Anyone know about Celtic/Gaelic numbers?

Question

It's a long story of why I need them but does anyone know anything about celtic or gaelic numbers..any type of irish numbers? Do they even exist or did Irish people just use roman numerals or arabic numbers?..thanks!

Answer 1

In Irish we use the same numbers as in English.

We use the same figures 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. but of course they have different names.

The counting system is also more complicated than English.

In Irish:

1 = aon

2 = dó

3 = trí

4 = ceathair

5 = cúig

6 = sé

7 = seacht

8 = ocht

9 = naoi

10 = deich

However if counting out loud they change-

1 = a haon

2 = a dó

3 = a trí

4 = a ceathre

5 = a cúig

6 = a sé

7 = a seacht

8 = a ocht

9 = a naoi

10 = a deich

When counting objects we change the spelling of the object and some of the numbers.

For example pen = peann

1 pen = aon pheann amháin OR peann amháin

2 pens = dhá pheann

3 pens = trí pheann

4 pens = ceithre pheann

5 pens = cúig pheann

6 pens = sé pheann

7 pens = seacht bpeann

8 pens = ocht bpeann

9 pens = naoi bpeann

10 pens = deich bpeann

It changes again for counting people.

For example girl = cailín

1 girl = aon chailín amháin OR cailín amháin

2 girls = beirt chailín

3 girls = triúr cailín

4 girls = ceathrar cailín

5 girls = cúigear cailín

6 girls = seisear cailín

7 girls = seachtar cailín

8 girls = ochtar cailín

9 girls = naonúr cailín

10 girls = deichniúr cailín