How to Learn Numbers and Numerals in Croatian

Introduction to Croatian Numbers

Numbers are an essential part of any language, and Croatian is no exception. Whether you're shopping, telling time, or discussing dates, knowing how to use numbers and numerals in Croatian will greatly enhance your communication skills. This article will guide English speakers through the basics of Croatian numbers, including cardinal and ordinal numbers, pronunciation, and usage.

Cardinal Numbers in Croatian

Cardinal numbers are used for counting and answering the question "How many?" Here are the basic cardinal numbers from 0 to 10 in Croatian:

• 0 - nula
• 1 - jedan
• 2 - dva
• 3 - tri
• 4 - četiri
• 5 - pet
• 6 - šest
• 7 - sedam
• 8 - osam
• 9 - devet
• 10 - deset

Notice that Croatian numbers have gender forms for some numbers, especially 'one' (jedan, jedna, jedno) depending on the gender of the noun they describe. For beginners, the masculine form 'jedan' is commonly used.

Numbers from 11 to 20

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

• 11 - jedanaest
• 12 - dvanaest
• 13 - trinaest
• 14 - četrnaest
• 15 - petnaest
• 16 - šesnaest
• 17 - sedamnaest
• 18 - osamnaest
• 19 - devetnaest
• 20 - dvadeset

Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands

Croatian numbers continue with tens, hundreds, and thousands as follows:

• 30 - trideset
• 40 - četrdeset
• 50 - pedeset
• 60 - šezdeset
• 70 - sedamdeset
• 80 - osamdeset
• 90 - devedeset
• 100 - sto
• 200 - dvjesto
• 300 - tristo
• 1000 - tisuća

Ordinal Numbers in Croatian

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, such as first, second, third, etc. Here are the first five ordinal numbers in Croatian:

• 1st - prvi
• 2nd - drugi
• 3rd - treći
• 4th - četvrti
• 5th - peti

Ordinal numbers also change according to gender and case, but the masculine nominative forms are the most common for beginners.

Pronunciation Tips for Croatian Numbers

Croatian pronunciation can be challenging for English speakers. Here are some tips to help you pronounce numbers correctly:

• The letter 'č' is pronounced like 'ch' in 'chocolate'.
• The letter 'š' is pronounced like 'sh' in 'shoe'.
• The letter 'ć' is a softer 'ch' sound, similar to 't' in 'tune' when pronounced carefully.
• Stress usually falls on the first syllable of the number word.

Using Numbers in Sentences

Here are some examples of how to use numbers in Croatian sentences:

• Imam dva brata. (I have two brothers.)
• Kupio sam pet jabuka. (I bought five apples.)
• Sastanak je u tri sata. (The meeting is at three o'clock.)
• Ovo je moja prva knjiga. (This is my first book.)

Common Phrases with Numbers