pin_drop Numbers
Counting from 21 to 100 in Fon
fɔ̀ngbè uses a vigesimal system (base 20). After kò (20), numbers are built in steps of 20, 40, 60, 80, up to kanweko (100).
schedule 5 min
signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
1
21-39
Beyond 20
Structure: kò + kpó + digit.
21 — kò kpó ɖokpó20 + 1
25 — kò kpó atɔ́ɔ́n20 + 5
30 — kò kpó wǒ20 + 10 (or gbàn)
35 — kò kpó wǒ kpó atɔ́ɔ́n20 + 10 + 5
2
40-79
Multiples of 20
40 — kò wètwenty × 2
60 — kò atɔ̀ntwenty × 3
80 — kò ɛnɛ̀twenty × 4
50 — kò wè kpó wǒ40 + 10
70 — kò atɔ̀n kpó wǒ60 + 10
3
100
Kanweko — the hundred
kanweko
100 (one hundred)
Kanweko is a specific term. Beyond that: kanweko wè (200), kanweko atɔ̀n (300)…
Variant
For 30, people also say gbàn (a specific term). For 50, some regions say afɔtɔ̀n. The system is not 100% rigid.
Counting by 20
Mastering kò (20) and kanweko (100), with their multiples, lets you count up to 100 in Fon. Essential at the market.
à ≠ ǎ
One tone, and everything changes
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- Fon vocabulary: 102 essential words — by theme, checked against the course
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- What is your Fon level? — the free 15-question test