Numerali

Numerali is a term used in linguistics to refer to the class of words that express numbers and order. In many languages, numerals are a distinct word class or a subcategory of determiners/adjectives and they frequently agree with the noun they modify in gender and number. Numerals can function as determiners, adjectives, or, in some languages, pronouns.

Main subtypes:

- Cardinal numerals: express quantity (one, two, three; in many languages they are used to modify nouns: two cats).

- Ordinal numerals: express order (first, second, third).

- Multiplicative numerals: express multiples (double, triple).

- Fractional numerals: express fractions (half, quarter).

- Distributive numerals: express distribution among members (each, every; often considered a separate class).

- Collective numerals: express a group as a unit (dozen, hundred, thousand, score).

Examples: English has all the above; Romance languages typically have cardinal and ordinal numerals with some differences in inflection and agreement.

Origins and orthography: Numerals appear in most languages as separate lexemes. Some languages use a separate numeral system with distinct words for 1–10, and others use compound constructions. In writing, numeral symbols (Arabic numerals) and historic systems (Roman numerals) co-exist for numbers and date notation.

Usage: Numerals commonly occur as adjectives before nouns (due to agreement) and can also function as pronouns or determiners. In many grammars, numerals are studied as a cross-linguistic category alongside quantifiers and determiners.

See also: Numeral, Cardinal number, Ordinal number, Quantifier.