Understanding Ukrainian Numbers: Cardinal and Ordinal for English Speakers

Introduction to Ukrainian Numbers

Numbers are an essential part of any language, and Ukrainian is no exception. In this article, we will explore both cardinal and ordinal numbers in Ukrainian, helping English speakers understand how to count and express order in Ukrainian.

Cardinal Numbers in Ukrainian

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

• 1 - один (odyn)
• 2 - два (dva)
• 3 - три (try)
• 4 - чотири (chotyry)
• 5 - п'ять (p'yatʹ)
• 6 - шість (shistʹ)
• 7 - сім (sim)
• 8 - вісім (visim)
• 9 - дев'ять (dev'yatʹ)
• 10 - десять (desyatʹ)

Notice that Ukrainian numbers have gender forms when used with nouns, but the basic forms above are masculine and can be used generally.

Cardinal Numbers from 11 to 20

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

• 11 - одинадцять (odynadtsyatʹ)
• 12 - дванадцять (dvanadtsyatʹ)
• 13 - тринадцять (trynadtsyatʹ)
• 14 - чотирнадцять (chotyrnadtsyatʹ)
• 15 - п'ятнадцять (p'yatnadtsyatʹ)
• 16 - шістнадцять (shistnadtsyatʹ)
• 17 - сімнадцять (simnadtsyatʹ)
• 18 - вісімнадцять (visimnadtsyatʹ)
• 19 - дев'ятнадцять (dev'yatnadtsyatʹ)
• 20 - двадцять (dvadtsyatʹ)

Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands

Here are some important multiples of ten, hundred, and thousand:

• 30 - тридцять (trydtsyatʹ)
• 40 - сорок (sorok)
• 50 - п'ятдесят (p'yatdesyat)
• 60 - шістдесят (shistdesyat)
• 70 - сімдесят (simdesyat)
• 80 - вісімдесят (visimdesyat)
• 90 - дев'яносто (dev'yanosto)
• 100 - сто (sto)
• 200 - двісті (dvisti)
• 300 - триста (trysta)
• 1000 - тисяча (tysyacha)

Ordinal Numbers in Ukrainian

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, answering the question "Which one?" or "What order?". They are often used with dates, floors, or ranking.

Basic Ordinal Numbers

Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Ukrainian, with their masculine forms:

• 1st - перший (pershyy)
• 2nd - другий (druhyy)
• 3rd - третій (tretiy)
• 4th - четвертий (chetvertyy)
• 5th - п'ятий (p'yatyy)
• 6th - шостий (shostyy)
• 7th - сьомий (sʹomyy)
• 8th - восьмий (vosʹmyy)
• 9th - дев'ятий (dev'yatyy)
• 10th - десятий (desyatyy)

Note that ordinal numbers in Ukrainian change their endings to agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify.

Forming Ordinal Numbers Beyond Ten

Ordinal numbers beyond ten are generally formed by adding the suffix -ий or -тий to the cardinal number stem. For example:

• 11th - одинадцятий (odynadtsyatyy)
• 12th - дванадцятий (dvanadtsyatyy)
• 20th - двадцятий (dvadtsyatyy)
• 30th - тридцятий (trydtsyatyy)

Pronunciation Tips

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

• The letter и is pronounced like the 'i' in 'bit'.
• The apostrophe ' indicates a softening of the preceding consonant.
• Stress can change the meaning, so listen carefully to native speakers.
• Practice with audio resources to improve your accent.

Common Uses of Numbers in Ukrainian

Numbers are used in many everyday situations such as telling time, dates, prices, and phone numbers. Understanding both cardinal and ordinal numbers will help you communicate effectively.

Examples in Sentences

• У мене є три книги. (I have three books.)
• Він живе на другому поверсі. (He lives on the second floor.)
• Сьогодні двадцять п'яте травня. (Today is the twenty-fifth of May.)

Summary

Mastering Ukrainian numbers, both cardinal and ordinal, is essential for everyday communication. Practice the numbers, pay attention to gender and case agreements, and listen to native pronunciation to improve your skills.