The 10 Digits of Meitei Mayek (꯰ - ꯹)

The Meitei Mayek numeral system is a base-10 (decimal) positional numeral system with an authentic zero glyph:

Meitei DigitWestern ArabicManipuri NamePronunciation
꯰0ꯐꯨꯟPhun (Zero)
꯱1ꯑꯃAma (One)
꯲2ꯑꯅꯤAni (Two)
꯳3ꯑꯍꯨꯝAhum (Three)
꯴4ꯃꯔꯤMari (Four)
꯵5ꯃꯉꯥManga (Five)
꯶6ꯇꯔꯨꯛTaruk (Six)
꯷7ꯇꯔꯦꯠTaret (Seven)
꯸8ꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟNipan (Eight)
꯹9ꯃꯥꯄꯥꯟMapan (Nine)

Counting the Tens (10 to 100)

In Manipuri, numbers from 10 upwards follow a logical compound structure:

  • ꯱꯰ (10): ꯇꯔꯥ (Tara)
  • ꯲꯰ (20): ꯀꯨꯜ (Kul)
  • ꯳꯰ (30): ꯀꯨꯟꯊ꯭ꯔꯥ (Kunthra)
  • ꯴꯰ (40): ꯅꯤꯐꯨ (Niphu)
  • ꯵꯰ (50): ꯌꯥꯡꯈꯩ (Yangkhei)
  • ꯶꯰ (60): ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨ (Humphu)
  • ꯷꯰ (70): ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨ-ꯇꯔꯥ (Humphu-tara)
  • ꯸꯰ (80): ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨ (Mariphu)
  • ꯹꯰ (90): ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨ-ꯇꯔꯥ (Mariphu-tara)
  • ꯱꯰꯰ (100): ꯆꯥꯃ (Chama)

    • Vigesimal (Base-20) Roots in High Numbers

    Notice that traditional Manipuri numbers incorporate elements of a vigesimal (base-20) system:

  • Niphu (40) literally derives from $2 \times 20$ (Ani + Phu)
  • Humphu (60) derives from $3 \times 20$ (Ahum + Phu)
  • Mariphu (80) derives from $4 \times 20$ (Mari + Phu)

    • This unique blend of decimal and vigesimal structures reflects the ancient mathematical ingenuity of the Meitei civilization.