How to Learn Numbers and Numerals in Czech for English Speakers

Understanding Czech Numbers: An Overview

Numbers and numerals are essential in everyday communication, and learning them is a key step for English speakers studying Czech. Czech numbers have unique forms and rules that differ from English, including gender agreement and case declensions.

Cardinal Numbers in Czech

Cardinal numbers are used for counting and answering the question "How many?" Here are the basic cardinal numbers from 1 to 10 in Czech:

Pronunciation Tips for Czech Numbers

Czech pronunciation can be challenging for English speakers. For example, the number tři (three) is pronounced as [tr̩̊ɪ], where the ř sound is unique to Czech. Listening to native speakers and practicing regularly will help you master these sounds.

Numbers 11 to 20

Numbers from 11 to 20 are formed by combining the base number with suffixes. Here are some examples:

Using Numbers in Sentences

In Czech, numbers can affect the form of the noun they describe, depending on gender and case. For example, the word for "book" is kniha (feminine). When counting books, the noun changes form:

• 1 kniha (one book)
• 2 knihy (two books)
• 5 knih (five books)

This is important to remember when using numbers in conversation or writing.

Ordinal Numbers in Czech

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, like first, second, third, etc. Here are the first five ordinal numbers in Czech:

Practice Exercises

Try counting objects around you in Czech, starting with 1 to 10. Practice saying ordinal numbers when describing order, such as "the first day" (první den) or "the second book" (druhý kniha).