Counting in Russian

Russian grammar: Russian cardinal numbers

In one of our previous lessons we have learned Russian numbers from 0 to 100. Today we will learn how to count items in Russian.

When you want to count some items, you need to keep in mind a couple or rules. You still use the same numerals, however you need to change the form of the noun you count depending on the number:

For the numbers 1 and 2, you also need to change the ending of the numeral depending on the gender of the object:

– оди́н – masculine
– одна́ – feminine
– одно́ – neuter

– два – masculine
– две – feminine
– два – neuter

Examples

Now let’s look at some examples:

ви́лка – fork (f.)

ноль ви́лок (Genitive, plural)
одна́ ви́лка (Nominative, singular)
две ви́лки (Genitive, singular)
пять ви́лок (Genitive, plural)
оди́ннадцать ви́лок (Genitive, plural)

я́блоко – apple (n.)

одно́ я́блоко (Nominative, singular)
четы́ре я́блока (Genitive, singular)
два́дцать я́блок (Genitive, plural)

апельси́н – orange (m.)

два́дцать оди́н апельси́н (Nominative, singular)
два́дцать два апельси́на (Genitive, singular)
два́дцать пять апельси́нов (Genitive, plural)

Practice all today’s phrases with the audio track.

Stick with us and in the next lesson we will continue to learn Russian!

The offline version of this lesson is available here

Start the quiz

• 028. How many? How much? in Russian
• 030. The Accusative case in Russian