The Navajo numbering system is deeply rooted in the Navajo language and
culture, reflecting both linguistic and cultural significance. Like many
indigenous counting systems, the Navajo numbers are based on a base-10
(decimal) system, similar to English.
The structure of the numbers from 1 to 10 has unique names, but from 11
onwards, they follow a pattern where smaller numbers are combined with tens.
For instance, the number 11 in Navajo, "Tʼááłáʼà doo biʼáádéé naaki,"
can be understood as "one on top of ten," which mirrors how the
concept of "eleven" is formed in many other languages.
From 20 onwards, the tens are indicated by words like "Naadiin"
(20), "Tádiin" (30), and so on, while individual units like
"one" (TʼááłáʼÃ) or "two" (Naaki) are added to form
composite numbers. This creates a rhythmic and logical flow in the language
that reflects a deep connection between the people, their environment, and
their linguistic expression.
Navajo counting also illustrates the Navajo approach to time, space, and
categorization, enriching not only mathematical understanding but also cultural
identity.
Navajo numbers from 1 to 100 with their English equivalents:
1 |
Tʼááłáʼà |
2 |
Naaki |
3 |
Tááʼ |
4 |
Dį́į́ʼ |
5 |
Ashdlaʼ |
6 |
HastÄ…́Ä…́ |
7 |
Tsostsʼid |
8 |
TsebÃÃ |
9 |
Náhástʼéà |
10 |
Nezhná |
11 |
TʼááłáʼÃ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
12 |
Naaki
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
13 |
Tááʼ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
14 |
Dį́į́ʼ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
15 |
Ashdlaʼ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
16 |
HastÄ…́Ä…́
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
17 |
Tsostsʼid
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
18 |
TsebÃÃ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
19 |
NáhástʼéÃ
doo biʼáádéé naaki |
20 |
Naadiin |
21 |
Naadiin
tʼááłáʼà |
22 |
Naadiin
naaki |
23 |
Naadiin
tááʼ |
24 |
Naadiin
dį́į́ʼ |
25 |
Naadiin
ashdlaʼ |
26 |
Naadiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
27 |
Naadiin
tsostsʼid |
28 |
Naadiin
tsebÃÃ |
29 |
Naadiin
náhástʼéà |
30 |
Tádiin |
31 |
Tádiin
tʼááłáʼà |
32 |
Tádiin
naaki |
33 |
Tádiin
tááʼ |
34 |
Tádiin
dį́į́ʼ |
35 |
Tádiin
ashdlaʼ |
36 |
Tádiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
37 |
Tádiin
tsostsʼid |
38 |
Tádiin
tsebÃÃ |
39 |
Tádiin
náhástʼéà |
40 |
DÃÃʼdiin |
41 |
DÃÃʼdiin
tʼááłáʼà |
42 |
DÃÃʼdiin
naaki |
43 |
DÃÃʼdiin
tááʼ |
44 |
DÃÃʼdiin
dį́į́ʼ |
45 |
DÃÃʼdiin
ashdlaʼ |
46 |
DÃÃʼdiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
47 |
DÃÃʼdiin
tsostsʼid |
48 |
DÃÃʼdiin
tsebÃÃ |
49 |
DÃÃʼdiin
náhástʼéà |
50 |
Ashdladiin |
51 |
Ashdladiin
tʼááłáʼà |
52 |
Ashdladiin
naaki |
53 |
Ashdladiin
tááʼ |
54 |
Ashdladiin
dį́į́ʼ |
55 |
Ashdladiin
ashdlaʼ |
56 |
Ashdladiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
57 |
Ashdladiin
tsostsʼid |
58 |
Ashdladiin
tsebÃÃ |
59 |
Ashdladiin
náhástʼéà |
60 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin |
61 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
tʼááłáʼà |
62 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
naaki |
63 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
tááʼ |
64 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
dį́į́ʼ |
65 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
ashdlaʼ |
66 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
67 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
tsostsʼid |
68 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
tsebÃÃ |
69 |
HastÄ…́Ä…diin
náhástʼéà |
70 |
Tsostsʼidiin |
71 |
Tsostsʼidiin
tʼááłáʼà |
72 |
Tsostsʼidiin
naaki |
73 |
Tsostsʼidiin
tááʼ |
74 |
Tsostsʼidiin
dį́į́ʼ |
75 |
Tsostsʼidiin
ashdlaʼ |
76 |
Tsostsʼidiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
77 |
Tsostsʼidiin
tsostsʼid |
78 |
Tsostsʼidiin
tsebÃÃ |
79 |
Tsostsʼidiin
náhástʼéà |
80 |
TsebÃdiin |
81 |
TsebÃdiin
tʼááłáʼà |
82 |
TsebÃdiin
naaki |
83 |
TsebÃdiin
tááʼ |
84 |
TsebÃdiin
dį́į́ʼ |
85 |
TsebÃdiin
ashdlaʼ |
86 |
TsebÃdiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
87 |
TsebÃdiin
tsostsʼid |
88 |
TsebÃdiin
tsebÃÃ |
89 |
TsebÃdiin
náhástʼéà |
90 |
Náhástʼédiin |
91 |
Náhástʼédiin
tʼááłáʼà |
92 |
Náhástʼédiin
naaki |
93 |
Náhástʼédiin
tááʼ |
94 |
Náhástʼédiin
dį́į́ʼ |
95 |
Náhástʼédiin
ashdlaʼ |
96 |
Náhástʼédiin
hastÄ…́Ä…́ |
97 |
Náhástʼédiin
tsostsʼid |
98 |
Náhástʼédiin
tsebÃÃ |
99 |
Náhástʼédiin
náhástʼéà |
100 |
NeestÄ…́diin |