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 in Croatian will greatly enhance your communication skills. This article will guide English speakers through the basics of Croatian numbers and numerals.

Cardinal Numbers in Croatian

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

Notice that Croatian numbers have gender forms for some numbers, especially when used as adjectives. For example, 'jedan' (one) changes to 'jedna' for feminine and 'jedno' for neuter nouns.

Numbers 11 to 20

Numbers from 11 to 20 are formed by combining the base number with the suffix '-naest':

Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands

Croatian forms tens by combining the base number with '-deset' (meaning 'ten'). For example, 'trideset' means thirty (3 x 10). Hundreds are formed by adding '-sto' to the base number, and thousands by adding '-tisuća'.

Ordinal Numbers in Croatian

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, such as first, second, third, etc. They are often used with dates and rankings. Here are the first five ordinal numbers in Croatian:

Ordinal numbers agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, so their endings may change accordingly.

Using Numbers in Everyday Croatian

Numbers are used in many everyday situations, such as telling time, giving phone numbers, and discussing prices. Practice using Croatian numbers in context to become more comfortable with them.

For example, to say "I have two cats," you would say "Imam dva mačka." Remember that 'dva' is the masculine form of 'two'.