Yoruba numbers 1 to 20

Counting in Yoruba is more interesting than it sounds. The language uses a vigesimal system (base 20) and, starting at 15, forms numbers through subtraction. In this guide, you'll learn the numbers from 1 to 20, understand that logic, and find out why the pronunciation takes practice.

Yoruba numbers 1 to 10

The foundation for everything is the first ten numbers. They're the most straightforward part to learn:

• 1: ọ̀kan
• 2: èjì
• 3: ẹ̀ta
• 4: ẹ̀rin
• 5: àrún
• 6: ẹ̀fà
• 7: èje
• 8: ẹ̀jọ
• 9: ẹ̀sán
• 10: ẹ̀wá

Worth repeating: the accent marks aren't decoration. Yoruba is tonal, and the accent marks the tone of each syllable. So the spelling above is a guide, but the pronunciation needs to be heard to come out naturally.

Numbers 11 to 14

From 11 to 14, Yoruba adds onto ten, with a suffix meaning "plus" (related to -lá):

• 11: ọ̀kànlá (ten and one)
• 12: èjìlá (ten and two)
• 13: ẹ̀talá (ten and three)
• 14: ẹ̀rìnlá (ten and four)

Notice that you can recognize the base number (èjì, ẹ̀ta, ẹ̀rin) inside the word. This logic of "building" numbers from their roots is what makes the Yoruba system organized, even though it's different from what English speakers are used to.

Numbers 15 to 20: the subtraction logic

Here's the most fascinating part. Starting at 15, Yoruba tends to form numbers by subtracting from twenty, instead of adding onto ten. The word dín carries the idea of "minus":

• 15: ẹ̀ẹ́dógún (twenty minus five)
• 16: ẹ̀rìndínlógún (twenty minus four)
• 17: ẹ̀tàdínlógún (twenty minus three)
• 18: èjìdínlógún (twenty minus two)
• 19: ọ̀kàndínlógún (twenty minus one)
• 20: ogún

In other words, instead of saying "ten and nine" for 19, Yoruba says something like "twenty minus one." That's the heart of the vigesimal (base-20) system, which organizes traditional Yoruba counting around multiples of twenty.

Why Yoruba counts in twenties

Many cultures developed counting systems tied to the body and to trade. The Yoruba vigesimal system is one of the most elaborate in the world: larger numbers are built from twenty, through chained addition and subtraction. That's why learning to count in Yoruba is also a small lesson in logic and culture, not just vocabulary.

For everyday use, the numbers from 1 to 20 already cover plenty of situations: age, quantities, times and simple prices. As you progress, a teacher will show you how multiples of ten and twenty combine to form larger numbers.

The multiples of ten: 10, 20, 30 and 40

After 20, the base-20 logic becomes even clearer in the multiples of ten. Worth knowing the main ones:

• 10: ẹ̀wá
• 20: ogún
• 30: ọgbọ̀n
• 40: ogójì (literally "two twenties," i.e. 2 × 20)

Notice something interesting: while 30 (ọgbọ̀n) has its own word, 40 is already built as "two twenties." From there, the larger multiples keep revolving around twenty: 60 is "three twenties," and so on. This chaining is what gives the Yoruba system its reputation for ingenuity: with just a few roots and two operations (adding and subtracting), the whole counting system is built.

If you're just starting out, you don't need to master all of this at once. The numbers from 1 to 20 already handle most everyday situations, and the multiples of ten come naturally as you progress.

How to practice Yoruba numbers

Memorizing the list is the first step; using the numbers in sentences ("I am X years old," "I want X") is what really locks them in. And, as always in Yoruba, tone needs practice with audio. If you haven't already, start with the Yoruba alphabet and Yoruba greetings.

At Vedium, numbers come up in the first classes of live Yoruba, with pronunciation practice and use in real situations: the way you actually learn to count and to converse.