Let’s explore Peoria numbers in everyday life. On this page, you will find counting basics, including Peoria words for numbers, verbs like eekincikwaani “I am counting,” eekincikoyani “you are counting,” eekincikoki “he is counting, she is counting,” and the word taaninhswi for asking about how many or how much. You can see how taaninhswi is used in questions for animate things and inanimate things. The number lists move in steps — first 1 to 10 and a numbers song video, then 11 to 19, 20 to 39, counting by tens, and examples that show how to say numbers like 101, 150, 199, as well as the hundreds and thousands. As you listen to the audio, follow the lists, and use the Peoria Numbers Walk self-practice, you can bring these numbers into your real life by counting things you see, use, and care about each day. When you are ready, say akincikotaawi “let’s count” and begin counting out loud in Peoria.
You can also sing with the numbers on this page. Sing the Peoria numbers song or sing the numbers to the rhythm or beat of your favorite fun song. Start small — for example, sing only up to the number four. You can take a children’s song or any song that already uses numbers and begin by replacing the English numbers with Peoria numbers, such as nkoti, niišwi, nihswi, niiwi — 1, 2, 3, 4 — in the song you sing. Have fun counting and singing, and smile while you count and have fun.
Peewaalia
English
Audio
akincikooni
number
akincikoona
numbers
eekincikwaani
I am counting
eekincikoyani
you are counting
eekincikoyiikwi
you(plural) are counting
eekincikoki
he is counting, she is counting
eekincikowaaci
they are counting
akincikotaawi
Let’s count! Let’s do counting! (instruction)
taaninhswi
how many, how much, how far, a quantity of place or objects, time
taaninhswi eehtooyani
How many do you have of it? (for inanimate)
taaninhswi eehsaciki
How many of them do you have? (for animate)
eekintamaani
I am counting it (for inanimate objects/nouns)
eekintamani
you are counting it (for inanimate objects/nouns)
eekintanki
he counts it, she counts it (for inanimate objects/nouns)
akintanto
You count it! (instruction) (for inanimate objects/nouns)
akintantaawi
Let’s count it! (instruction) (for inanimate objects/nouns)
eekimakiki
I am counting them (for animate objects/nouns)
eekimaciki
you are counting them (for animate objects/nouns)
Let’s count!
Let’s count to ten together in Peoria. You can also sing the Peoria numbers song, a fun and easy way to practice and remember the numbers 1 to 10. As you listen and sing along, point to or count real things around you, like toys, animals, or trees, to help the numbers stick. And don’t forget to check out the Peewaalia Akincikoona Wiintaakani – Peoria Numbers Book, a wonderful resource to support you on your counting journey. Enjoy counting and singing in Peoria!
Peewaalia
English
Audio
nkoti
one, 1
niišwi
two, 2
nihswi
three, 3
niiwi
for, 4
yaalanwi
five, 5
kaakaathswi
six, 6
swaahteethswi
seven, 7
palaani
eight, 8
nkotimeneehki
nine, 9
mataathswi
ten, 10
Check out the Peewaalia Numbers Song – it’s a fun way to learn your numbers.
You Count It!
Continuing counting from 11 to 19.
Peewaalia
English
Audio
mataathswi nkotaasi
eleven, 11
mataathswi niišwaasi
twelve, 12
mataathswi nihswaasi
thirteen, 13
mataathswi niiwaasi
fourteen, 14
mataathswi yaalanwaasi
fifteen, 15
mataathswi kaakaathswaasi
sixteen, 16
mataathswi swaahteethswaasi
seventeen, 17
mataathswi palaanaasi
eighteen, 18
mataathswi nkotimeneehkaasi
nineteen, 19
Let’s count more!
Peewaalia
English
Audio
niišwi mateeni
twenty, 20
niišwi mateeni nkotaasi
twenty one, 21
niišwi mateeni niišwaasi
twenty two, 22
niišwi mateeni nihswaasi
twenty three, 23
niišwi mateeni niiwaasi
twenty four, 24
niišwi mateeni yaalanwaasi
twenty five, 25
niišwi mateeni kaakaathswaasi
twenty six, 26
niišwi mateeni swaahteethswaasi
twenty seven, 27
niišwi mateeni palaanaasi
twenty eight, 28
niišwi mateeni nkotimeneehkaasi
twenty nine, 29
nihswi mateeni
thirty, 30
nihswi mateeni nkotaasi
thirty one, 31
nihswi mateeni niišwaasi
thirty two, 32
nihswi mateeni nihswaasi
thirty three, 33
nihswi mateeni niiwaasi
thirty four, 34
nihswi mateeni yaalanwaasi
thirty five, 35
nihswi mateeni kaakaathswaasi
thirty six, 36
nihswi mateeni swaahteethswaasi
thirty seven, 37
nihswi mateeni palaanaasi
thirty eight, 38
nihswi mateeni nkotimeneehkaasi
thirty nine, 39
Let’s have fun counting by tens, starting with niišwi mateeni — “twenty”! Keep going by tens, and when you’re ready, try the extra numbers at the end.
Peewaalia
English
Audio
niišwi mateeni
twenty, 20
nihswi mateeni
thirty, 30
niiwi mateeni
forty, 40
yaalanwi mateeni
fifty, 50
kaakaathswi mateeni
sixty, 60
swaahteethswi mateeeni
seventy, 70
palaani mateeni
eighty, 80
nkotimeneehki mateeni
ninety, 90
nkotwaahkwe
one hundred, 100
nkotwaahkwe nkoti
one hundred one, 101
nkotwaahkwe yalaanwi mateeni
one hundred fifty, 150
nkotwaahkwe nkotimeneehki mateeni nkotimeneehkaasi
one hundred ninety nine, 199
Let’s count by hundreds!
Peewaalia
English
Audio
nkotwaahkwe
one hundred, 100
niišwaahkwe
two hundred, 200
nihswaahkwe
three hundred, 300
niiwaahkwe
four hundred, 400
yaalanwaahkwe
five hundred, 500
kaakaathswaahkwe
six hundred, 600
swaahteethswaahkwe
seven hundred, 700
palaanaahkwe
eight hundred, 800
nkotimeneehkaahkwe
nine hundred, 900
mataathswaahkwe
one thousand, 1000
Let’s count by thousands!
Peewaalia
English
Audio
mataathswaahkwe
one thousand, 1000
niišwi mataathswaahkwe
two thousand, 2000
nihswi mataathswaahkwe
three thousand, 3000
niiwi mataathswaahkwe
four thousand, 4000
yaalanwi mataathswaahkwe
five thousand, 5000
kaakaathswi mataathswaahkwe
six thousand, 6000
swaahteethswi mataathswaahkwe
seven thousand, 7000
palaani mataathswaahkwe
eight thousand, 8000
nkotimeneehki mataathswaahkwe
nine thousand, 9000
mataathswi mataathswaahkwe
ten thousand, 10,000
Choose a Small Set.
First, choose a small set of Peoria numbers to work with, like 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. If you are brand new, start with 1 to 5. Say each Peoria number in order 3 times out loud before you begin.
Walk and Count.
Walk around your space and look for groups of things, like 2 plates, 3 chairs, or 4 spoons. When you see a group, point to each one with an open hand, your head, or your lips and count them in Peoria. Just count that group of things with Peoria numbers only. For example, say nkoti, niišwi, nihswi — 1, 2, 3.
Count to the Touch.
When you are close enough, touch each item or hover your hand over each one and count again in Peoria, one by one. For example, as you touch each one, say nkoti, niišwi, nihswi — 1, 2, 3
Say the Number and the Item.
Now say the Peoria number and the Peoria word for the item together. For example, you can say nihswi naahkiipiona — 3 chairs — for that group of things.
Review Your Numbers.
Before you finish, stop in one place and say all the Peoria numbers from your set one more time. Then look around and find one more group of things to count. Count each one with the Peoria number and the Peoria word for the item. For spoons, you can say nkoti kookaani, niišwi kookaana, nihswi kookaana — 1 spoon, 2 spoons, 3 spoons.
Use the Numbers Song.
You can also use the Peoria numbers song video above to help you practice. Listen, count along, and then come back and try the activity again.
Learn More →
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