Names of Numbers
This is a feature of Finnish which doesn't have an exact counterpart in English (but in colloquial German it does, for example: 7er, 190er, 205er). These forms are used to refer to the actual number itself, rather than the quantity or order which the number represents. This should be clearer from the examples below, but first here is the list:
| Names of numbers | |
|---|---|
| Finnish | English |
| nolla | nil, number zero |
| ykkönen | the number one the figure "1" |
| kakkonen | 2 |
| kolmonen | 3 |
| nelonen | 4 |
| viitonen | 5 |
| kuutonen | 6 |
| seitsemän seitsemäinen seitsikko seiska (colloquial) |
7 |
| kahdeksan kahdeksikko kasi (colloquial) |
8 |
| yhdeksän yhdeksikkö ysi (colloquial) |
9 |
| kymmenen kymppi (colloquial) |
number ten |
Also, 'kahdeksikko' refers to the shape of the number. Some examples of how these are used:
- The 'number three tram' is the 'kolmonen' — when you are riding it, you are 'kolmosella'
- A magazine has the title '7' and is called 'Seiska'
- My car, a '93 model, is an 'ysikolmonen' when buying spare parts
- If the car is a 190E Mercedes, it would be a 'sataysikymppi'.
- If a car has tyres in size of 205, they would be called 'kaks(i)sataaviitoset' resp. kaks(i)sataaviitosia' (often 'kaks(i)nollaviitoset' resp. kaks(i)nollaviitosia').
- The '106' bus is the 'sata kuutonen'
- A €5 bill may be called "vitonen", a €10 bill "kymppi" (in plural: "kympit"/"kymppejä"), a €20 "kaksikymppinen", a €100 bill "satanen", etc.
Read more about this topic: Finnish Numerals
Famous quotes containing the words names of, names and/or numbers:
“The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s centre.
Born of the sun they traveled a short while towards the sun,
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.”
—Stephen Spender (1909–1995)
“At night thousands of names and slogans are outlined in neon, and searchlight beams often pierce the sky, perhaps announcing a motion picture premiere, perhaps the opening of a new hamburger stand.”
—For the State of California, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“I’m not even thinking straight any more. Numbers buzz in my head like wasps.”
—Kurt Neumann (1906–1958)