Numbers

1. Нэг

   Neg

   One (1)

   Usage

   The number 1. Basic Mongolian numeral

   Grammar Note

   Mongolian numbers: нэг(1), хоёр(2), гурав(3), дөрөв(4), тав(5), зургаа(6), долоо(7), найм(8), ес(9), арав(10).

2. Хоёр

   Khoyor

   Two (2)

   Usage

   The number 2. Used for counting two of something

   Grammar Note

   In Mongolian, numerals precede nouns directly (e.g., хоёр морь = two horses). Classifiers/counters are generally not needed.

3. Гурав

   Gurav

   Three (3)

   Usage

   The number 3

   Grammar Note

   Ordinal of "гурав" is "гуравдугаар" (3rd). Ordinals use "-дугаар/-дүгээр/-р" suffix.

4. Дөрөв

   Döröv

   Four (4)

   Usage

   The number 4

   Grammar Note

   "Ө" and "Ү" in Cyrillic Mongolian represent front vowels, part of the vowel harmony system. Words use either back or front vowels.

5. Тав

   Tav

   Five (5)

   Usage

   The number 5. Important number in Mongolia's "five livestock" tradition

   Grammar Note

   "Тав" (5) is culturally significant. "Таван хошуу мал" (five-snout livestock) refers to Mongolia's five traditional animals: horses, cattle, camels, sheep, goats.

6. Арав

   Arav

   Ten (10)

   Usage

   The number 10. Base for multiples of ten

   Grammar Note

   Tens: хорь(20), гуч(30), дөч(40), тавь(50), жар(60), дал(70), ная(80), ер(90), зуун(100).

7. Зуун

   Zuun

   One hundred (100)

   Usage

   Hundred unit, used for prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "Зуун" is easily confused with "зүүн" (east); only the vowel (у/ү) differs. Larger numbers: мянга (1,000), арван мянга (10,000), зуун мянга (100,000), сая (1,000,000).

8. Мянга

   Myanga

   One thousand (1,000)

   Usage

   Thousand unit. Used for counting Mongolian tugrik (currency)

   Grammar Note

   Mongolian tugrik (төгрөг) is about 0.04 JPY. Shopping uses "мянга" units: "нэг мянга" (1,000), "тавин мянга" (50,000), etc.

9. Хэд болж байна?

   Khed bolj baina?

   How much does it total?

   Usage

   Checking the total amount when shopping or eating

   Grammar Note

   "Болж байна" (is becoming) expresses change/result. "Хэд болж байна?" is a natural way to ask the total. "Нийт" (total) is also used.

10. Нэгийг өгнө үү

    Negiig ögnö üü

    Please give me one

    Usage

    Ordering one item or one portion of food

    Grammar Note

    "Нэгийг" is "нэг" (one) + accusative suffix "-ийг." Mongolian accusative marks the direct object of a verb.

11. Хоёр дахь давхар

    Khoyor dakhi davkhar

    Second floor

    Usage

    Indicating a floor number in a hotel or building

    Grammar Note

    Ordinal suffix "-дахь/-тахь" forms ordinals. Another form: "нэгдүгээр" (1st), "хоёрдугаар" (2nd). "Давхар" (floor/layer) follows the number.

12. Гурван хүн

    Gurvan khün

    Three people

    Usage

    Stating a party size at a restaurant or for a reservation

    Grammar Note

    When numerals modify nouns, they change form: нэг→нэгэн, хоёр→хоёр, гурав→гурван, дөрөв→дөрвөн, тав→таван. This is the attributive form.

13. Би хорин долоон настай

    Bi khorin doloon nastai

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Answering when someone asks "Ta khedtei ve?" (how old are you?)

    Grammar Note

    Age is "numeral + nastai": "nas" (age) plus the comitative suffix -tai. The numerals take their attributive forms (хорь→хорин, долоо→долоон)

14. Би энэ жил хорин найман настай болно

    Bi ene jil khorin naiman nastai bolno

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying that your birthday falls within this year, so your age changes

    Grammar Note

    The frame "-tai bolokh" means "to come to have"; the same shape appears in "Ustai bolno uu?" (may I have water?). Applied to an age it means "to turn N".

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