Numbers Zero to Ten

Level 1

0 null, 1 üks, 2 kaks, 3 kolm, 4 neli, 5 viis, 6 kuus, 7 seitse, 8 kaheksa, 9 üheksa, 10 kümme.

How It Works

The numbers and their stems
Numbers take case endings just like nouns. The second form below is the genitive, which you will soon meet in phrases such as kahe tunni pärast (in two hours).

  • 0 null – nulli
  • 1 üks – ühe
  • 2 kaks – kahe
  • 3 kolm – kolme
  • 4 neli – nelja
  • 5 viis – viie
  • 6 kuus – kuue
  • 7 seitse – seitsme
  • 8 kaheksa – kaheksa
  • 9 üheksa – üheksa
  • 10 kümme – kümne

Counting things
After üks the noun stays in the nominative: üks raamat (one book). After null and kaks to kümme, the noun is singular and in the partitive: kaks raamatut, viis eurot, null kraadi. Never use the plural here. See number + partitive singular.

Pronunciation tips

  • Stress is always on the first syllable: KAheksa, Üheksa.
  • kaheksa (8) and üheksa (9) differ only in their first syllable, so say them clearly.
  • kuus (6) looks like kuus (in a month, from kuu), and viis (5) looks like viis (took somewhere). Context tells you which one is meant.

Writing
In ordinary texts, numbers from one to ten are usually written as words: Mul on kolm venda. Use digits with units and symbols: 3 km, 4 °C.

Bigger numbers are built from these words: see the teens with -teist and tens and hundreds.

Examples (6)

  1. Mul on kaks venda ja üks õde.

    I have two brothers and one sister.

    Word by Word: to-me is two brother(PART) and one sister

    kaks is followed by the partitive venda, while üks keeps õde in the nominative.

  2. Kolm kohvi, palun!

    Three coffees, please!

    Word by Word: three coffee(PART), please

  3. Väljas on null kraadi.

    It is zero degrees outside.

    Word by Word: outside is zero degree(PART)

    null also takes the singular partitive.

  4. Meil on viis last.

    We have five children.

    Word by Word: to-us is five child(PART)

    laps (child) has the partitive last.

  5. Nädalas on seitse päeva.

    There are seven days in a week.

    Word by Word: in-week is seven day(PART)

  6. Buss number neli tuleb kümne minuti pärast.

    Bus number four comes in ten minutes.

    Word by Word: bus number four comes ten(GEN) minute(GEN) after

    pärast needs the genitive, so kümme becomes kümne and the noun agrees with it.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the counted noun in the plural.

    Mul on kaks raamatud.
    Mul on kaks raamatut.

    After a number the noun is singular partitive, even though there is more than one thing: kaks raamatut, kümme raamatut.

  • Using the partitive after üks.

    Mul on üks raamatut.
    Mul on üks raamat.

    üks agrees with its noun, so both stay in the nominative. Only the other numbers take the partitive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Numbers Zero to TenLevel 1

Words in This Pattern

nullükskolmneliviiskuusseitsekaheksaüheksakümme