Ilocano has two number systems: one is native and the other is derived from

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

. The systems are virtually used interchangeably. Yet, the situation can dictate which system is preferred. Typically,

Ilocanos The Ilocanos ( ilo, Tattao nga Iloko/), Ilokanos, or Iloko people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group and mostly reside within the Ilocos Region in the northwestern seaboard of Luzon, Philippines. The native language of the Ilo ...

use native numbers for one through 10, and Spanish numbers for amounts of 10 and higher. Specific time is told using the Spanish system and numbers for hours and minutes, for example, Alas dos/A las dos (''2 o'clock''). For dates, cardinal Spanish numbers are the norm; for example, 12 (dose) ti Julio/Hulio (''the twelfth of July''). As with other roots in the language, numbers can undergo various forms of agglutination.

Cardinal

Cardinal number In mathematics, cardinal numbers, or cardinals for short, are a generalization of the natural numbers used to measure the cardinality (size) of sets. The cardinality of a finite set is a natural number: the number of elements in the set. Th ...

s are those used in counting. Numbers are connected to their nouns using the ligature a/nga. maysa a botelia ''one bottle'' innem a riwriw a tao ''six million people''

Ordinal

To form the ordinal number (''second, third, etc.''), except for ''first'', maika- is prefixed to the cardinal form. Note the exceptional forms for ''third'', ''fourth'' and ''sixth''.

Aggregate

With the group numbers (''pulo'', ''gasut'', ''ribo'', ''laksa'' and ''riwriw''), infixing ''in'' indicates division. Aggregate numbers have already been introduced: sangapulo, sangaribo, etc. Each is prefixed with sanga-. To form other groups, other numbers, and units of length, time or capacity can be used with sanga-. The alternate form is sangka-.

Distributive

Distributives are formed by prefixing sag- plus reduplication of the first CV (light reduplication) of the cardinal form or the unit. Distributives express ''so many each'', ''so many a piece''. Note the irregular forms for ''one each'', ''three each'', ''four each'' and ''six each''. Saggatlokami. ''We take three each.'' Sagdodoliarda. ''They are one dollar each.'' When used with pami(n)-, sagpami(n)-, the result is a distributive multiplicative: ''so many times each''. Sagpaminduakami a napan a nabuya diay sine. ''We each saw the movie twice.''

Indefinite

Indefinite numbers are formed by prefixing sumag- and CV reduplication of the first syllable of the cardinal form. In addition, to the

cardinal number In mathematics, cardinal numbers, or cardinals for short, are a generalization of the natural numbers used to measure the cardinality (size) of sets. The cardinality of a finite set is a natural number: the number of elements in the set. Th ...

s, sumag- can be used with the interrogative mano ''How much/many?''.

Limitative

Limitatives express no more, no less than what the root number or aggregate specifies. It is formed by reduplicating the CVC (heavy reduplication) of the first syllable of the

or root form. sanga-/sangka- may be reduplicated, sangsanga-/sangsangka-, also to express limitation. Sangsangaigup ti nainumko ''I drank one gulp.''

Multiplicative

These adverbial numbers are formed by prefixing mami(n)- to the cardinal form. Note the forms for ''once'', ''twice'', ''three times/thrice''. Perfect form: nami(n)-. Maminduakanto a mapan. ''You will go twice.'' Mamimpitok a nabuya. ''I've watched it seven times.'' The multiplicatives can be limited by maminpi-/mamipin- (Perf: naminpi-/namipin-). The multiplicatives can be made ordinal with kapami(n)-. The resulting form is treated as a nominal and takes ergative agents. Kapaminlimana ti agbuya iti dayta a pelikula. ''This is her fifth time to see that film.'' Nakapamin- prefixed to numbers behaves as an adverb. Nakapaminduana nga agpadawat iti kuarta. ''He solicited twice for money.''

Fractional

The denominator in fractions is prefixed by pagka-. Numbers such as sangapulo ''ten'', sangagasut ''hundred'', etc. drop the sanga- prefix before taking the prefix. maysa a pagkatlo ''one third'' lima a pagkagasut ''5 percent''

Divisional

Divisional numbers are formed by prefixing agka- and denote into how many parts something is divided. The perfective is nagka-. Agkawalonto ti "apple pie". ''The apple pie will be divided into eight (pieces).'' Nagkawalo ti "apple pie". ''The apple pie was divided into eight (pieces).''

Notes

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Numbers A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers can ...

Numerals