Numbers

Level 1

Turkish numbers are highly regular. You simply combine the tens and the units (e.g., 10 + 1 = 11). Crucially, nouns following a number do not take the plural suffix.

How It Works

Turkish cardinal numbers are straightforward and consistent. Once you learn the basics (0-10) and the tens (10, 20, 30...), you can form any number.

Basic Numbers (0-10):

  • 0: sıfır
  • 1: bir
  • 2: iki
  • 3: üç
  • 4: dört
  • 5: beş
  • 6: altı
  • 7: yedi
  • 8: sekiz
  • 9: dokuz
  • 10: on

The Tens:

  • 20: yirmi
  • 30: otuz
  • 40: kırk
  • 50: elli
  • 60: altmış
  • 70: yetmiş
  • 80: seksen
  • 90: doksan

Formation:
To create numbers like 25, you simply say the ten then the unit: yirmi beş. For hundreds and thousands, use yüz (100) and bin (1000). Note that you do not say 'one hundred' (bir yüz) or 'one thousand' (bir bin) unless you are specifically emphasizing the count. However, for larger numbers like bir milyon (1,000,000) and bir milyar (1,000,000,000), the word bir is mandatory.

Important Note on 'Dört':
The number dört (4) ends in a hard consonant. If you add a suffix starting with a vowel, the 't' changes to 'd' (e.g., dörde, dördüncü).

Grammar Rule:
When a number modifies a noun, the noun must be in the plain (singular) form. The plural suffix -ler/-lar is never used with numbers because the number itself already indicates plurality.

Examples (5)

  1. Üç çocuk bahçede oynuyor.

    Three children are playing in the garden.

    Word by Word: Three child garden-in play-ing.

    Notice that 'çocuk' (child) is singular even though there are three of them.

  2. Bana iki tane ekmek verir misiniz?

    Could you give me two [pieces of] bread?

    Word by Word: To-me two piece bread give-r you-question?

    The word 'tane' is a common counter used with numbers when shopping or counting items.

  3. Dün gece sadece dört saat uyudum.

    I only slept four hours last night.

    Word by Word: Yesterday night only four hour I-slept.

    Even for time durations, the noun 'saat' (hour) remains singular.

  4. Masada on bir kalem var.

    There are eleven pencils on the table.

    Word by Word: Table-on ten one pencil there-is.

    Compound numbers like 11 (on bir) are written as two separate words.

  5. Yüz yirmi sayfa okudum.

    I read one hundred and twenty pages.

    Word by Word: Hundred twenty page I-read.

    We use 'yüz' for 100, not 'bir yüz'.

Common Mistakes

  • Pluralizing the noun after a number.

    iki kitaplar
    iki kitap

    In Turkish, numbers already show plurality, so adding the plural suffix -ler/-lar to the noun is redundant and incorrect.

  • Omitting 'bir' before million or billion.

    milyon / milyar
    bir milyon / bir milyar

    While 'yüz' (100) and 'bin' (1000) are used alone, you must always include 'bir' when saying 'one million' or 'one billion'.

  • Forgetting the consonant change for the number 4.

    dörte / dörtüncü
    dörde / dördüncü

    The number 'dört' (4) follows the rule of consonant softening, where the final 't' changes to 'd' when a suffix starting with a vowel is added.

How It Connects

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

NumbersLevel 1

Learn This First

Numbers in Turkish are foundational vocabulary. To learn them, you only need a basic understanding of the Turkish alphabet and the specific distinction between the vowels 'i' and 'ı', as these appear frequently in the basic digits.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.