Ethiopic Numerals (Ge'ez)
The ancient Ge'ez numeral system is still used in Ethiopian Orthodox Christian contexts and religious texts. Learn how to read and write Ethiopic numbers.
Quick Reference
| Number | Ge'ez | Number | Ge'ez |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ፩ | 2 | ፪ |
| 3 | ፫ | 4 | ፬ |
| 5 | ፭ | 6 | ፮ |
| 7 | ፯ | 8 | ፰ |
| 9 | ፱ | 10 | ፲ |
| 20 | ፳ | 30 | ፴ |
| 40 | ፵ | 50 | ፶ |
| 60 | ፷ | 70 | ፸ |
| 80 | ፹ | 90 | ፺ |
| 100 | ፻ | 200 | ፪፻ |
| 300 | ፫፻ | 1000 | ፩ሺ |
| 10000 | ፼ |
How It Works
The Ge'ez system uses unique symbols for units (1-9), tens (10-90), hundreds (100-900), and ten-thousands (10000). Compound numbers are formed by combining these symbols. For example:
- 25 = ፳፭ (20 + 5)
- 345 = ፫፻፵፭ (300 + 40 + 5)
- 1000 = ፩ሺ (one thousand, using Amharic ሺ)
Worked Examples
Number
1
Ge'ez
፩
One
Number
10
Ge'ez
፲
Ten
Number
25
Ge'ez
፳፭
Twenty-five
Number
100
Ge'ez
፻
One hundred
Number
345
Ge'ez
፫፻፵፭
Three hundred forty-five
Historical Context
The Ge'ez numeral system dates back to the ancient Kingdom of Axum and is one of the oldest numeral systems in the world. While modern Ethiopia uses Arabic numerals for everyday purposes, Ge'ez numerals remain important in religious contexts, especially in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church where they appear in manuscripts and liturgical texts.
The system influenced by both the Greek and Hebrew numeral traditions, reflects Ethiopia's rich theological and intellectual heritage.