Teens with -teist

Level 1

Add -teist to the unit: üksteist (11), kaksteist (12), kolmteist (13) … üheksateist (19).

How It Works

All nine teens

  • 11 üksteist
  • 12 kaksteist
  • 13 kolmteist
  • 14 neliteist
  • 15 viisteist
  • 16 kuusteist
  • 17 seitseteist
  • 18 kaheksateist
  • 19 üheksateist

The first part is the ordinary number from numerals 0-10, and the stress stays on it: KAKSteist, Üheksateist.

The long form -teistkümmend
You may also read kolmteistkümmend or viisteistkümmend. This longer form means exactly the same and is correct, but it sounds formal or old-fashioned. In everyday Estonian, say kolmteist and viisteist.

Counting with teens
The noun is singular and partitive: viisteist minutit (fifteen minutes), üheksateist õpilast (nineteen students). See number + partitive singular.

Good to know

  • Only -teist is fixed. When the number itself takes an ending, the first part changes: viieteist minuti pärast (in fifteen minutes).
  • In most case forms the long part comes back: viieteistkümnest (from fifteen). See numbers in cases.
  • Ages use these numbers all the time: Ta on seitseteist aastat vana. See age (aastat vana, -aastane).

Examples (6)

  1. Mu vend on kuusteist aastat vana.

    My brother is sixteen years old.

    Word by Word: my brother is sixteen year(PART) old

  2. Aastas on kaksteist kuud.

    There are twelve months in a year.

    Word by Word: in-year is twelve month(PART)

  3. Tund algab kell üksteist.

    The lesson starts at eleven.

    Word by Word: lesson starts clock eleven

  4. See maksab viisteist eurot.

    This costs fifteen euros.

    Word by Word: this costs fifteen euro(PART)

  5. Klassis on üheksateist õpilast.

    There are nineteen students in the class.

    Word by Word: in-class is nineteen student(PART)

  6. Kolmteistkümmend aastat hiljem kohtusid nad uuesti.

    Thirteen years later they met again.

    Word by Word: thirteen year(PART) later met they again

    kolmteistkümmend is the long, more formal form of kolmteist.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the teen as two words.

    Mul on kaks teist eurot.
    Mul on kaksteist eurot.

    The unit and -teist are always written together as one word.

  • Putting the counted noun in the plural.

    Oota viisteist minutid.
    Oota viisteist minutit.

    Teens work like the other numbers: the noun is singular partitive.

How It Connects

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

Teens with -teistLevel 1

Learn This First

Teens add -teist to the units.