A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language of New Zealand.
Numerals
Numerals.
1. Cardinal Numbers.
1 | Ko táhi | One |
2 | Ka dúa | Two |
3 | Ka tódu | Three |
4 | Ka wá | Four |
5 | Ka díma | Five |
6 | Ka óno | Six |
7 | Ka wítu | Seven |
8 | Ka wádu | Eight |
9 | Ka íwa | Nine |
10 | Ka nga údu | Ten. |
Ka te kau; ko táhi | Numerals counted once, or Ten |
1 | Ma táhi | and one |
2 | Ma dúa | and two |
3 | Ma tódu | and three |
4 | Ma wá | and four |
5 | Ma díma | and five |
6 | Ma óno | and six |
7 | Ma wítu | and seven |
8 | Ma wádu | and eight |
9 | Ma íwa | and nine |
10 | Ma nga údu | and ten. |
Ka te kau; ka dúa | Numerals counted twice, or Twenty. |
After the same manner will all the Tens be performed, till we arrive at a Hundred, which is the tenth number of Ten so taken. This last tenth, or the number One Hundred, is termed Ka rau; after which the same process will again be ten times repeated, till we arrive at a Thousand, which is termed Ka máno.
Note.—Any Number indefinitely great is called Tíni. *
The New Zealanders count by pairs, as well as single numbers. These different methods are called in their language,
Tatau ta ki táhi, Counting by single numbers, and
Tatau ta ki dúa, Counting by pairs.
In translating the method of counting by pairs, say, one pair, instead of the word one; ten pairs, instead of the word ten; &c.
2. Ordinal Numbers.
The word Ko in these instances takes the place of the substantive, which may be omitted when the substantive is expressed; as,
Maráma te óno | The sixth moon. |
Rákau te óno | The sixth tree, &c. |
Or added upon the construction taking a different turn; as,
Ko te Po wítu | The seventh night. |
Ko te Ra wítu | The seventh sun, or day. |
* This may be illustrated by a proverbial expression in use among the natives; viz. Ki a waikato te tíni o te tángata, ki a kawía te máno;—i. e. The (river) waikato has its ten thousands, and the (river) kawia its thousands.