Lesson 25: Sumerian Ordinal Numbers

Creating Ordinal Numbers with the Genitive Case

Nov 19, 2024

Introduction

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to make, use, and pronounce Sumerian ordinal numbers using the genitive case!

Helpful Terms

genitive (gen.): a grammatical case which indicates possession, belonging, or origin, as in “of”, marked by -ak 𒀝.

Vocabulary

a 𒀀 n., water; semen; progeny; canal; flood. part., suff., in, at, when (loc.); nominalizing suffix.
ak 𒀝 v., to do, act; make into; place. part., suff., of (gen.).
àm 𒀀𒀭 cop., he/she/it is.
aš 𒀸 num., one (1), likely pronounced /ašu/ (OS x5, OA x3, NS x364, OB x116); six (6) (OB x4).
àš 𒐋 num., six (6), likely pronounced /yašu/ (OB x13).
eš 𒌍 num., three (3), likely pronounced /ešu/ (OS x4, NS x45, OB x15).
ĝéš(d) 𒐕 num., sixty (60) (OA x1, NS x52, OB x9).
ĝéš-u 𒐞 num., six hundred (600) (Post-OB x10).
ilimmu 𒑆 num., nine (9), possibly pronounced /yalimmu/ (OB x5).
imin 𒅓 num., seven, (7), possibly pronounced /yaminu/ (OS x4, OA x1, NS x23, OB x163).
ka 𒅗 n., mouth; opening; beginning, origin; body part. part., suff., ‘of’ (gen.) (mutation of ak 𒀝 when anlaut /a/ assimilates to the proceeding vowel {ĝu₁₀ + ak = ĝá-ka}.
kam (𒀀)𒄰 mut., when following a vowel, genitive ak 𒀝 + 3^rd person singular copula àm 𒀀𒀭 = (a)kam (𒀀)𒄰.
ía 𒐊 num., five (5), likely pronounced /ya/ (NS 2, OB x59).
límmu 𒇹 num., four (4) (OS x2, OA x3, NS x3,612, OB x56).
nimin 𒐏 num., forty (40) (OB x9).
ninnu 𒐐 num., fifty (50) (NS x24, OB x37).
niš 𒎙 num., twenty (20) (OB x19).
ma 𒈠 part., spelling bridge between /m/ and /a/.
min 𒈫 num., two (2) (OS x40, OA x20, NS x466, OB x213).
šár 𒊹 n., totality; world; horizon; ball. num., three thousand six hundred (3,600) (OS x16, NS x10, OB x267).
šar-gal 𒊬𒃲 num., two hundred sixteen thousand (216,000) 216,000 (OS x1).
šaru 𒐬 num., thirty-six thousand (36,000) (NS x5, OB x17).
u 𒌋 num., ten (10) (NS x44, OB x81).
ud (u4) 𒌓 n., sun; light; day; time; weather, storm. adv., conj./mod.,when. prep., when; since.
ussu 𒐍 num., eight (8) (OB x8).
úšu 𒌍 num., thirty (30) (OB x15).

Creating Ordinal Numbers with the Genitive Construction ak + àm

In Lesson 23, you learned about Sumerian cardinal numbers. Sumerian ordinal numbers—first, second, third, etc.—are created with a combination of the genitive ak 𒀝 and the 3^rd person singular copula àm 𒀀𒀭.

More specifically:

ak + àm + ma (OS, OA)
ak + àm (NS, OB)

As in:

aš-a-kam(-ma) 𒀸𒀀𒄰(𒈠) first (lit. it is of one)

NOTE: In most of my examples, I’ll be using the later N-kam, in lieu of the earlier N-kam-ma.

Sumerian Ordinal Numbers in Transliteration

Unfortunately, most of the numbers you’ll encounter in transliteration are written with standard Hindu-Arabic numerals, as in:

1-kam, 2-kam, 3-kam, etc.

This gives the casual reader no indication of how the Sumerian ordinal number is meant to be read.

Fortunately, determine the proper reading of N-kam is as simple as saying:

a-kam 𒀀𒄰 after a consonant
kam 𒄰 after a vowel

Reading/Pronouncing N-KAM

Here is a quick reference guide to reading and pronouncing N-kam combinations.

NOTE: For variations on cardinal number pronunciations, see Lesson 23.

1 - 10

1-kam—aš-a-kam 𒀸𒀀𒄰
2-kam—min-a-kam 𒈫𒀀𒄰
3-kam—eš-a-kam 𒌍𒀀𒄰
4-kam—límmu-kam 𒇹𒄰
5-kam—ía/ya-kam 𒐊𒄰
6-kam—àš/yaš-a-kam 𒐋𒀀𒄰
7-kam—imin/yamin-a-kam 𒅓𒀀𒄰
8-kam—ussu-kam 𒐍𒄰
9-kam—ilimmu/yalimu-kam 𒑆𒄰
10-kam—u/(h)uwamu/yu-kam𒄰

20 – 216,000

20-kam—niš-a-kam 𒎙𒀀𒄰
30-kam—úšu-kam 𒌍𒄰
40-kam—nimin-a-kam 𒐏𒀀𒄰
50-kam—ninnu-kam 𒐐𒄰
60-kam—ĝéš-a-kam 𒐕𒀀𒄰
600-kam—ĝéš-u-kam 𒐞𒄰
3,600-kam—šár-a-kam 𒊹𒀀𒄰
36,000-kam—šaru-kam 𒐬𒄰
216,000-kam—šár-gal-a-kam 𒊹𒃲𒀀𒄰

CHALLENGE: Practice reading Sumerian ordinal numbers 1 - 10 aloud, until you can recite them with ease.

“Modifying” Nouns with Ordinal Numbers

While you may see Sumerian ordinal numbers on their own, you may also see them ‘modifying’ another noun, in which case, you may need a second genitive.

For example: