Numbers

1. Nngwe, pedi, tharo

   One, two, three

   Usage

   The basic counting forms. With a noun the numeral agrees with the noun's class

   Grammar Note

   With nouns they agree: "dibuka tse pedi" (two books), "batho ba babedi" (two people)

2. Nne, hlano, tshelela

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Numbers 4 to 6, useful for quantities at markets and shops

   Grammar Note

   With nouns: "tse nne", "tse hlano", "tse tsheletseng". Lesotho spelling of six: tšelela

3. Supa, robedi, robong

   Seven, eight, nine

   Usage

   Numbers 7 to 9

   Grammar Note

   With nouns: "tse supileng", "tse robedi", "tse robong"

4. Leshome

   Ten

   Usage

   Very useful for prices and telling the time

   Grammar Note

   11 to 19 are "leshome le …" plus the digit: 17 is "leshome le metso e supileng". The plural is mashome

5. Lekgolo, sekete

   One hundred, one thousand

   Usage

   Large numbers, useful for shopping and currency exchange

   Grammar Note

   The plurals are makgolo and dikete. Lesotho spelling of hundred: lekholo

6. Mashome a mabedi

   Twenty

   Usage

   Essential for prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   Literally "two tens". Number words agree with their noun class

7. Mashome a mahlano

   Fifty

   Usage

   Essential for rand payments; the R50 note is common

   Grammar Note

   Literally "five tens". Rand notes are R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200

8. Ke kopa R20

   Please give me twenty (rand worth)

   Usage

   Used at markets and stalls to buy a specific amount's worth of goods

   Grammar Note

   Prices are written with digits. The rand is ranta (plural diranta); point at the goods. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

9. Dintho tse pedi

   Two things / two items

   Usage

   Used when specifying a quantity of items while shopping or ordering

   Grammar Note

   "dintho" is the plural of ntho "thing". "tse" precedes the numeral

10. Supa le leshome ke leshome le metso e supileng

    Seven plus ten equals seventeen

    Usage

    Shows how 11 to 19 are formed; useful for market calculations

    Grammar Note

    "A le B ke C" reads "A and B is C". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

11. Ke na le dilemo tse mashome a mabedi a metso e supileng

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age

    Grammar Note

    Age is "ke na le dilemo tse …". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

12. Selemong sena ke tla ba le dilemo tse mashome a mabedi a metso e robedi

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying the age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    "ke tla ba le …" means "I will have …". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages