Cardinal numbers

Level 1

Cardinal numbers are the basic counting numbers like 'one', 'two', 'three'. In Swedish, the number 'one' changes based on noun gender.

How It Works

Here are the Swedish cardinal numbers from 0 to 10:

  • 0 - noll
  • 1 - en / ett
  • 2 - två
  • 3 - tre
  • 4 - fyra
  • 5 - fem
  • 6 - sex
  • 7 - sju
  • 8 - åtta
  • 9 - nio
  • 10 - tio

The number 'one' is special. You use en for en-words and ett for ett-words. This is the same rule as for the indefinite article ('a/an'). For more on this, see noun genders.

Counting and Articles
When counting without a noun, say ett, två, tre.... Before a noun, choose en hund or ett äpple according to gender. The same written forms can function as the indefinite article “a/an”; stress or context can emphasize the exact number one. In Han ser ett äpple, the sentence can mean “He sees an apple”, or emphasize that he sees one apple. Higher expressions such as miljoner have additional patterns, so the no-gender-change observation here concerns the basic numbers.

Examples (5)

  1. Jag har en hund och två katter.

    I have one dog and two cats.

    Word by Word: I have one dog and two cats.

  2. Det kostar tio kronor.

    It costs ten kronor.

    Word by Word: It costs ten kronor.

  3. Han ser ett äpple.

    He sees an apple.

    Word by Word: He sees an apple.

    Ett agrees with neuter äpple. Unstressed it normally means “an”; when stressed or contrasted it can emphasize the number “one”.

  4. Vi är fem personer.

    We are five people.

    Word by Word: We are five people.

  5. Klockan är sju.

    It's seven o'clock.

    Word by Word: The clock is seven.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'en' for ett-words or 'ett' for en-words.

    Jag ser en hus.
    Jag ser ett hus.

    The number 'one' must agree with the noun's gender. 'Hus' is an ett-word, so you must use 'ett'. 'En' is used for en-words (e.g., 'en bil' - a car).

How It Connects

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

Cardinal numbersLevel 1

Learn This First

To learn cardinal numbers, you primarily need to understand that the number one (en/ett) changes based on the gender of the noun it modifies. Other numbers are generally straightforward and do not require complex grammatical knowledge.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nollfyrafemsexåttaniotio