# A 2-Digit Consonant-Vowel Number System (CV System)

**URL:** <https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492>\
**Category:** General Memory Chat\
**Tags:** ben-system, major-system, dominic-system, cv-system\
**Created:** [June 25, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492 "2020-06-25T19:07:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/josh/32/21_2.png) [@Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Josh)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/1 "2020-06-25T19:07:23Z")

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This is a description of [the CV System I use](https://artofmemory.com/blog/josh-memory-systems/) for memorizing two-digit numbers. I wanted to post a sample set of images to see if any beginners here might want to try learning it instead of the Major System or Dominic System. I’ve taught it to people at memory events, but I don’t think I’ve posted a full set of example images here on the site. 🙂

This blog post explains the reason for building the system around one-syllable artificial “words”:

> **[Thoughts on Phonetic Systems and Memory Techniques as an Artificial Language](https://artofmemory.com/blog/phonetic-memory-techniques-artificial-language/)**
>
> 👉 When I was deciding on what memory system to use, I tried to think about all the steps that the brain goes through when memorizing, and how to make it as efficient as possible.

I think it’s a little easier to learn than the [Major System](https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Major_System/), because people don’t have to understand as much about the difference between letters and consonants. It can also be quickly expanded into a full 3-digit [Ben System](https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Ben_System/) by using a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern.

In order to create a forum tag and refer to it more easily, I’l refer to it as the #cv-system (2-digit consonant-vowel system).

## How Images Are Assigned

Each two-digit number from 00 to 99 is read as a consonant and a vowel. The first digit is translated into a consonant and the second digit is translated into a vowel.

### Consonants

The first digit of each number is turned into a consonant according to this table.

| Number | Notation | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0 | S/Z | |
| 1 | T | (not d) |
| 2 | N | |
| 3 | M | |
| 4 | R | |
| 5 | L | |
| 6 | B | |
| 7 | K | (not g) |
| 8 | F/V | |
| 9 | P | (not b) |

Here are some suggestions on how to remember the consonants:

- “Zero” starts with a “z”, and “z” and “s” are voiced and unvoiced versions of the same consonant. “Voiced” means that your vocal cords are used to make the sound, and “unvoiced” means that your vocal cords are not used. Say “z” and “s” one after the other and pay attention to the difference. The mouth position is the same for both consonants, but one is voiced and one is unvoiced.
- 1 looks kind of like a “t”.
- 2 looks like an “n” on its side.
- 3 looks like an “m” on its side.
- 4 looks like a backwards “R”.
- There are 5 fingers on a hand and your left hand makes and L shape if you hold your palm outward and extend your thumb.
- 6 looks like a “b”.
- Two 7s stuck together look like “K”.
- 8 looks like a cursive “f”, and “f” and “v” are unvoiced and voiced versions of the same consonant.
- 9 looks like a backwards “P”.

### Vowels

The second digit of the number is turned into a vowel according to the following table. The a-i-u-e-o vowels are similar to ones in Spanish and aren’t variable like in English.

| Number | Notation | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0 | O | as in bOAt |
| 1 | I | as in bEEt |
| 2 | U | as in tWO |
| 3 | AA | as in cAt |
| 4 | A | as in fAther |
| 5 | AI | as in fIve |
| 6 | IH | as in sIx |
| 7 | E | as in sEven |
| 8 | EI | as in EIght |
| 9 | UH | as in bUs |

Here are some ideas for remembering the vowel assignments:

- 0 looks like an “o”.
- 1 looks like an “i”.
- 2 contains the sound “u”.
- 4 looks like an “A”.
- 5 contains the sound “ai”.
- 6 contains the sound “ih”.
- 7 contains the sound “e”.
- 8 contains the sound “ei”.

The two remaining digits are a little more of a stretch:

- 3 looks like a butterfly and _cats_ like butterflies.
- 9 looks like a balloon and “uh” is the first vowel in “balloon” (at least in my accent).

## Sample Images

Here are sample images for numbers from 00 to 99 in case anyone wants to try it. The images that I use are different, but they are so personal that they wouldn’t work for anyone else. This set of images is designed so that anyone can use it as a starting point and then modify the images to their preferences (example: to add names instead of just mostly objects). Some of these images are taken from my 3-digit system (which uses the same sound assignments but is consonant-vowel-consonant — [more details here](https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Josh_Cohen)).

I typed this out quickly. If anyone notices mistakes, let me know.

| Number | Notation | Example Images |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 00 | SO | sewing needle, soap, soba, sofa |
| 01 | SI | see-saw, seat, seamstress, seal |
| 02 | SU | Zeus, suit, zoom lens, souk, soup |
| 03 | SAA | satellite, sassafrass, sand, sack, saxophone, saffron |
| 04 | SA | samba dancer, sauce, Saul, socks |
| 05 | SAI | cyclone, sign, scythe, psychic |
| 06 | SIH | Sith, cinderblock, symbol, cymbals, sifter |
| 07 | SE | zeppelin, cent |
| 08 | SEI | sabre-toothed tiger, sailboat, sabre, safe |
| 09 | SUH | sun, submarine, supper |
| 10 | TO | tome, torus, token |
| 11 | TI | tea, teapot, tiki, TV, tipi |
| 12 | TU | tuna, tomb, toolbox, tuba |
| 13 | TAA | tap-dancer, tattoo gun, tangerine, tamarind, tambourine |
| 14 | TA | tar, tomahawk, top |
| 15 | TAI | tie-fighter, tie, tights, timer, tile, tycoon, typewriter |
| 16 | TIH | tin can, tin foil (hat?), tinder, timber, till, tick |
| 17 | TE | tesseract, tempest, telephone, techie |
| 18 | TEI | table, tamer, tailor, TASER, , tape |
| 19 | TUH | tusk, Tut, tub |
| 20 | NO | Nostradamus, note, gnome, gnoll, Nokia, novocaine |
| 21 | NI | Neil Armstrong, knee, Nike (Greek goddess of victory) |
| 22 | NU | newt, nuke |
| 23 | NAA | gnat, nanny |
| 24 | NA | knot, naan, narwhal |
| 25 | NAI | knight, knife |
| 26 | NIH | knitting needles, nib |
| 27 | NE | nest, net |
| 28 | NEI | Nate, name tag, nasal spray, knave, naked |
| 29 | NUH | nut, null |
| 30 | MO | Moby Dick, mole |
| 31 | MI | meat, meme, meal |
| 32 | MU | Moon, moose |
| 33 | MAA | mastadon, mat, manatee, mammoth |
| 34 | MA | moss, monster, marble, maul, mob, mockingbird |
| 35 | MAI | mice, mite, mine, mime, mike |
| 36 | MIH | mist, mitt, Mini Mouse, mimosa, millipede, Mick Jagger |
| 37 | ME | mentat, melon, mech, mechanic |
| 38 | MEI | mace, mane, mayor |
| 39 | MUH | Munsters, mummy, mullien, muck, monkey, muppet |
| 40 | RO | roses, rototiller, ronin, Roman, roll, robe, rover, rope |
| 41 | RI | reel, rebar, reaper |
| 42 | RU | root, rune, ruler |
| 43 | RAA | rat, ram, rack, rap |
| 44 | RA | Ra, Ross, Ran, Romulan, robber, rock, rocket, Ravi Shankar |
| 45 | RAI | rice, writer, rind, rhizome, rye bread |
| 46 | RIH | wristwatch, rim, rill, rib, Rick, riff, rip |
| 47 | RE | wren, Rembrandt, wrecking ball |
| 48 | REI | racing car, rain, wraith, rake |
| 49 | RUH | rust, runner, rum, rucksack, ruffian |
| 50 | LO | lord, lobe, Loki, loaf |
| 51 | LI | Lisa, lean-to, Liam, Lear, leek, leaf, leap |
| 52 | LU | loon, loom, lure, Luke, loofa, loop |
| 53 | LAA | Lassie, lattice, Lando, lab, lamb |
| 54 | LA | lava, Lot, Locke, latke |
| 55 | LAI | lice, light, line, lime, lyre |
| 56 | LIH | Liszt, lint, lich, lily, lifter, lip |
| 57 | LE | Lester, Leonard, lemmings, leather, leopard |
| 58 | LEI | lace, Lane (Lois), lathe, lake |
| 59 | LUH | lumber, lullaby, lucky charm, love |
| 60 | BO | bo, bone, bowl, boba, bovine |
| 61 | BI | bee, beast, bean, beam, beer, beak, beaver |
| 62 | BU | booster, boot, boom, Boole, Boop |
| 63 | BAA | bass (fish), bat, band, bath, backscratcher |
| 64 | BA | boss, bot, bonfire, bomb, ball, Bob |
| 65 | BAI | bison, bike |
| 66 | BIH | bit, bin, bill, bib, Bic |
| 67 | BE | Beth, Ben, bell, bear |
| 68 | BEI | bass (guitar), bait, bathe, bake, bagel |
| 69 | BUH | bust, bun, bum, buck, bucket |
| 70 | KO | coaster, cone, comb, coal |
| 71 | KI | key, Keith, keep |
| 72 | KU | cube\*, coop |
| 73 | KAA | cast, can, camera, cab, cap |
| 74 | KA | Khan, cauliflower, cob, coffee, cop |
| 75 | KAI | kite |
| 76 | KIH | kiss, Kim, kickball |
| 77 | KE | kestrel, Kent (Clark), Kepler |
| 78 | KEI | case, Kate, cane, kale, cape |
| 79 | KUH | custard, Cumberbatch, cub, covers, cup |
| 80 | FO | voting machine, phone, foam, foal, Volkswagen |
| 81 | FI | feet, femur, feast, feelers |
| 82 | FU | fool (jester) |
| 83 | FAA | fan, Fab Four |
| 84 | FA | fawn, fog, familiar, font, Fozzie Bear, fossil |
| 85 | FAI | vice grip, vine, vibraphone, Viking, viper |
| 86 | FIH | fiddle, fin, filly, Victor |
| 87 | FE | vest, vet, vent, velvet |
| 88 | FEI | vase1, phaser, vane, veil, fable, veiled chameleon |
| 89 | FUH | pho (“fuh”), funny bone, fuzzy |
| 90 | PO | post, pole, pour, poker, pope, pork, Porky Pig, poster |
| 91 | PI | peas, Pete, peel, Peek, peeper (frog) |
| 92 | PU | puma, pool |
| 93 | PAA | Pat, pan, Pam, pack |
| 94 | PA | pot, pawn, palm, Paul, pocket, popcorn |
| 95 | PAI | Pices, pine cone, pike, pipe, pie |
| 96 | PIH | piston, pistol, pin, pill, pick |
| 97 | PE | pet, pen, Penrose |
| 98 | PEI | pacemaker, pail, paint, pane |
| 99 | PUH | pufferfish, puck, puppy |

* * *

#### Footnotes

- \* sometimes you might have to stretch the pronunciation of a word to make it fit
- 1 depends on how you pronounce “vase” 🙂

* * *

**Update:** If you’re interested in this kind of CV system, see also this VCV system: [Unveiling the ZINA Major (ZINA Mejọ)](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/unveiling-the-zina-major-zina-mej/112306)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TiberiusRex](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@TiberiusRex](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/TiberiusRex)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/2 "2020-07-10T20:01:26Z")

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Clever system! I like the using of phonetics to associate numbers instead of just substituting for letters (which is what I’ve been doing, with mixed success). I’ll give this a try too and let you know which is better (but, considering I’m an auditory learner, I suspect this will fit me much better!)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/josh/32/21_2.png) [@Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Josh)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/3 "2020-07-11T01:45:38Z")

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Let me know how it goes. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Elphelt](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/elphelt/32/18254_2.png) [@Elphelt](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Elphelt)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/4 "2023-11-13T11:41:27Z")

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> [@Josh](#):
>
> rs from 00 to 99 in case anyone wants to try it. The images that I use are different, but they are so personal that they wouldn’t work for anyone else. This set of images is designed so that anyone can use it as a starting point

Josh do you ever confuse your 2-digit numbers with your 3-digit numbers?

Example:  
97=PE → PET  
971=PET

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/josh/32/21_2.png) [@Josh](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Josh)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/5 "2024-08-09T21:02:25Z")

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Sorry, I didn’t see your reply here until now.

I don’t mix them up because once the associations are created, I can remember what image goes with what number.

~~Also, many of my 2-digit numbers were originally created with the major system, even though I now pronounce them with my newer system (above). 97 is pronounced PE, but I use an image of a [a clay tablet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_of_Gilgamesh#/media/File:British_Museum_Flood_Tablet.jpg) (originally from e **P** i **C** using the major system). “PE” is a now a new word in an internal language that means clay tablet.~~

**Edit:** I’m redoing my images now to match the system exactly. All of my images come from the examples above.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![2704](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/2/96bed5/32.png) [@2704](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/2704)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/a-2-digit-consonant-vowel-number-system-cv-system/52492/6 "2024-09-29T00:06:01Z")

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16 combinations of suits.  
16 vowel sounds.  
16 colors.

Sequence is S H D C.

1. gray SS /geɪm/
2. red SH /ges/
3. rosewood SD US /gʊd/
4. yellow SC /goʊl/

I practice the vowel sounds in game, guess, good and goal. Cutouts in colored paper helps combine everything. This gives me a “being connected” feeling! And I avoid using names like red, yellow, club, diamond.

1. maroon HS /gu:s/ goose
2. blue oy HH /ɔɪ/ Israel flag
3. cyan HD /ə/ #ccffff is web safe
4. salmom HC US strong /æm/ am

Schwa is difficult /ə/ a in ahead, unstressed i in pencil, weak a.

1. unplum DS /ʌ/ gun
2. olive drab DH ar as in army, heart, guard
3. lime DD /aɪ/ guide
4. periwinkle DC /ɪ/ gill

With 16 or 10 vowel sounds IPA helps, maybe too much.

1. green CS /i:/ geese
2. brown CH /aʊ/ gouge /gaʊdʒ/
3. Aquamarine CD /ɑː/ US god; UK sod
4. UK gauze CC UK gawk

If hard g would be 7 then gouge would be 7♧❤J. Ace would be s, ten d and king k. 6 and queen, sh and ch. That “if” is only a far away possibility.

To clarify, these pair mnemonics are based on consonant sounds:

7♤♤J ⁷⁰11 CAST OUT (banish)  
7♤♤Q ⁷⁰12 CAST IN (fishing rod)  
7♤♤K ⁷⁰13 COSTUME

7♤◇J ⁷⁰01 exist  
7♤◇Q ⁷⁰41 gizzard  
7♤◇K ⁷⁰71 gasket

7♤❤J ⁷⁹ 10 KIBBUTZ  
7♤❤Q ⁷⁹12 CAPTAIN  
7♤❤K ⁷⁹13 KEEP TIME (metronome)

7♤♧J ⁷⁹01 capacity  
7♤♧Q ⁷⁹41 copperhead  
7♤♧K ⁷⁹03 cubism

7◇♤J ⁷³14 COMMUTER  
7◇♤Q ⁷³12 COMEDIAN  
7◇♤K ⁷³35 CAMOMILE no good

7◇◇J ⁷³01 chemist  
7◇◇Q ⁷³02 commision  
7◇◇K ⁷³70 comics

7◇❤J ⁷²11 CANDIED  
7◇❤Q ⁷²12 CANTEEN  
7◇❤K ⁷²13 CONDOM

7◇♧J ⁷²01 knesset  
7◇♧Q ⁷²02 consign  
7◇♧K ⁷²03 consume

7​❤♤J ⁷⁴15 CARTWHEEL  
7​❤♤Q ⁷⁴12 ACCORDIAN  
7​❤♤K ⁷⁴34 CREAMER

7​❤◇J ⁷⁴01 crust  
7​❤◇Q ⁷⁴02 kerosene  
7​❤◇K ⁷⁴03 charisma

7​❤❤J ⁷¹11 KATYDID  
7​❤❤Q ⁷¹20 KIDNEYS  
7​❤❤K ⁷¹32 CATWOMAN

7​❤♧J ⁷¹05 godzilla  
7​❤♧Q ⁷¹43 cutworm  
7​❤♧K ⁷¹73 catacomb

7♧♤J ⁷⁷15 COCKTAIL  
7♧♤Q ⁷⁷21 COCONUT  
7♧♤K ⁷⁷13 QUICKTIME

7♧◇J ⁷⁷01 quickset (concrete)  
7♧◇Q ⁷⁷41 gocart  
7♧◇K ⁷⁷75 coca- cola

7♧❤J ⁷⁵14 GLITTER  
7♧❤Q ⁷⁵12 GOLDEN  
7♧❤K ⁷⁵34 CLAYMORE

7♧♧J ⁷⁵00 eyeglasses  
7♧♧Q ⁷⁵02 chlorine  
7♧♧K ⁷⁵03 calcium

1600 non face card pairs derive from 3NRD.