Klingon Numbers: How to Count in tlhIngan Hol

Klingon Numbers: How to Count in tlhIngan Hol

Numbers are among the first vocabulary sets any language learner tackles, and Klingon numbers reward early study. The system is regular and logical — once you know the base numbers and the combinatorial rules, you can express any number in tlhIngan Hol.

The Base Numbers (1–9)

Klingon uses a base-10 system. Here are the core number words:

Number	Klingon	Approximate Pronunciation
1	wa'	"wah" (with glottal stop)
2	cha'	"chah" (with glottal stop)
3	wej	"wezh"
4	loS	"loSh"
5	vagh	"vagh"
6	jav	"zhav"
7	Soch	"Sokh"
8	chorgh	"khorgh"
9	Hut	"khoot"

Note that wa' and cha' have glottal stops (the apostrophes) — don't swallow these sounds. The S in Soch is a retroflex consonant, and the H in Hut is that throaty sound from German Bach.

Tens and Larger Numbers

Klingon forms larger numbers by combining the root word maH (ten) with the base digits:

Number	Klingon	Breakdown
10	wa'maH	one-ten
20	cha'maH	two-ten
30	wejmaH	three-ten
47	loSmaH Soch	four-ten seven
99	HutmaH Hut	nine-ten nine

For hundreds, use vatlh; for thousands, use SaD or SanID; for millions, use 'uy'.

Unit	Klingon
100	wa'vatlh
1,000	wa'SaD
10,000	wa'maH SaD
1,000,000	wa''uy'

A complex number like 2,547 would be cha'SaD vaghvatlh loSmaH Soch — two-thousand five-hundred four-ten seven.

Numbers in Klingon Grammar

In Klingon, numbers function as nouns. When used to count objects, numbers typically precede the noun they quantify:

wej tlhIngan — "three Klingons" loS betleH — "four bat'leths"

Numbers don't force plural suffixes on nouns — the number itself makes the plurality clear. So you say wej tlhIngan, not wej tlhInganpu' (though the latter is technically acceptable for emphasis).

Ordinal Numbers

Klingon ordinals (first, second, third) are formed by adding -DIch to the number:

Ordinal	Klingon
First	wa'DIch
Second	cha'DIch
Third	wejDIch
Seventh	SochDIch

Ordinals follow the noun they modify: HoD wa'DIch — "the first captain."

Arithmetic in Klingon

Klingon has vocabulary for basic mathematical operations:

• boq — add (literally "ally with")
• chen — multiply (literally "take form")
• boqHa' — subtract (literally "dis-ally," using the -Ha' reversal suffix)
• HabmoH — divide

The use of boq (ally) for addition and boqHa' (un-ally) for subtraction reflects Klingon culture even in mathematics — numbers join forces or separate, like warriors.

Why Learn Klingon Numbers?

Beyond practical use in Klingon conversation, learning number systems in any language rewires how you think about quantity and order. Klingon's regular combinatorial system is also excellent practice for understanding how languages build complex words from simple roots — a skill that transfers to learning agglutinative natural languages like Turkish, Finnish, or Japanese.

Start learning Klingon numbers in context at learningelvish.com, with structured vocabulary exercises and full lesson paths.

Related Reading

• The Best App to Learn Klingon (And Why I Switched From Duolingo)
• How to Learn Klingon: The Complete 2026 Guide for Beginners
• How to Say 'I Love You' in Klingon (And Why It's Complicated)

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