Luganda Lessons › Lesson 8
Lesson 8Absolute Beginner
Counting in Luganda: Numbers 1–100+
Learn to count in Luganda from 1 to 10, see how 11–19 are formed, and build larger numbers logically.
1 Numbers 1–10
| Number | Luganda |
|---|---|
| 1 | Emu |
| 2 | Bbiri |
| 3 | Ssatu |
| 4 | Nnya |
| 5 | Ttaano |
| 6 | Mukaaga |
| 7 | Musanvu |
| 8 | Munaana |
| 9 | Mwenda |
| 10 | Kkumi |
- Many numbers begin with double letters (bb, ss, nn, tt, kk) — these are pronounced strongly.
2 Numbers 11–19
Formed as Kkumi na + number (“na” = and).
| Number | Luganda | Literal |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Kkumi na emu | Ten and one |
| 12 | Kkumi na bbiri | Ten and two |
| 13 | Kkumi na ssatu | Ten and three |
| 14 | Kkumi na nnya | Ten and four |
| 15 | Kkumi na ttaano | Ten and five |
| 16 | Kkumi na mukaaga | Ten and six |
| 17 | Kkumi na musanvu | Ten and seven |
| 18 | Kkumi na munaana | Ten and eight |
| 19 | Kkumi na mwenda | Ten and nine |
- If you know 1–10, you already know 11–19.
3 Tens: 20–100
| Number | Luganda |
|---|---|
| 20 | Abiri |
| 30 | Asatu |
| 40 | Ana |
| 50 | Ataano |
| 60 | Nkaaga |
| 70 | Nsanvu |
| 80 | Kinaana |
| 90 | Kyenda |
| 100 | Kikumi |
- Many tens begin with ‘A-’ or ‘N-’.
4 Building Larger Numbers
For 11–19 use [tens] + na + [number] (‘and’). For 21 and above use [tens] + mu + [number] (‘mu’ = in).
- Kkumi na emu11 — ten and one
- Abiri mu emu21 — twenty and one
- Asatu mu ttaano35 — thirty and five
- Ana mu munaana48 — forty and eight
5 Hundreds, Thousands, Millions
| Number | Luganda |
|---|---|
| 100 | Kikumi |
| 1,000 | Lukumi |
| 10,000 | Mutwalo |
| 100,000 | Mitwalo |
| 1,000,000 | Obukadde |
| 1,000,000,000 | Obuwumbi |
- Only 11–19 join with na (‘and’); larger numbers join with mu (‘in’). Examples: Enkumi ttaano = 5,000; Obukadde bubiri = 2,000,000.
6 Written Exercise
Write these numbers in Luganda
- 14
- 27
- 35
- 102
- 1,000
Practice: Counting in Luganda
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