Learn Assyrian › Grammar

7.7 Fractions

7 · Numerals — counting, dates, "the second one" · a plain-language guide to Assyrian (Sureth) grammar

Only two fractions have their own dedicated words:

• palga — "a half" (also "the middle")
• charak — "a quarter"

Everything else is built from the counting numbers. The handy fixed expressions:

• kha-palge — "one and a half"
• tla-charage — "three quarters"

For thirds, fifths, and so on, Assyrian uses a little phrase khamen- ("one out of…") plus the number:

• khamen-tla — "a third" ("one-of three")
• khamen-khamsha — "a fifth" ("one-of five")

Add a possessive ending to say "…of it":

• khamen-tlayu — "a third of it"
• khamen-khamshu — "a fifth of it"

Interestingly, for "half of it" and "a quarter of it," speakers usually prefer this same counting-phrase over palga / charak:

• khamen-treyu — "half of it" ("one-of-two of it")
• khamen-arpu — "a quarter of it" ("one-of-four of it")

So palga and charak are your everyday "a half / a quarter," but once you're carving up a specific thing ("half of it"), the number-phrase takes over.

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