format_list_numbered Numbers
Ordinal numbers in Fon
Saying “the first”, “the second” or “the third day” in fɔ̀ngbè is done with a suffix added to the number. Here is the complete table from 1st to 10th.
schedule 4 min
signal_cellular_alt Beginner
1
Table
The first 10 ordinals
nukɔntɔ́1st / first
wegɔ́2nd
atɔ̀ngɔ́3rd
ɛnɛ̀gɔ́4th
atɔ́ɔ́ngɔ́5th
ayizɛ́ngɔ́6th
tɛ́nwegɔ́7th
tántɔ̀ngɔ́8th
tɛ́nnɛ̀gɔ́9th
wǒgɔ́10th
2
Structure
The suffix “-gɔ́”
Except for nukɔntɔ́ (1st, a special form), all ordinals add the suffix -gɔ́ to the base number.
wè (2) wegɔ́2nd
atɔ̀n (3) atɔ̀ngɔ́3rd
wǒ (10) wǒgɔ́10th
Azǎngbé wegɔ́
The 2nd day
3
Use
In daily life
Gan nukɔntɔ́First hour
Vǐ wegɔ́Second child
Xwé atɔ̀ngɔ́Third house
Fintɛ nukɔntɔ́First place (1st prize)
Special case
nukɔntɔ́ = “the one who is in front”. It does not follow the -gɔ́ rule because it is built differently. Learn it as is.
A simple rule: number + gɔ́
Except for the 1st (nukɔntɔ́), every ordinal is formed by adding -gɔ́ to the number. One rule, 9 applications.
à ≠ ǎ
One tone, and everything changes
Parlons Fongbe Academy
The full course
Reading these words isn’t enough. You have to hear them.
In Fon, the pitch of your voice changes the meaning: à asks a question, ǎ says no. The Academy explains 818 forms, one by one, carried by a native voice — never a word without its meaning.
79 video lessons Native speaker from Cotonou Lifetime access, one payment
Access the course
Site offer · 80 000 instead of50,000 FCFA
One free trial lesson when you sign up.
Go further
- Fon vocabulary: 102 essential words — by theme, checked against the course
- The Fon video course: see the program — 79 lessons with a native speaker from Cotonou, taught in French
- What is your Fon level? — the free 15-question test