Counting to Ten
Ten numbers. All ten start with an ʻokina.
How It Works
All ten numbers, from one to ten:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ʻekahi | ʻelua | ʻekolu | ʻehā | ʻelima |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ʻeono | ʻehiku | ʻewalu | ʻeiwa | ʻumi |
Without an article, the number goes before the noun: ʻekolu keiki “three children”. With an article, it goes after: nā keiki ʻekolu “the three children”. For one thing, the Reference Grammar says to use hoʻokahi, and ʻekahi is for counting: hoʻokahi lumi “one room”.
Examples (5)
- ʻekahi, ʻelua, ʻekolu
one, two, three
The counting words, spelled with an ʻokina.
- ʻEhā haumāna
four students
The number comes before the noun.
- ʻEono pōpoki
six cats
Same pattern.
- nā keiki ʻelua
the two children
With nā, the number follows the noun.
- hoʻokahi lumi
one room
Hoʻokahi is used with a noun.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
ʻekahiʻeluaʻekoluʻehāʻelimaʻeonoʻehikuʻewaluʻeiwaʻumi