Telugu numbers
Table of ContentsTelugu aṅkela daṇḍa (తెలుగు అంకెల దండ) refers to the systematic nomenclature and structure of numbers in the Telugu language. In Telugu, the numbers from one upwards are traditionally called oṇṭlu (ఒంట్లు, “units”). Each oṇṭu represents a place value, and the addition of a sunnā (సున్నా, “zero”) next to it changes its name and value in the place value system.
In this system, the placement of zeros next to the primary unit (oṇṭu) creates larger numbers, each with a specific name in Telugu, preserving clarity in counting, calculation, and traditional record-keeping.
- 1 – Okaṭi (ఒకటి, One): The unit okaṭi (ఒకటి) represents the number one (1) in Telugu and is referred to as a single oṇṭu (unit).
- 10 – Padi (పది, Ten): When a sunnā (zero) is added next to okaṭi (1), it forms padi (పది), representing the number ten (10).
- 100 – Nooru (నూరు, Hundred): Adding two sunnālu (zeros) to okaṭi creates nooru (నూరు), representing one hundred (100).
- 1,000 – Veyyi (వెయ్యి, Thousand): With three sunnālu (zeros), the number becomes veyyi (వెయ్యి), representing one thousand (1,000).
- 10,000 – Padi Veyyilu (పది వెయ్యీలు, Ten Thousand): Adding four zeros leads to padi veyyilu (పది వెయ్యీలు), which represents ten thousand (10,000).
- 1,00,000 – Lakṣaṁ (లక్షం, Lakh): With five zeros, the number becomes lakṣaṁ (లక్షం), representing one lakh (100,000).
- 10,00,000 – Padilakṣālu (పది లక్షలు, Ten Lakhs: Six zeros transform the number to padilakṣālu (పది లక్షలు), equivalent to one million (1,000,000).
- 1,00,00,000 – Kōṭi (కోటి, Crore): With seven zeros, the number is called kōṭi (కోటి), representing one crore (10,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,000 – Arbudaṁ (అర్బుదం, Hundred Crores): Eight zeros produce arbudaṁ (అర్బుదం), representing one hundred crores or one billion (1,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,000 – Abjaṁ (అబ్జం, Ten Thousand Crores): Nine zeros lead to abjaṁ (అబ్జం), equivalent to ten thousand crores (100,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,000 – Kharvaṁ (ఖర్వం, One Lakh Crores): Ten zeros create kharvaṁ (ఖర్వం), representing one lakh crores (1,000,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 – Nikharvaṁ (నిఖర్వం, Ten Lakh Crores): Eleven zeros make nikharvaṁ (నిఖర్వం), equivalent to ten lakh crores (10,000,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 – Mahāpadmaṁ (మహాపద్మం, One Crore Crores): Twelve zeros yield mahāpadmaṁ (మహాపద్మం), equivalent to one crore crores (100,000,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 – Śaṅkhaṁ (శంఖం, Ten Crore Crores): Thirteen zeros form śaṅkhaṁ (శంఖం), representing ten crore crores (1,000,000,000,000,000).
- 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 – Mahāśaṅkhaṁ (మహాశంఖం, Hundred Crore Crores): Fourteen zeros create mahāśaṅkhaṁ (మహాశంఖం), equivalent to one hundred crore crores (10,000,000,000,000,000).
| Number | తెలుగు పేరు | English Name (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ఒకటి | One |
| 10 | పది | Ten |
| 100 | నూరు | Hundred |
| 1,000 | వెయ్యి | Thousand |
| 10,000 | పది వెయ్యి | Ten Thousand |
| 100,000 | లక్ష | Hundred Thousand |
| 1,000,000 | పది లక్షలు | One Million |
| 10,000,000 | కోటి | Ten Million |
| 100,000,000 | అర్బుదం | Hundred Million |
| 1,000,000,000 | అబ్జం | One Billion |
| 10,000,000,000 | ఖర్వం | Ten Billion |
| 100,000,000,000 | నిఖర్వం | Hundred Billion |
| 1,000,000,000,000 | మహాపద్మం | One Trillion |
| 10,000,000,000,000 | శంఖం | Ten Trillion |
| 100,000,000,000,000 | మహాశంఖం | Hundred Trillion |
| 1,000,000,000,000,000 | క్షితి | One Quadrillion |
| 10,000,000,000,000,000 | మహాక్షితి | Ten Quadrillion |
| 100,000,000,000,000,000 | క్షోభం | Hundred Quadrillion |
| 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 | మహాక్షోభం | One Quintillion |
Larger Place Names
Beyond mahāśaṅkhaṁ, Telugu and Sanskrit texts provide names for higher number places, used in gaṇita (mathematics) and jyotiṣa (astrology):
Kṣiti (క్షితి) Mahākṣiti (మహాక్షితి) Kṣobha (క్షోభం) Mahākṣobha (మహాక్షోభం) Nidhi (నిధి) Mahānidhi (మహానిధి) Paraka (పరకం) Parārtha (పరార్థం) Ananta (అనంతం) Sāgara (సాగరం) Avyaya (అవ్యయం) Amṛta (అమృతం) Acintya (అచింత్యం) Ameya (అమేయం) Bhūri (భూరి) Mahābhūri (మహాభూరి)
In total, 36 place names exist in this traditional structure, allowing systematic expansion of numbers to express very large calculations and cosmic time scales, preserving mathematical integrity within the Telugu language.
In summary, the Telugu system of aṅkela daṇḍa showcases a robust and culturally rich approach to numbers, aligning place value with systematic naming, aiding clear numerical representation, and supporting advanced mathematical and astronomical computations in Bhāratīya tradition.