Whether you’re shopping, telling time, or navigating through everyday conversations, mastering these basics will give you a significant boost in confidence and competence.
Remember, the key to learning any new language is consistent practice. Use the numbers in your daily activities, try to think in Marathi, and gradually, you’ll find yourself getting more comfortable. Happy learning!
