Devanagari numerals

Last updated

The Devanagari numerals are the symbols used to write numbers in the Devanagari script, predominantly used for northern Indian languages. They are used to write decimal numbers, instead of the Western Arabic numerals.

Contents

Table

Modern
Devanagari
Western
Arabic
Words for the cardinal number
Sanskrit
(wordstem)
Hindi Marathi Nepali
0 शून्य (śūnya)शून्य (śūny)शून्य (śūnya)शून्य (śūnya)
1 एक ekaएक (ek)एक (ek)एक (ek)
2 द्वि dviदो (do)दोन (don)दुइ (dui)
3 त्रि triतीन (tīn)तीन (tīn)तिन (tīn)
4 चतुर् caturचार (cār)चार (cār)चारि (cāri)
5 पञ्च pañcaपाँच (pāñc)पाच (pāch)पाँच (pānch)
6 षट् ṣaṭछह (chah)सहा (sahā)छअ (chaā)
7 सप्त saptaसात (sāt)सात (sāt)सात (sāt)
8 अष्ट aṣṭaआठ (āṭh)आठ (āṭh)आठ (āṭha)
9 नव navaनौ (nau)नऊ (naū)नअ ()

The word śūnya for zero was calqued into Arabic as صفرsifr, meaning 'nothing', which became the term "zero" in many European languages via Medieval Latin zephirum. [1]

Variants

A comparison of Sanskrit and Eastern Arabic numerals Sanskrit Arabic numerals.jpg
A comparison of Sanskrit and Eastern Arabic numerals

Devanagari digits shapes may vary depending on geographical area or epoch. Some of the variants are also seen in older Sanskrit literature. [2] [3]

Devanagari Numeral 1 var 1.png
Common
Devanagari Numeral 1 var 2.png
Nepali
1
Devanagari Numeral 5 var 1.png
"Bombay" Variant
Devanagari Numeral 5 var 2.png
"Calcutta" Variant
5
Devanagari Numeral 8 var 1.png
"Bombay" Variant
Devanagari Numeral 8 var 2.png
"Calcutta" Variant
8
Devanagari Numeral 9 var 1.png
Common
Devanagari Numeral 9 var 2.png
Nepali Variant
9

See also

Related Research Articles

The ten Arabic numerals are the most commonly used symbols for writing numbers. The term often also implies a positional notation number with a decimal base, in particular when contrasted with Roman numerals. However the symbols are also used to write numbers in other bases, such as octal, as well as non-numerical information such as trademarks or license plate identifiers.

Chinese numerals are words and characters used to denote numbers in written Chinese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decimal</span> Number in base-10 numeral system

The decimal numeral system is the standard system for denoting integer and non-integer numbers. It is the extension to non-integer numbers of the Hindu–Arabic numeral system. The way of denoting numbers in the decimal system is often referred to as decimal notation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devanagari</span> Script used to write Indian and Nepalese languages

Devanagari is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. Also simply called Nāgari, it is a left-to-right abugida, based on the ancient Brāhmi script. It is one of the official scripts of the Republic of India and Nepal. It was developed and in regular use by the 8th century CE and achieved its modern form by 1000 CE. The Devanāgari script, composed of 48 primary characters, including 14 vowels and 34 consonants, is the fourth most widely adopted writing system in the world, being used for over 120 languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Numeral system</span> Notation for expressing numbers

A numeral system is a writing system for expressing numbers; that is, a mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set, using digits or other symbols in a consistent manner.

0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity. Adding 0 to any number leaves that number unchanged; in mathematical terminology, 0 is the additive identity of the integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers, as well as other algebraic structures. Multiplying any number by 0 results in 0, and consequently division by zero has no meaning in arithmetic.

Thai numerals are a set of numerals traditionally used in Thailand, although the Arabic numerals are more common due to extensive westernization of Thailand in the modern Rattanakosin period. Thai numerals follow the Hindu–Arabic numeral system commonly used in the rest of the world. In Thai language, numerals often follow the modified noun and precede a measure word, although variations to this pattern occur.

The Japanese numerals are numerals that are used in Japanese. In writing, they are the same as the Chinese numerals, and large numbers follow the Chinese style of grouping by 10,000. Two pronunciations are used: the Sino-Japanese (on'yomi) readings of the Chinese characters and the Japanese yamato kotoba.

The Hindu–Arabic numeral system is a decimal place-value numeral system that uses a zero glyph as in "205".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindu–Arabic numeral system</span> Most common system for writing numbers

The Hindu–Arabic numeral system is a positional base-ten numeral system for representing integers; its extension to non-integers is the decimal numeral system, which is presently the most common numeral system.

A numeral is a character that denotes a number. The decimal number digits 0–9 are used widely in various writing systems throughout the world, however the graphemes representing the decimal digits differ widely. Therefore Unicode includes 22 different sets of graphemes for the decimal digits, and also various decimal points, thousands separators, negative signs, etc. Unicode also includes several non-decimal numerals such as Aegean numerals, Roman numerals, counting rod numerals, Mayan numerals, Cuneiform numerals and ancient Greek numerals. There is also a large number of typographical variations of the Western Arabic numerals provided for specialized mathematical use and for compatibility with earlier character sets, such as ² or ②, and composite characters such as ½.

A timeline of numerals and arithmetic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaktovik numerals</span> Inuit numeral system for a base-20 counting system

The Kaktovik numerals or Kaktovik Iñupiaq numerals are a base-20 system of numerical digits created by Alaskan Iñupiat. They are visually iconic, with shapes that indicate the number being represented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katapayadi system</span> Ancient Indian alphasyllabic numeral system

Kaṭapayādi system of numerical notation is an ancient Indian alphasyllabic numeral system to depict letters to numerals for easy remembrance of numbers as words or verses. Assigning more than one letter to one numeral and nullifying certain other letters as valueless, this system provides the flexibility in forming meaningful words out of numbers which can be easily remembered.

Burmese numerals are a set of numerals traditionally used in the Burmese language, although Arabic numerals are also used. Burmese numerals follow the Hindu–Arabic numeral system commonly used in the rest of the world.

Sinhala numerals, are the units of the numeral system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Sinhala language in modern-day Sri Lanka.

Javanese numerals are a set of numerals traditionally used in the Javanese language, although Arabic numerals are also used. Javanese numerals follow the Hindu–Arabic numeral system commonly used in the rest of the world.

Like many Indo-Aryan languages, Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) has a decimal numeral system that is contracted to the extent that nearly every number 1–99 is irregular, and needs to be memorized as a separate numeral.

Nepali Number System, also known as the Devanagari Number System, is used to represent numbers in Nepali language. It is a positional number system, which means that the value of a digit depends on its position within the number. The Nepali number system uses a script called Devanagari, which is also used for writing the Nepali language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei input methods</span>

Meitei input methods are the methods that allow users of computers to input texts in the Meitei script, systematically for Meitei language.

References

Notes
  1. "zero - Origin and meaning of zero by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com.
  2. Devanagari for TEX version 2.17, page 22
  3. "Alternate digits in Devanagari". Scriptsource.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
Sources