Embark on a linguistic adventure and delve into the captivating world of counting in Russian. Unlike English, which relies solely on the familiar number system from zero to ten, the Russian language introduces an intriguing twist. As you venture beyond the basic numbers, you will encounter a rich tapestry of new words and patterns, revealing the intricacies and beauty of this Slavic tongue.
To begin your numerical journey, let us unravel the first ten numbers in Russian: один (one), два (two), три (three), четыре (four), пять (five), шесть (six), семь (seven), восемь (eight), девять (nine), and десять (ten). These foundational numbers lay the groundwork for your exploration, paving the way for more complex counting.
As you progress beyond the initial ten, you will discover that Russian numbers follow a distinctive pattern. For numbers between eleven and nineteen, the suffix “-надцать” is appended to the root word for the corresponding single-digit number. For instance, “eleven” becomes одиннадцать (odinnatsat), “twelve” translates to двенадцать (dvenadtsat), and “nineteen” is rendered as девятнадцать (devyatnadtsat). This pattern provides a systematic framework for counting in the teens.
From One to Ten: The Basics
1. Один (Odin)
The number “one” in Russian is Один (Odin), pronounced as “ah-deen”. It’s a simple word and serves as the foundation for counting in the Russian language. Here are a few examples of how to use “Odin” in different contexts:
- Единица (Yedinitsa) – A single unit
- Одно (Odno) – One (in neuter singular form)
- Одного (Odnogo) – Of one (in genitive singular form)
- Одним (Odnim) – By one (in instrumental singular form)
Remember, the pronunciation of “Odin” can vary slightly depending on the context and the surrounding words. However, the core sound remains the same.
Beyond the Basics: Tens and Hundreds
Once you grasp the numbers 1-10, it’s time to expand your Russian vocabulary to include tens and hundreds. The formation of these larger numbers follows a specific pattern:
Tens
To form a ten in Russian, you simply add the suffix “-надцать” to the corresponding single-digit number. For example:
| Single Digit | Ten |
|---|---|
| 2 | двадцать (dva-t͡sátʹ) |
| 5 | пятьдесят (pyatʹ-de-syatʹ) |
| 7 | семьдесят (sémʹ-de-sya-tʹ) |
Note that the stress in these ten-words falls on the suffix.
Hundreds
To form a hundred, you add the suffix “-сот” to the corresponding ten. For example:
| Ten | Hundred |
|---|---|
| двадцать | двести (dvé-sti) |
| пятьдесят | пятьсот (pyatʹ-sot) |
| семьдесят | семьсот (sémʹ-sot) |
Unlike with tens, the stress in hundred-words falls on the stem rather than the suffix.
To combine tens and hundreds, simply say the ten first followed by the hundred. For instance, to say “two hundred fifty,” you would say:
двести пятьдесят (dvé-sti pyatʹ-de-syatʹ)
Cardinal Numbers: Expressing Specific Quantities
Cardinal numbers, also known as primary numbers, are used to express specific quantities or amounts. They are the most basic type of number in any language. In Russian, cardinal numbers are formed by adding the appropriate ending to the root of the number.
Three (три, try)
The number “three” (три, try) is an exception to the general rule of adding an ending to the root. It has a unique root and ending: “тр” (tr) and “и” (i). Thus, “three” is spelled “три” (try) in Russian.
Here are some examples of how to use “three” (три, try) in Russian sentences:
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| I have three apples. | У меня три яблока. |
| There are three books on the table. | На столе три книги. |
| The train leaves in three hours. | Поезд отправляется через три часа. |
Declension of “Three” (три, try)
Like all other Russian nouns, the number “three” (три, try) can change its form depending on the grammatical case. Here is a table showing the declension of “three” (три, try) in all six cases:
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | три | — |
| Genitive | трёх | — |
| Dative | трём | — |
| Accusative | три | — |
| Instrumental | тремя | — |
| Prepositional | о трёх | — |
Fractional Numbers: Expressing Parts of a Whole
In Russian, fractional numbers are expressed using a combination of cardinal numbers and the word “третья” (tretya), meaning “third”, or “четверть” (chetvert), meaning “quarter”. For numbers greater than one, the denominator is expressed in the genitive case.
Here are some examples of fractional numbers in Russian:
| Number | Russian | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | одна вторая | one half |
| 1/3 | одна третья | one third |
| 1/4 | одна четверть | one quarter |
| 2/3 | две трети | two thirds |
| 3/4 | три четверти | three quarters |
| 5/10 | пять десятых | five tenths |
To express mixed numbers, the cardinal number is placed before the fractional part. For example, “two and one-half” would be “два с половиной” (dva s polovinoi).
Decimals: Representing Values Less than One
Decimals are used in Russian to represent values less than one. They are written with a comma (,) as the decimal separator.
The Number 6
The number six in Russian is written as “шесть” (pronounced “shest”). The table below shows how to represent six as a decimal.
| Decimal | Russian Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | шесть десятых | shest desyatykh |
| 0.06 | шесть сотых | shest sotykh |
| 0.006 | шесть тысячных | shest tysyachnykh |
| 0.0006 | шесть десятитысячных | shest desyatytysyachnykh |
| 0.00006 | шесть стотысячных | shest stotysyachnykh |
| 0.000006 | шесть миллионных | shest millionnykh |
When expressing a decimal in Russian, the number of digits after the decimal point indicates the place value of the last digit. For example, in the number 0.6, the 6 is in the tenths place, meaning that it represents six tenths of a whole unit.
Pronouncing Russian Numbers Correctly
Mastering the pronunciation of Russian numbers is crucial for effective communication. Here’s a guide to help you get it right:
The Number 8 (восемь, vosem)
The pronunciation of the number 8, “восемь,” can be a bit tricky. It’s pronounced with the stress on the first syllable and the vowel sounds are pronounced as follows:
| Vowel Sound | IPA Symbol | Example |
|---|---|---|
| o | /o/ | cобака (dog) |
| e | /ɛ/ | это (this) |
| и | /i/ | лиса (fox) |
Therefore, the correct pronunciation of “восемь” is “vos-em” with the stress on the first syllable. Remember, the “o” is pronounced similarly to the “o” in “dog,” the “e” is pronounced like the “e” in “egg,” and the “м” is pronounced with a soft “m” sound.
1 – 10
The numbers 1-10 are the foundation of Russian counting:
| 1 | odin |
| 2 | dva |
| 3 | tri |
| 4 | chetyre |
| 5 | pyat |
| 6 | shest |
| 7 | sem |
| 8 | vosem |
| 9 | devyat’ |
| 10 | desyat’ |
The stress in these numbers falls on the first syllable. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) at the end of pyat’ and devyat’ – it indicates that the consonant should be pronounced softly.
Practice Makes Perfect: Tips for Improving your Counting Skills
Here are a few tips to help you master Russian counting:
- Practice regularly.
- Use flashcards or a notebook to keep track of your progress.
- Listen to Russian audio recordings of numbers.
- Try to count objects around you in Russian.
- Find a language partner or take a class to practice speaking and hearing numbers.
How to Count in Russian
To count in Russian, you need to know the basic numbers from 1 to 10: один (one), два (two), три (three), четыре (four), пять (five), шесть (six), семь (seven), восемь (eight), девять (nine), десять (ten).
Once you know the basic numbers, you can start counting from 11 onwards. To do this, you simply say the number of tens followed by the number of ones. For example, 11 is одиннадцать (literally “one ten”), 12 is двенадцать (“two ten”), and so on.
For numbers from 20 to 99, you say the number of tens followed by the number of ones, but you add the ending “-дцать” to the number of tens. For example, 20 is двадцать (literally “two ten”), 30 is тридцать (“three ten”), and so on.
For numbers from 100 to 999, you say the number of hundreds followed by the number of tens and ones. For example, 100 is сто (literally “one hundred”), 200 is двести (“two hundred”), and so on.
For numbers from 1,000 to 999,999, you say the number of thousands followed by the number of hundreds, tens, and ones. For example, 1,000 is тысяча (literally “one thousand”), 2,000 is две тысячи (“two thousand”), and so on.
People Also Ask About How to Count in Russian
How do you say 1 million in Russian?
1 million in Russian is один миллион (literally “one million”).
How do you say 1 billion in Russian?
1 billion in Russian is один миллиард (literally “one billion”).
How do you say 1 trillion in Russian?
1 trillion in Russian is один триллион (literally “one trillion”).
