Swahili · Numbers & Time

elfu

Thousand

Beginnernumeral

Definition

The number one thousand.

Example

Mji huu una historia ya miaka elfu.

This town has a thousand-year history.

Etymology

'Elfu' comes from the Bantu linguistic family, representing the number one thousand. It showcases the continuity of numeral terms in Swahili from its ancestral roots.

How & Where It’s Used

'Elfu' is used in both spoken and written forms in various settings, including formal documentation and everyday conversation, with little to no dialectal variation.

Watch “Thousand” pronunciation on YouTube
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