Numbers 1 to 10 in Every Language

How to Count in Arabic

Learning to count from 1 to 10 in Arabic is a vital step in mastering the language. Arabic numbers are used across the Middle East and North Africa, and understanding them will help you with everything from reading prices in a souk to telling time.

It is important to note that while the Arabic language is written and read from right to left, numbers (digits) are actually written and read from left to right, just like in English. However, the spelled-out words for the numbers shown in the table above are written right-to-left.

The numbers presented here are in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is understood across the Arab world. Local dialects may have slight variations in pronunciation, but MSA is the perfect starting point.

Pronunciation Tips

Arabic contains several sounds that do not exist in English, which are often represented by apostrophes or specific letter combinations in transliteration:

• The 'Ayn (ع): Seen in arba'a (4), saba'a (7), and tisa'a (9). This is a guttural sound produced deep in the throat. It sounds like a tightening of the throat while making an "ah" sound.
• Khamsa (5): The 'kh' (خ) is pronounced like the 'ch' in the Scottish word "loch" or the German "Bach". It is a raspy sound made at the back of the mouth.
• Th/T sounds: In MSA, ithnan (2) and talata (3) use a soft 'th' sound (like in "think"). In many spoken dialects, this shifts to a hard 't' sound.
• Emphasis: Pay attention to double consonants, like the 'tt' in sitta (6). You should hold the consonant slightly longer than a single letter.

Arabic: quick questions

How to Count in French

Learning to count from 1 to 10 in French is one of the first and most essential steps when studying the language. Numbers are used constantly in daily life, from telling time and giving your age to shopping and ordering food in a café.

In French, numbers are generally straightforward, but they do have some unique pronunciation rules depending on the words that follow them. For example, the final consonants in numbers like six (6) and dix (10) are usually silent, but they are pronounced if the following word begins with a vowel (this is called a liaison ).

Practice counting aloud: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix . Once you master these first ten digits, you will have the foundation needed to build larger numbers and navigate basic conversations in French-speaking countries.

Pronunciation Tips

French pronunciation can be tricky for beginners due to nasal vowels and silent letters. Here are some key tips for numbers 1-10:

• Un (1): This is a nasal vowel. Try saying "uh" while pushing the air through your nose.
• Deux (2): The 'x' is silent. The 'eu' sound is similar to the 'u' in the English word "surf" but with rounded lips.
• Trois (3): The 's' is silent. The 'oi' makes a "wah" sound.
• Quatre (4): The 'qu' sounds like a hard 'k'. The 're' at the end is very soft, almost swallowed.
• Cinq (5): The 'in' is a nasal sound, and the 'q' is pronounced like a 'k'.
• Six (6) & Dix (10): When counting alone, pronounce the 'x' like an 's' (sees, dees). If followed by a consonant, the 'x' is silent.
• Sept (7): The 'p' is completely silent. Pronounce it like the English word "set".
• Huit (8): The 'h' is silent. It sounds like "weet".

French: quick questions

How to Count in German

Counting in German is highly structured and shares many similarities with English, as both are Germanic languages. Learning the numbers 1 to 10 is your first step toward mastering German numbers, which follow a very logical pattern as you count higher.

When counting sequentially (1, 2, 3...), you use the base forms listed above. However, note that the number 1 ( eins ) drops the 's' when used before a noun (e.g., ein Hund - one dog) and changes endings based on gender and case.

German numbers are pronounced clearly and forcefully. Practice saying them aloud: eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn .

Pronunciation Tips

German pronunciation rules are very consistent. Once you learn how certain letter combinations sound, you can read almost any German word. Here are tips for numbers 1-10:

• Zwei (2) & Zehn (10): The German 'z' is always pronounced like "ts" in English (like the end of "cats"). So, zwei is "tsvy" and zehn is "tsayn".
• Vier (4): The German 'v' is pronounced like an English 'f'. The 'ie' combination makes a long "ee" sound. So, vier sounds like "feer".
• Fünf (5): The umlaut (ü) requires you to round your lips as if saying "oo", but try to say "ee". It is a tight, forward sound.
• Sechs (6): The 'chs' combination in German makes an "x" or "ks" sound. The 's' at the beginning sounds like an English 'z'. So, it sounds like "zeks".
• Acht (8): The 'ch' after an 'a' is a guttural sound made in the back of the throat, similar to the Scottish "loch".
• Neun (9): The 'eu' combination is pronounced like "oy" in English (like in "boy").

German: quick questions

How to Count in Hindi

Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and learning to count from 1 to 10 is an essential first step. Hindi uses the Devanagari script, which is written from left to right and features a characteristic horizontal line running along the top of the letters.

Unlike English, where numbers follow a strict, predictable pattern after 20, Hindi numbers from 1 to 100 are largely unique and must be memorized individually. However, mastering 1 through 10 provides the phonetic foundation you need.

Practice counting aloud: ek, do, teen, char, paanch, chhah, saat, aath, nau, das . These numbers are used universally in India for shopping, telling time, and daily conversation.

Pronunciation Tips

Hindi pronunciation includes aspirated consonants (said with a puff of air) and nasalized vowels, which can be new for English speakers:

• Ek (1): Pronounced like the English word "ache".
• Teen (3): The 't' is a soft dental 't'. Touch your tongue to the back of your upper teeth, not the roof of your mouth.
• Char (4): The 'ch' is pronounced like in "chair", and the 'r' is slightly tapped or rolled.
• Paanch (5): The 'n' indicates nasalization. Say "paach" but push the air through your nose on the vowel.
• Chhah (6): This is an aspirated 'ch'. Say "ch" with a strong puff of air, followed by a soft 'h' sound at the end.
• Aath (8): The 'th' is an aspirated retroflex 't'. Curl your tongue back to touch the roof of your mouth and release with a puff of air.
• Nau (9): Pronounced like the English word "now".

Hindi: quick questions

How to Count in Italian

Counting in Italian is melodic and rhythmic. As a Romance language, Italian numbers share roots with Spanish, French, and Portuguese, making them relatively easy to learn if you have experience with any of those languages.

Italian pronunciation is highly phonetic. Every letter is pronounced, and vowels are pure and crisp. When counting from 1 to 10, pay special attention to double consonants, which require a slight pause or emphasis.

Practice counting aloud: uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci . Note that uno changes to un , uno , una , or un' depending on the gender and starting letter of the noun it precedes.

Pronunciation Tips

To sound authentic when counting in Italian, keep your vowels short and clear, and emphasize double consonants:

• Due (2): Pronounce both vowels clearly: "doo-eh". Do not blend them into an English "dew".
• Tre (3): Roll or tap the 'r' slightly. It is a single, crisp syllable: "treh".
• Quattro (4), Sette (7), Otto (8): These numbers feature double consonants. You must hold the consonant sound slightly longer. For otto , say "oht-toh", pausing briefly on the 't'.
• Cinque (5): The 'ci' makes a "chee" sound, and the 'que' makes a "kweh" sound. Together: "cheen-kweh".
• Dieci (10): The 'di' is "dee", the 'e' is "eh", and the 'ci' is "chee". Blended together quickly: "dyeh-chee".

Italian: quick questions

How to Count in Japanese

Counting in Japanese is highly logical, but it introduces a few unique concepts for English speakers. The numbers 1 to 10 are the absolute foundation of the Japanese counting system. Once you know these, counting up to 99 is incredibly simple (for example, 11 is just "ten-one" or juu-ichi ).

Japanese uses Kanji characters for numbers, which were originally adopted from Chinese. While Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) are widely used in modern Japan, especially in horizontal writing and prices, Kanji (一, 二, 三) are still heavily used in vertical writing, traditional settings, and formal documents.

It is important to note that Japanese has specific "counters" (counters are suffixes attached to numbers) depending on the shape or type of object you are counting. However, the basic numbers listed here are used for counting up, doing math, and forming the base of those counters.

Pronunciation Tips

Japanese pronunciation is generally straightforward, with pure vowel sounds. However, some numbers have multiple readings due to historical superstitions:

• Four (四): Can be read as shi or yon . Because shi sounds exactly like the Japanese word for "death", yon is frequently used in daily life to avoid bad luck.
• Seven (七): Can be read as shichi or nana . Nana is often preferred because shichi sounds similar to shi (death) and ichi (one).
• Nine (九): Can be read as kyuu or ku . Ku is sometimes avoided because it sounds like the word for "suffering" or "agony".
• Vowel Length: Pay attention to double vowels. In kyuu (9) and juu (10), the 'u' sound is held twice as long as a single 'u'.
• Roku (6): The Japanese 'r' is a flap sound, somewhere between an English 'r', 'l', and 'd'.

Japanese: quick questions

How to Count in Korean

Korean is unique because it uses two entirely different number systems: the Native Korean system and the Sino-Korean system (derived from Chinese). The numbers listed above are the Native Korean numbers .

Native Korean numbers (hana, dul, set...) are used for counting physical objects, people, and age. When counting objects, these numbers are paired with specific "counters" (e.g., gae for items, myeong for people). Note that numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 20 change their form slightly when attached to a counter (hana becomes han , dul becomes du , set becomes se , net becomes ne ).

The Sino-Korean numbers (il, i, sam, sa...) are used for dates, money, addresses, phone numbers, and minutes/seconds. It is essential to learn both systems to fully navigate daily life in Korea.

Pronunciation Tips

Korean pronunciation relies heavily on the position of the tongue and the shape of the mouth. Here are tips for the Native Korean numbers 1-10:

• Set (3), Net (4), Daseot (5), Yeoseot (6): The final consonant 'ㅅ' (s) is pronounced as an unreleased 't' sound when it appears at the end of a syllable. Do not release a puff of air; just stop the sound abruptly.
• Dul (2), Yeol (10): The Korean 'ㄹ' (l/r) at the end of a syllable sounds closer to an English 'l', but the tongue touches the roof of the mouth slightly further back.
• Yeodeol (8): This word has a double final consonant (ㄼ). In standard pronunciation, only the 'ㄹ' (l) is pronounced, making it sound like "yeo-deol". The 'ㅂ' (b/p) is silent unless followed by a vowel.
• Ilgop (7), Ahop (9): The final 'ㅂ' (p) is also unreleased. Stop the sound with your lips closed without letting air escape.

Korean: quick questions

How to Count in Mandarin Chinese

Counting in Mandarin Chinese is incredibly logical and forms the basis for all higher numbers. The characters (Hanzi) for 1, 2, and 3 are visually intuitive, represented by one, two, and three horizontal lines respectively (一, 二, 三).

Once you memorize the numbers 1 through 10, counting up to 99 is simply a matter of combining them. For example, 11 is "ten-one" (十一, shí yī), and 20 is "two-tens" (二十, èr shí).

In China, people also use a unique system of hand gestures to represent numbers from 1 to 10 using only one hand. This is especially useful in noisy environments like markets. For instance, the gesture for 6 (六, liù) looks like a "hang loose" sign with the thumb and pinky extended.

Pronunciation Tips

Mandarin is a tonal language, meaning the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of the word. Pinyin (the romanisation system) uses marks above the vowels to indicate the four main tones:

• First Tone ( ¯ ): High and flat. Used in 一 (yī), 三 (sān), 七 (qī), 八 (bā). Keep your voice steady.
• Second Tone ( ´ ): Rising, like asking a question in English. Used in 十 (shí).
• Third Tone ( ˇ ): Dips down and then rises. Used in 五 (wǔ) and 九 (jiǔ).
• Fourth Tone ( ` ): Sharp and falling, like giving a command. Used in 二 (èr), 四 (sì), 六 (liù).
• Special Note on 4 and 10: 四 (sì) and 十 (shí) are notoriously difficult for beginners to distinguish. "Sì" is a sharp 's' sound falling down, while "shí" is an 'sh' sound rising up.

Mandarin Chinese: quick questions

How to Count in Russian

Counting in Russian is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian pronunciation rules. The numbers 1 to 10 are the building blocks for all larger numbers and are used daily in shopping, telling time, and basic conversation.

Russian numbers are highly inflected, meaning they change their endings depending on the gender of the noun they are counting and the grammatical case of the sentence. For example, the number 1 ( один ) has masculine, feminine ( одна ), and neuter ( одно ) forms.

When counting sequentially (just reciting numbers), you use the standard masculine/nominative forms listed in the table above. Practice saying them aloud to get comfortable with the consonant clusters common in Russian.

Pronunciation Tips

Russian pronunciation features "soft" and "hard" consonants, which can be tricky for English speakers. Here are some tips for the numbers 1-10:

• The Soft Sign (ь): Numbers 5 through 10 all end with a soft sign (ь). This letter makes no sound of its own but softens the consonant before it. For example, in пять (5), the final 't' is pronounced with the tongue pressed flat against the roof of the mouth, almost like adding a tiny 'y' sound at the end.
• Odin (1): The stress is on the second syllable: ah-DEEN. Unstressed 'o' in Russian is pronounced like 'a'.
• Chetyre (4): The 'ch' is soft, like in "cheese". The 'y' (ы) is a deep vowel sound made in the back of the throat, similar to being punched in the stomach while saying "ee".
• Vosem (8): The 'v' is pronounced clearly, and the stress is on the first syllable: VO-syem.

Russian: quick questions

How to Count in Spanish

Counting from 1 to 10 in Spanish is a fundamental skill that opens the door to basic communication across the Spanish-speaking world. Whether you are traveling, shopping, or just starting your language learning journey, these ten numbers are essential.

Spanish numbers are highly phonetic, meaning they are generally pronounced exactly as they are written. Once you learn the basic vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u), reading and saying Spanish numbers becomes incredibly intuitive.

Practice counting aloud: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez . Note that the number 1 ( uno ) changes to un before a masculine noun (e.g., un libro ) and una before a feminine noun (e.g., una casa ).

Pronunciation Tips

Spanish pronunciation is crisp and clear. Here are some tips to sound more like a native speaker when counting to 10:

• Vowels: Spanish vowels are short and pure. 'A' is "ah", 'E' is "eh", 'I' is "ee", 'O' is "oh", and 'U' is "oo". Do not drag them out like in English.
• Uno (1): Pronounced "oo-noh". Remember it drops the 'o' before masculine nouns.
• Tres (3): Roll or tap the 'r' slightly if you can. It's a single syllable: "trehs".
• Cuatro (4): The 'cua' sounds like "kwa". Make sure the 't' and 'r' are crisp.
• Cinco (5): In Latin America, the 'c' before 'i' sounds like an 's' ("seen-koh"). In most of Spain, it sounds like a soft 'th' ("theen-koh").
• Seis (6): Blends the 'e' and 'i' together quickly: "says".
• Nueve (9): The 'v' in Spanish is pronounced very softly, often sounding closer to a soft 'b' when speaking quickly.
• Diez (10): Similar to 'cinco', the 'z' sounds like an 's' in Latin America ("dyes") and a soft 'th' in Spain.

Spanish: quick questions