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Grammar help

Ordinal numbers

The ordinal numbers in Zarma are based on the cardinal numbers except for the first (sintina). An ordinal number is formed by adding 'anta' to the cardinal numbers. In case the cardinal number ends on an 'a' or an 'i', this 'a' or 'i' are replaced. In case the cardinal number ends on an 'u' this 'u' is only replaced for ahakku.



ihinkanta	sintina	ihinzanta

Topics

Ordinal numbers

1-10

above 10

Numerical adverbs

number of
times

with first

with last

idiom

Ordinals 1-10

Ordinal numbers 1 - 10
Zarma		English	Zarma		English
cardinal	ordinal	ordinal	cardinal	ordinal	ordinal
afo	sintina	first	iddu	idduanta	sixth
ihinka	ihinkanta	second	iyye	iyyanta	seventh
ihinza	ihinzanta	third	ahakku	ahakkanta	eighth
itaaci	itaacanta	fourth	iyegga	iyegganta	ninth
iggu	igguanta	fifth	iway	iwayanta	tenth

Ordinals above 10

For the numbers higher than 10 the ordinal number is formed in the same way as the numbers below 10. For the 11^th, 21^th et cetera, the ordinal number is the same as the cardinal number.

In the higher number the cardinals are frequently used instead of the ordinals.

Ordinal numbers higher than 10
Zarma	English
iway cindi fo	eleventh
iway cindi hinkanta	twelfth
warankanta	twentieth
waranka cindi fo	twenty-first
waranka cindi ahakkanta	twenty-eighth

Numerical adverbs

Number of times

The word ce or sorro in combination with the cardinal number is used to indicate the number of times, for example:

Zarma	Engish
ce fo, sorro fo	once, one time
ce hinka, sorro hinka	twice, two times
ce boobo	many times

Combinations with first

English	Zarma	Remark
at first, first	sintina, me fo	also means: together, simultaneously, at the same time
in the first place	jina	also means: in front, in front of, before; yet, already example: M' a naŋ jina Let him first
to be first	jin	also means: to precede, to go before
first born	hay jine, hay jina
first, senior or only wife	wargida	Hausa origin

Combinations with last

English	Zarma	Remark
to do last	kokor	also means: to do recently; to do subsequently; kokor can be used in verb link constructions to give an adverbial flavour: A kokor ga kaa He wound up coming A kokor ga ci ay se He finally told me Ay kokor ga di a I saw it at last
last, final	kokoro	also could be used: bananta, banda wane, kokoro banda wane
in the last place, last of all, at last	kokoro banda
last year	mannaŋ {manan}	see time

Idiomatic expressions

There are some idiomatic expressions with first and second

English	Zarma
first, senior or only wife	wargida [H]
second or subsequent wife in plural marriage	wayce
second story	jidan bisa (Hausa; lit. house up above); sooro, soora

Cawyaŋ Zarma Sanni

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Grammar help

Ordinal numbers

Topics

Ordinals 1-10

Ordinals above 10

Numerical adverbs

Number of times

Combinations with first

Combinations with last

Idiomatic expressions

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