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Tïjonïk 23 Jun Tz’i’, Keb’ Tz’i’, Oxib’ Tz’i’ (One tz’i’, two tz’i’, Three tz’i’)
Numbers

Introduction

K’iche’ numbers beyond three have been mostly replaced by Spanish numbers. Numbers up through 20 are generally understood but rarely used. The K’iche’ numerical system is vigesimal, based twenty.

TZIJONIKText

One of the ways in which numbers in K’iche’ are predominantly used is in the calendar, as well as in traditional Mayan ceremonies. Here we can see an example of the counting that takes place during one of these ceremonies:

K’AK’A TAQ TZIJVocabulary

 

Jun
1
Keb’
2
Oxib’
3
Kajib”
4
Jo’ob’
5
Waqib’
6
Wuqub’
7
Wajxaqib’
8
B’elejeb’
9
Lajuj
10
Julajuj
11
Kab’lajuj
12
Oxlajuj
13
Kajlajuj
14
O’lajuj
15
Waqlajuj
16
Wuqlajuj
17
Wajxaqlajuj
18
B’elejlajuj
19
Juk’al
20
Juwinaq
20

Winaq is generally used for counting up to number based on 40, then it switches to k’al.

Juk’al jun
21
Juwinaq jun
21
Juwinaq kajlajuj
34
Oxk’al jo’ob
65
Jumuch’
80
Kajkal
80
O’kal
100
Juq’o’
400
Kaq’o’ lajk’al
1000
Oq’o’
2000

Ordinal numbers

Nab’e
first
Ukab’
second
Urox
third
Ukaj
fourth
Uro’
fifth
Uwaqaq
sixth
Uwuq
seventh
Uwajxaq
eighth
Ub’elej
ninth
Ulaj
tenth
Ujulaj/Ujulajuj
eleventh
Ujuwinaq
twentieth
Nab’e mul
(for the) first time
Are le ukab’ wal.
She is my second child.
Are le urox nuwuj.
This is my third book.

Distributive Numbers

Jujun
one by one
Kakab’
 two by two
 
Ox’ox
 three by three
 
Kajkaj
four by four
 
Jo’taq
 five by five
 
Waqitaq
six by six
 
Wuqitaq
seven by seven
 
Wajxaqitaq
eight by eight
 
B’elejitaq
nine by nine
 
Lajujitaq
ten by ten
 
Jujun qech
one for each one of us
Kaya jujun qech le wuj.
You give each of us a piece of paper.
Jun chqe.
One of us.
Jujun chqech.
Some of us.
E keb’ chqech.
Two of us.
Chi jujunal
(as) one by one
Le tïjonik pa jujunal
The individual lesson / One-on-one Lesson
Kakab’ chi qajujunal
two for each of us
chi kakab’il
as two by two

Marking Time

Kamik
today
Chanim
right now
Miyer
a little time ago/recently
Chwe’q
tomorrow
-(ij)ir Time past
Iwir
yesterday
Kab’ijir
the day before yesterday
Oxjir
three days ago
Junab’ir
a year ago
Wuqub’xir
a week ago
-ij Time to come
Kab’ij
day after tomorrow
Oxij
in three days
Kojej
in four days
Wuqub’ix
in a week
Pa jun junab’ aq’anoq
a year from now
Pa keb’ ik’ aq’anoq
two months from now
Pa le jun chi junab’
next year
Pa jun wuqq’ij kanoq
a week ago
Pa oxib’ wuqq’ij aq’anoq
in three weeks
Junab’ir
a year ago
Kab’ir
two years ago
Oxb’i’r
three years ago
Pa kakab’ q’ij
every two days
Pa ox’ox ik’
every three months
Pa kajkaj junab’
every four years
Pa oxib’ ik’
in three months

Telling time

Ramaj
hour/moment
Ch’uti’q ramaj
minute(s)
Nik’aj
half
Jachike ramaj chanim?
What time is it now?
Oxib’ ruk’ nik’aj.
Half past three.
Jachike ramaj kumajij le qatijonik?
When does our class start?
Julajuj ruk’ lajuj ch’utiq ramaj.
ten after eleven.
Karaj na lajuj ch’utiq ramaj pa le wuqub’ ramaj.
ten ’til seven / 6:50
Karaj diez minutos pa las diez.
ten ’til ten / 9:50
Xq’ax lajuj ch’utiq ramaj chech le leajuj ramaj.
ten past ten / 10:10
Xq’ax diez minutos chech a las diez.
ten past ten / 10:10
Kumajij pa b’elejeb’ ramaj, katani’ pa kab’lajuj ramaj.
It goes from nine to twelve. (lit: it begins at nine and ends at 12.

Times of the day

Saqirik
Sunrise
Xsaqir chanim
Good morning! (It has dawned)
Nimaq’ab
Morning
Xpaqi’ le q’ij
Mid-monring (10 am)
Tik’il le q’ij
Noon
Pa q’ij
Noon
Xb’e la q’ij
Afternoon
B’enaq’ij
Afternoon
 
Xulan q’ij
Afternoon; sundown
Xulan q’ij kimb’e pa nutaqkil.
In the afternoon I run my errands.
Xok aq’ab’
Good evening! (It is night already)
Nik’aj aq’ab’
Midnight
Aq’ab’il
Early morning right before or at sunrise
Aq’ab’il ximb’e pa si’.
Early in the morning I went to gather firewood.

Indefinite numbers and related words

Jun
a/one
Jujun
some
Keb’ oxib’
a few
-onojel
all; each
Ronojel le…
all (of) the…
Le (e) nik’aj chik
the rest; the others
K’o jujun k’o kichak, le e nik’aj chi ku’xlanik.
There are some who have work, but the others are on vacation.
K’o e jujun Kechakunik, k’o e jujuj na kechakun taj.
There are some who work and others who do not work.

Shopping/Money

Pwaq
money
Ch’ich’apwaq
(metal) coins
Wuj
bills (money)
Real
coins (antiquated)
Pajb’al
measure (pound if referring to weight)
Nik’aj
half
Ajlanik pa le k’ayb’al
counting in the market
Kaya jun pajb’al nusaqwach.
Give me a pound of potatoes.
Kaya keb’ pajb’al we le pix.
Give me two pounds of these tomatoes.