Understanding Polish Numerals and Counting for Beginners
Polish numerals can be a bit challenging for English speakers due to their unique structure and pronunciation. However, with a bit of practice, you can easily master them.
Basic Polish Numbers 1-10
jeden
one
dwa
two
trzy
three
cztery
four
pięć
five
sześć
six
siedem
seven
osiem
eight
dziewięć
nine
dziesięć
ten
Counting in Polish: Beyond Ten
Once you are familiar with the numbers 1-10, counting beyond becomes easier. Polish uses a similar pattern to English for constructing numbers beyond ten.
Teens and Tens
- 11: jedenaście
- 12: dwanaście
- 20: dwadzieścia
- 30: trzydzieści
Unique Aspects of Polish Numbers
Polish numbers change form based on grammatical cases, genders, and plurality. This can affect not just the counting but also the structure of your sentences.
Ordinal Numbers in Polish
Ordinal numbers, used for positions or order, have a different structure than cardinal numbers. For example, jeden (etc.) becomes pierwszy (etc.).
Examples of Ordinals
pierwszy
first
drugi
second
trzeci
third
czwarty
fourth
Tips for Learning Polish Numbers
Practice counting daily and use numbers in sentences to grasp their changing forms. Resources like apps, Polish cartoons, and songs can be incredibly helpful.
Further Reading
- Numbers on Duolingo
Practice Polish numbers with Duolingo exercises.
- Polish Numbers and Counting
A comprehensive guide to counting in Polish on PolishPod101.
- Polish Numbers: Learn to Count
Explore Polish numbers and counting rules on Learner Trip.
- Polish Numbers - Wikibooks
Detailed explanation of Polish numbers with examples on Wikibooks.