16/09/2026
WHY IS 21 IS "DALAWAMPU'T ISA" IN TAGALOG BUT 11 IS "LABING ISA" INSTEAD OF "SAMPU'T ISA"?
WHY IS 21 IS "DALAWAMPU'T ISA" IN TAGALOG BUT 11 IS "LABING ISA" INSTEAD OF "SAMPU'T ISA"?
The simple answer: the terms for 11-19 are remnants of a more complicated system of counting.
One could say that they are the "labi" (remainder) of that old system. Get it?
This post will discuss the entirety of that system and show the full extent of its use.
"Labi" refers to the second set of numbers, or the numbers preceding the third set (maikatlo / maykatlo).
Let's start with the most basic numbers:
1 - Isa
2 - Dalawa
3 - Tatlo
4 - Apat
5 - Lima
6 - Anim
7 - Pito
8 - Walo
9 - Siyam
Note: These are included in the first set. Hence, [2 x 10^1] + 1 is "maikatlong isa" because it is the third set, while "labing isa" belongs to the second set.
NAMES OF BASES
10 (10^1) - Pulo / Puwo / Pu
*Based on historical terms
100 (10^2) - Daan / Raan
1,000 (10^3) - Libo
10,000 (10^4) - Laksa
100,000 (10^5) - Yuta
1,000,000 (10^6) - Angaw-angaw
TERMS OF SETS
*1-10 as the First Set*
Labi = 1 x Base
Maikatlo = 2 x Base
Maikapat = 3 x Base
Maikalima = 4 x Base
Maykaanim = 5 x Base
Maikapito = 6 x Base
Maikawalo = 7 x Base
Maykasiyam = 8 x Base
Maika(base) = 9 x Base
Note: After 100 (isang daan), "SA" becomes the marker for LABI rather than -NG.
[1 x Base] still remains as it is today:
Isang pu (sampu) = [1 x 10^1]
Isang daan = [1 x 10^2]
Isang libo = [1 x 10^3]
Isang laksa = [1 x 10^4]
Isang yuta = [1 x 10^5]
Isang angaw-angaw = [1 x 10^6]
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES
11 is really [10^1] + 1.
Tagalog refers to [1 x 10^1] as LABI.
Hence:
Labing isa = 11
While:
21 is really [2 x 10^1] + 1.
Tagalog refers to [2 x 10^1] as MAIKATLO.
Hence:
Maikatlong isa = 21
OTHER EXAMPLES
What is 100,003?
100,003 is [1 x 10^5] + 3, or [10^5] + 3.
[10^5] is LABI SA YUTA.
Hence:
Labi sa yutang tatlo = 100,003
But:
200,003 is Maikatlong yutang tatlo
Because:
200,003 is [2 x 10^5] + 3,
and
[2 x 10^5] is MAIKATLONG YUTA plus 3 which is TATLO
Image: de los Santos, Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala, 1835