Saint Lucian Kwéyòl Numbers 1 to 20
Learn to count from 1 to 20 in Saint Lucian Kwéyòl, with every number spelled as in the official Saint Lucian Kwéyòl Dictionary, plus tips for making them stick.
By Nigel Shomari Nicholas, founder of Jwé Kwéyòl
Counting is one of the first things any learner reaches for, and Saint Lucian Kwéyòl numbers follow a clear pattern. The numbers 1 to 20 each have their own word, many of them borrowed from French long ago and reshaped into Kwéyòl's own sound system. If you know some French you will spot the family resemblance, but notice how the spelling follows the way the words are said.
| # | Kwéyòl |
|---|---|
| 1 | an |
| 2 | dé |
| 3 | twa |
| 4 | kat |
| 5 | senk |
| 6 | sis |
| 7 | sèt |
| 8 | ywit |
| 9 | nèf |
| 10 | dis |
| 11 | wonz |
| 12 | douz |
| 13 | twèz |
| 14 | katòz |
| 15 | kenz |
| 16 | sèz |
| 17 | disèt |
| 18 | dizwit |
| 19 | diznèf |
| 20 | ven |
Tips for learning the numbers
- Learn them in small groups. Master 1 to 5 first, then 6 to 10, then the teens. Counting out loud as you climb the stairs or wash the dishes is an easy daily habit.
- Watch the accents. Several numbers use é, è or ò. Writing them correctly helps you say them correctly. Our guide to typing accents shows how on any phone or computer.
- Use them every day. Prices at the market, the time, a phone number: numbers are everywhere, so there is always a chance to practise.
Once you can recognize these on sight, the fastest way to make them stick is active recall, not reading the same list again. That's exactly what Konté (count the objects and pick the number) and Mennen Nonm-lan (match each numeral to its Kwéyòl word) are built for.