Lesson 25
Sumerian Ordinal Numbers
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to create, use, and pronounce Sumerian ordinal numbers using the genitive case!
Vocabulary to Memorize
I highly recommend memorizing these Sumerian words, as you’ll encounter them often in the upcoming lessons!
- aš 𒀸 num., one (1), likely pronounced /ašu/ (OS x5, OA x3, NS x364, OB x116); six (6) (OB x4).
- àš 𒐋 num., six (6), likely pronounced /yašu/ (OB x13).
- eš 𒌍 num., three (3), likely pronounced /ešu/ (OS x4, NS x45, OB x15).
- ilimmu 𒑆 num., nine (9), possibly pronounced /yalimmu/ (OB x5).
- imin 𒅓 num., seven, (7), possibly pronounced /yaminu/ (OS x4, OA x1, NS x23, OB x163).
- ía 𒐊 num., five (5), likely pronounced /ya/ (NS 2, OB x59).
- límmu 𒇹 num., four (4) (OS x2, OA x3, NS x3,612, OB x56).
- min 𒈫 num., two (2) (OS x40, OA x20, NS x466, OB x213).
- u 𒌋 num., ten (10) (NS x44, OB x81).
- ussu 𒐍 num., eight (8) (OB x8).
Vocabulary--Full List
Here are the vocabulary terms for this lesson. Be sure to look them over as they’re updated with additional meanings each lesson. You can see the full Sumerian Lexicon here.
- a 𒀀 n., water; semen; progeny; canal; flood. part., suff., in, at, when (loc.); nominalizing suffix.
- ak 𒀝 v., to do, act; make into; place. part., suff., of (gen.).
- àm 𒀀𒀭 cop., he/she/it is.
- aš 𒀸 num., one (1), likely pronounced /ašu/ (OS x5, OA x3, NS x364, OB x116); six (6) (OB x4).
- àš 𒐋 num., six (6), likely pronounced /yašu/ (OB x13).
- eš 𒌍 num., three (3), likely pronounced /ešu/ (OS x4, NS x45, OB x15).
- ĝéš(d) 𒐕 num., sixty (60) (OA x1, NS x52, OB x9).
- ĝéš-u 𒐞 num., six hundred (600) (Post-OB x10).
- ilimmu 𒑆 num., nine (9), possibly pronounced /yalimmu/ (OB x5).
- imin 𒅓 num., seven, (7), possibly pronounced /yaminu/ (OS x4, OA x1, NS x23, OB x163).
- ka 𒅗 n., mouth; opening; beginning, origin; body part. part., suff., ‘of’ (gen.) (mutation of ak 𒀝 when anlaut /a/ assimilates to the proceeding vowel {ĝu10 + ak = ĝá-ka}.
- kam (𒀀)𒄰 mut., when following a vowel, genitive ak 𒀝 + 3rd person singular copula àm 𒀀𒀭 = (a)kam (𒀀)𒄰.
- ía 𒐊 num., five (5), likely pronounced /ya/ (NS 2, OB x59).
- límmu 𒇹 num., four (4) (OS x2, OA x3, NS x3,612, OB x56).
- nimin 𒐏 num., forty (40) (OB x9).
- ninnu 𒐐 num., fifty (50) (NS x24, OB x37).
- niš 𒎙 num., twenty (20) (OB x19).
- ma 𒈠 part., spelling bridge between /m/ and /a/.
- min 𒈫 num., two (2) (OS x40, OA x20, NS x466, OB x213).
- šár 𒊹 n., totality; world; horizon; ball. num., three thousand six hundred (3,600) (OS x16, NS x10, OB x267).
- šar-gal 𒊬𒃲 num., two hundred sixteen thousand (216,000) 216,000 (OS x1).
- šaru 𒐬 num., thirty-six thousand (36,000) (NS x5, OB x17).
- u 𒌋 num., ten (10) (NS x44, OB x81).
- ud (u4) 𒌓 n., sun; light; day; time; weather, storm. adv., conj./mod.,when. prep., when; since.
- ussu 𒐍 num., eight (8) (OB x8).
- úšu 𒌍 num., thirty (30) (OB x15).
As in:
aš-a-kam(-ma) 𒀸𒀀𒄰(𒈠) first (lit. it is of one)
NOTE: In most of my examples, I’ll be using the later N-kam, in lieu of the earlier N-kam-ma.
Sumerian Ordinal Numbers in Transliteration
Unfortunately, most of the numbers you’ll encounter in transliteration are written with standard Hindu-Arabic numerals, as in:
- 1-kam, 2-kam, 3-kam, etc.
This gives the casual reader no indication of how the Sumerian ordinal number is meant to be read.
Fortunately, determine the proper reading of N-kam is as simple as saying:
- a-kam 𒀀𒄰 after a consonant
- kam 𒄰 after a vowel
Reading/Pronouncing N-KAM
Here is a quick reference guide to reading and pronouncing N-kam combinations.
NOTE: For variations on cardinal number pronunciations, see Lesson 23.
1 – 10
- 1-kam—aš-a-kam 𒀸𒀀𒄰
- 2-kam—min-a-kam 𒈫𒀀𒄰
- 3-kam—eš-a-kam 𒌍𒀀𒄰
- 4-kam—límmu-kam 𒇹𒄰
- 5-kam—ía/ya-kam 𒐊𒄰
- 6-kam—àš/yaš-a-kam 𒐋𒀀𒄰
- 7-kam—imin/yamin-a-kam 𒅓𒀀𒄰
- 8-kam—ussu-kam 𒐍𒄰
- 9-kam—ilimmu/yalimu-kam 𒑆𒄰
- 10-kam—u/(h)uwamu/yu-kam𒄰
20 – 216,000
- 20-kam—niš-a-kam 𒎙𒀀𒄰
- 30-kam—úšu-kam 𒌍𒄰
- 40-kam—nimin-a-kam 𒐏𒀀𒄰
- 50-kam—ninnu-kam 𒐐𒄰
- 60-kam—ĝéš-a-kam 𒐕𒀀𒄰
- 600-kam—ĝéš-u-kam 𒐞𒄰
- 3,600-kam—šár-a-kam 𒊹𒀀𒄰
- 36,000-kam—šaru-kam 𒐬𒄰
- 216,000-kam—šár-gal-a-kam 𒊹𒃲𒀀𒄰
CHALLENGE: Practice reading Sumerian ordinal numbers 1 – 10 aloud, until you can recite them with ease.
“Modifying” Nouns with Ordinal Numbers
While you may see Sumerian ordinal numbers on their own, you may also see them ‘modifying’ another noun, in which case, you may need a second genitive.
For example:
- ud 2-kam-(m)a-ka
- 𒌓𒈫𒄰𒀀𒅗
- on the second day
- (lit. of day it is of two)
- {ud + min(u) + ak + àm + ak + a (loc.)}
NOTES: 1) Cardinal numbers can also function as ordinals in some texts.
Your Sumerian Language Journey Continues!
Great job! In the next lesson, you’ll learn about the Sumerian equative case, so be sure to subscribe to my Substack to get all of my articles delivered directly to your inbox!
