Counting things combines the numerals of Numerals with the nouns and plurals of The Plural. The main rule is about order, and it is the opposite of English.
Key idea
Egyptologists usually transliterate the numeral as a figure: kꜣ 5 “five bulls”, rmṯ 40 “forty people”. Spelling of the noun varies: in lists and accounts it is often written without a plural ending or plural strokes, as if the number were enough. The number words themselves (wꜥ “one”, sn “two”, ḫmt “three”…) are rarely spelled out, because the numeral signs were quicker.
Ordinals
| Ordinal | Meaning | From |
|---|---|---|
| tpj | first | tp “head”: the one at the head |
| snnw | second | sn “two” + nw |
| ḫmtnw | third | ḫmt “three” + nw |
| fdnw | fourth | fdw “four” + nw |
| mḥ 10 | tenth | mḥ “filling” + the number |
From two to nine the ordinal adds -nw to the number; from ten on, Egyptian uses mḥ “filling” before the number, so mḥ 20 is “the twentieth”, the one that fills twenty. “First” is the nisbe tpj from tp “head” (see Nisbe Adjectives).
Why it works
Common mistake
Numbers also follow the noun in measures and prices. A text may list t 100 “100 loaves” or give a field’s size as a number after the word for the measure. When you read an account, take each noun with the number that comes right after it, and you will rarely go wrong.
Worked example: Order
- Noun first: kꜣ.
- Then the number: 7.
Answer: kꜣ 7
Worked example: Ordinal
- sn “two” + the ordinal ending nw.
Answer: “second”
Worked example: Read it
- z “man” with the seated man.
- Three hobbles and two strokes: 32.
Answer: 32 men