Numbers 1 to 10 in Russian
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Quick Answer
| Numeral | English | Russian | Romanisation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One | один | odin | |
| 2 | Two | два | dva | |
| 3 | Three | три | tri | |
| 4 | Four | четыре | chetyre | |
| 5 | Five | пять | pyat | |
| 6 | Six | шесть | shest | |
| 7 | Seven | семь | sem | |
| 8 | Eight | восемь | vosem | |
| 9 | Nine | девять | devyat | |
| 10 | Ten | десять | desyat |
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Russian numbers have gender?
Yes, the numbers 1 and 2 change based on gender. 1 is один (masc), одна (fem), одно (neuter). 2 is два (masc/neuter) and две (fem). Numbers 3 and above do not change for gender, but they do change for grammatical cases.
What is the soft sign (ь) at the end of numbers 5-10?
The soft sign indicates that the preceding consonant should be palatalized (softened). It changes the position of your tongue to make the consonant sound lighter.
Why is the 'o' in 'odin' pronounced like an 'a'?
In Russian, vowel reduction occurs when an 'o' is not stressed. Since the stress in 'odin' is on the second syllable, the first 'o' sounds like an 'a' (ah-DEEN).
Is Russian hard to pronounce?
It takes practice, especially the rolled 'r' (as in 'tri') and the vowel 'ы' (as in 'chetyre'), but the rules are very consistent once learned.
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