Language/Polish/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

Polish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Counting

Welcome to the lesson on Numbers and Counting in Polish! Whether you are planning to order food, shop, or simply engage in a conversation, knowing how to count and use numbers is an essential skill for any learner of the Polish language. Understanding numbers will not only help you navigate daily life in Poland but also enhance your overall language competence. In this lesson, we will dive deep into the world of numbers, from one to one hundred, and explore their usage in various contexts.

Here’s what you can expect from this lesson:

• Introduction to Numbers: Why numbers are important in Polish.

• Counting from 1 to 100: A comprehensive breakdown of numbers.

• Usage in Everyday Situations: How to use numbers in practical scenarios.

• Exercises and Practice: Engaging exercises to reinforce your learning.

Importance of Numbers in Polish

Numbers are everywhere! They help us measure, quantify, and navigate through life. In Polish, numbers are not only used for counting but also play a vital role in telling time, discussing age, prices, dates, and more. As you learn Polish, being able to understand and use numbers will empower you to engage in conversations with confidence. Whether you're at a restaurant ordering food, shopping in a market, or simply making small talk, numbers are key to effective communication.

Counting from 1 to 100

Let’s start with the basics! Below is a table that lists the numbers from 1 to 20, along with their pronunciation and English translations. This will serve as a foundation as we continue to explore larger numbers.

Polish	Pronunciation	English
jeden	[ˈjɛ.dɛn]	one
dwa	[dva]	two
trzy	[tʃɨ]	three
cztery	[ˈtʃtɛ.rɨ]	four
pięć	[pʲɛɲt͡ɕ]	five
sześć	[ʃɛɕt͡ɕ]	six
siedem	[ˈɕɛ.dɛm]	seven
osiem	[ˈɔ.ɕɛm]	eight
dziewięć	[dʑɛˈvjɛɲt͡ɕ]	nine
dziesięć	[dʑɛˈɕɛɲt͡ɕ]	ten
jedenaście	[jɛ.dɛˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	eleven
dwanaście	[dvaˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	twelve
trzynaście	[tʃɨˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	thirteen
czternaście	[tʃtɛˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	fourteen
piętnaście	[pʲɛtˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	fifteen
szesnaście	[ʃɛsˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	sixteen
siedemnaście	[ɕɛ.dɛmˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	seventeen
osiemnaście	[ɔ.ɕɛmˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	eighteen
dziewiętnaście	[dʑɛ.vʲɛtˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ]	nineteen
dwadzieścia	[dvaˈd͡ʑɛɕ.t͡ɕa]	twenty

Now that we've covered the numbers from 1 to 20, let’s move on to the tens up to 100. Here’s a table for those:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
trzydzieści	[tʃɨˈd͡ʑɛɕ.t͡ɕi]	thirty
czterdzieści	[tʃtɛrˈd͡ʑɛɕ.t͡ɕi]	forty
pięćdziesiąt	[pʲɛɲˈd͡ʑɛ.ɕɔnt]	fifty
sześćdziesiąt	[ʃɛʑˈd͡ʑɛ.ɕɔnt]	sixty
siedemdziesiąt	[ɕɛ.dɛmˈd͡ʑɛ.ɕɔnt]	seventy
osiemdziesiąt	[ɔ.ɕɛmˈd͡ʑɛ.ɕɔnt]	eighty
dziewięćdziesiąt	[dʑɛ.vʲɛɲˈd͡ʑɛ.ɕɔnt]	ninety
sto	[stɔ]	one hundred

Special Numbers: Some numbers have unique names or forms that you should be aware of, such as:

• Zero (zero) - [ˈzɛ.rɔ] - zero

• Million (milion) - [ˈmi.lʲɔn] - million

• Billion (miliard) - [ˈmi.lʲart] - billion

Usage in Everyday Situations

Now that we’ve covered how to count, let’s look at how to apply these numbers in everyday scenarios. Numbers are used in various contexts, and here are some examples:

Shopping:

• “I would like three apples.”

• In Polish: “Chciałbym trzy jabłka.”

Ordering Food:

• “Can I get two coffees?”

• In Polish: “Czy mogę prosić o dwie kawy?”

Telling Time:

• “It’s five o'clock.”

• In Polish: “Jest piąta.”

Talking About Age:

• “I am twenty years old.”

• In Polish: “Mam dwadzieścia lat.”

Dates:

• “Today is the 15th of April.”

• In Polish: “Dziś jest piętnasty kwietnia.”

Let’s take a closer look at some specific sentences to illustrate how numbers are used in conversation:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
Mam dwa koty.	[mam dva ˈkɔ.tɨ]	I have two cats.
Potrzebuję pięć złotych.	[pɔtʃɛˈbu.jɛ pʲɛɲt͡ɕ ˈzlwɔ.tɨx]	I need five zlotys.
Wczoraj miałem osiemnaście lat.	[fˈt͡ʃɔ.raj ˈmʲawɛm ɔ.ɕɛmˈnaɕ.t͡ɕɛ lat]	Yesterday I was eighteen years old.
Lubię sześć różnych rodzajów sera.	[ˈlu.bʲɛ ʃɛʑ ˈruʐ.nɨx rɔˈd͡za.juf ˈsɛ.ra]	I like six different types of cheese.
Dwa piwa, proszę.	[dva ˈpʲi.va ˈprɔ.ʃɛ]	Two beers, please.

In these examples, you can see how numbers fit seamlessly into everyday language. They help convey quantity, age, and even preferences.

Exercises and Practice

Now that you've learned the basics, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help you practice counting in Polish.

Exercise 1: Translate the Numbers

Translate the following numbers into Polish.

1. 5

2. 12

3. 20

4. 35

5. 100

Solutions:

1. pięć

2. dwanaście

3. dwadzieścia

4. trzydzieści pięć

5. sto

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct number in Polish.

1. Mam _____ jabłek. (5)

2. To jest _____ złotych. (10)

3. Muszę kupić _____ chlebów. (3)

Solutions:

1. pięć

2. dziesięć

3. trzy

Exercise 3: Match the Numbers

Match the Polish number with its English equivalent.

| Polish Number | English Number |

| -------------- | --------------- |

| a) cztery | 1) four |

| b) osiem | 2) eight |

| c) szesnaście | 3) sixteen |

Solutions:

a - 1

b - 2

c - 3

Exercise 4: Short Conversations

Create a short conversation using numbers.

Example:

A: Ile kosztuje ten ser? (How much is this cheese?)

B: To kosztuje pięć złotych. (It costs five zlotys.)

Solutions: Students should create their own examples.

Exercise 5: Number Challenge

Write down the numbers from 1 to 30 in Polish.

Solutions:

1. jeden

2. dwa

3. trzy

4. cztery

5. pięć

6. sześć

7. siedem

8. osiem

9. dziewięć

10. dziesięć

11. jedenaście

12. dwanaście

13. trzynaście

14. czternaście

15. piętnaście

16. szesnaście

17. siedemnaście

18. osiemnaście

19. dziewiętnaście

20. dwadzieścia

21. dwadzieścia jeden

22. dwadzieścia dwa

23. dwadzieścia trzy

24. dwadzieścia cztery

25. dwadzieścia pięć

26. dwadzieścia sześć

27. dwadzieścia siedem

28. dwadzieścia osiem

29. dwadzieścia dziewięć

30. trzydzieści

Exercise 6: Role Play

Pair up with a partner and role-play a shopping scenario using numbers. One person is the shopkeeper and the other is the customer.

Example:

Shopkeeper: Ile chcesz kupić? (How many do you want to buy?)

Customer: Chcę kupić dwa jabłka. (I want to buy two apples.)

Solutions: Students will create their own dialogues.

Exercise 7: Identify the Mistakes

Find and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Mam pięćdziesiąt lat. (I am fifty years old.)

2. Jest czterdzieści pięć minut. (It is forty-five minutes.)

Solutions:

Both sentences are correct as is, but students should be guided to form similar sentences or ask about time and age correctly.

Exercise 8: Create Your Own Sentences

Form sentences using the following numbers: 6, 9, 15.

Example:

1. Lubię sześć różnych rodzajów serów. (I like six different types of cheese.)

2. Mam dziewięć lat. (I am nine years old.)

3. To kosztuje piętnaście złotych. (It costs fifteen zlotys.)

Solutions: Students will create their own sentences.

Exercise 9: Listening Practice

Listen to a partner read out loud the numbers from 1 to 20 in Polish, and write them down.

Solutions: Students will practice listening and writing.

Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself

Create a quiz for yourself and/or a partner about numbers. Ask questions like “What is 13 in Polish?” or “How do you say 50 in Polish?”

Solutions: Students check each other’s answers.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've now learned how to count in Polish and apply numbers in various everyday situations. Remember, practice makes perfect. Try to use numbers in your daily conversations and encounters. The more you practice, the more natural it will become. You’ve taken a significant step towards mastering the Polish language — keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Polish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Polish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Noun Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Polish Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Polish Cuisine

Sources

• How To Count To 100 In Polish
• Polish games: fun practice quizzes for language learning

Other Lessons

• Education
• Fruits
• Clothes
• Professions and Work
• Sports
• How to say Good Bye?
• Beach
• Dinner Table
• Advanced Travel Vocabulary
• Religion