Language/Standard-estonian/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-counting
Introduction
Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Standard Estonian Course"! In this lesson, we will introduce you to the Estonian numbers and counting. Numbers are essential to communicate basic information, such as prices, dates, times, and quantities. You will learn how to pronounce numbers, how to count, and how to use them in real-life situations. We hope you will find this lesson engaging and informative!
Estonian numbers
Estonian numbers are part of the Finno-Ugric language family, and they have a unique system of counting. In Estonian, the numbers are formed by adding suffixes to the root. The suffix varies according to the case, gender, and quantity of the noun that is being counted. For example, the suffix for "one" in the nominative case is "-üks", but it changes to "-kaks" for "two".
Cardinal numbers
Let's start with the basic numbers:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| üks | [yks] | one |
| kaks | [käks] | two |
| kolm | [kolm] | three |
| neli | [neli] | four |
| viis | [viis] | five |
| kuus | [kuus] | six |
| seitse | [seitse] | seven |
| kaheksa | [kaheksa] | eight |
| üheksa | [üheksa] | nine |
| kümme | [kymme] | ten |
Ordinal numbers
Estonian ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix "-esimene" to the cardinal number. For example, "kolmas" (third) is formed by adding "-esimene" to "kolm" (three).
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| esimene | [esimene] | first |
| teine | [teine] | second |
| kolmas | [kolmas] | third |
| neljas | [neljas] | fourth |
| viies | [viies] | fifth |
| kuues | [kuues] | sixth |
| seitsmes | [seitsmes] | seventh |
| kaheksas | [kaheksas] | eighth |
| üheksas | [üheksas] | ninth |
| kümnes | [kymnes] | tenth |
Counting in Estonian
Counting in Estonian is relatively easy once you know the numbers. Here are some important words and expressions:
- kogus - quantity
- maalim - dozen
- sada - hundred
- tuhat - thousand
Let's see some examples:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| kaks kogus | [käks kogus] | two units |
| kolm maalim | [kolm maalim] | three dozens |
| viis sada | [viis sada] | five hundreds |
| kaheksa tuhat | [kaheksa tuhat] | eight thousands |
Using numbers in sentences
Now, let's see some examples of how to use numbers in sentences:
- Ma ostan kolm õuna. (I buy three apples.)
- Meil on viis koera. (We have five dogs.)
- Mitu kassi sa omad? (How many cats do you have?)
- Meie klassis on kaheksa õpilast. (There are eight students in our class.)
Conclusion
We hope this lesson has been useful to you in learning Estonian numbers and counting. Practice counting and using numbers in everyday situations to reinforce your learning. In the next lesson, we will learn about the Estonian vocabulary related to days, months, and seasons. Happy learning!