Numbers in Michif



Learn numbers in Michif

Knowing numbers in Michif is probably one of the most useful things you can learn to say, write and understand in Michif. Learning to count in Michif may appeal to you just as a simple curiosity or be something you really need. Perhaps you have planned a trip to a country where Michif is the most widely spoken language, and you want to be able to shop and even bargain with a good knowledge of numbers in Michif.

It's also useful for guiding you through street numbers. You'll be able to better understand the directions to places and everything expressed in numbers, such as the times when public transportation leaves. Can you think of more reasons to learn numbers in Michif?

Michif is a mixed language spoken by the Métis nation in Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario) and United States (North Dakota). It combines Cree and Métis French, with some borrowing from English, Ojibwe, and Assiniboine. Michif numerals are based on Métis French, even though digits from one to five have another form based on Cree. Michif counts about 830 speakers.Due to lack of data, we can only count accurately up to 100 in Michif. Please contact me if you can help me counting up from that limit.

List of numbers in Michif

Here is a list of numbers in Michif. We have made for you a list with all the numbers in Michif from 1 to 20. We have also included the tens up to the number 100, so that you know how to count up to 100 in Michif. We also close the list by showing you what the number 1000 looks like in Michif.

• 1) aeñ
• 2) deu
• 3) trwá
• 4) kátr
• 5) saeñk
• 6) sis
• 7) set
• 8) wit
• 9) naef
• 10) jis
• 11) óñz
• 12) dóz
• 13) trayz
• 14) katorz
• 15) kaeñz
• 16) saeñz
• 17) jis set
• 18) jis wit
• 19) jis naef
• 20) vaeñ
• 30) tráñt
• 40) karánt
• 50) saeñkánt
• 60) swesáñt
• 70) swesáñty jis
• 80) katávaeñ
• 90) katrávaen jis
• 100) sáñ

Numbers in Michif: Michif numbering rules

Each culture has specific peculiarities that are expressed in its language and its way of counting. The Michif is no exception. If you want to learn numbers in Michif you will have to learn a series of rules that we will explain below. If you apply these rules you will soon find that you will be able to count in Michif with ease.

The way numbers are formed in Michif is easy to understand if you follow the rules explained here. Surprise everyone by counting in Michif. Also, learning how to number in Michif yourself from these simple rules is very beneficial for your brain, as it forces it to work and stay in shape. Working with numbers and a foreign language like Michif at the same time is one of the best ways to train our little gray cells, so let's see what rules you need to apply to number in Michif

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Digits and numbers from one to sixteen are specific words, namely aeñ (or peyak) [1], deu (or nésho) [2], trwá (or nishto) [3], kátr (or neyo) [4], saeñk (or niyánan) [5], sis [6], set [7], wit [8], naef [9], jis [10], óñz [11], dóz [12], trayz [13], katorz [14], kaeñz [15], saeñz [16]. Seventeen to nineteen are regular numbers, i.e. named after the word for ten followed by the unit separated with a space: jis set [10 7], jis wit [10 8], jis naef [10 9].

The tens are specific words too, namely jis [10], vaeñ [20], tráñt [30], karánt [40], saeñkánt [50], swesáñt [60], swesáñty jis [70] (60+10), katávaeñ [80] (4*20), and katrávaen jis [90] (4*20+10).

Compound numbers are formed by stating the ten, then the unit separated with a space (e.g.: karánt sis [46], swesáñt naef [69]).

One hundred is sáñ.

Metis Culture and Heritage Resource Centre

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