Numbers and Ordering in Russian: A Beginner's Guide

Understanding Russian Numerals

Russian numbers can be divided into cardinal and ordinal numbers. Cardinal numbers express quantity (one, two, three), while ordinal numbers denote position or order (first, second, third).

Cardinal Numbers in Russian

The cardinal numbers from 1 to 10 in Russian are as follows:

Russian Numbers from 11 to 20

Once you reach eleven, Russian numbers start following a pattern similar to compound words:

Ordinal Numbers in Russian

Ordinal numbers in Russian distinguish position, much like in English. Most ordinal numbers are formed by adding "-ый" or "-ой" to the cardinal number root, similar to adding "-th" in English:

Note: For numbers beyond ten, simply append the ordinal suffixes to the cardinal: двадцать первый (twenty-first).

Grammar and Usage

While learning Russian numbers, it's crucial to understand how they interact with grammar. Russian cardinal numbers often require you to adjust the noun case that follows them.

Numbers and Noun Cases

Russian cardinal numbers 2, 3, and 4 require nouns to be in the genitive singular, while numbers 5 and above require the genitive plural.