Language/Serbian/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

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

Welcome to the "Numbers and Counting" lesson! Today, we're diving into a fundamental aspect of the Serbian language—numbers! Understanding how to count and use numbers is essential not just for daily conversations but also for navigating various aspects of life in Serbia, from shopping to telling time.

In this lesson, we’ll cover the following topics:

• The basics of counting in Serbian.

• The unique characteristics of Serbian numbers.

• How to use numbers in everyday situations.

• Examples to illustrate each point with clarity.

• A series of exercises to reinforce your learning.

So, let’s get started and make counting in Serbian as easy as 1, 2, 3!

The Importance of Numbers in Serbian

Numbers are everywhere around us, from telling age and time to discussing prices and quantities. In Serbian, numbers are not just a collection of digits; they have their own rhythm and charm. Knowing how to count in Serbian opens up a world of communication possibilities.

Understanding numbers will help you:

• Order food and drinks.

• Ask about prices while shopping.

• Read signs and labels.

• Engage in conversations about time and dates.

Now, let’s jump into the world of Serbian numbers!

Basic Numbers

First, let’s look at the basic numbers from 1 to 10. Here’s a handy table to help you memorize them:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
jedan	/jɛdan/	one
dva	/dʋa/	two
tri	/tri/	three
četiri	/tʃɛtiri/	four
pet	/pɛt/	five
šest	/ʃɛst/	six
sedam	/sɛdam/	seven
osam	/ɔsam/	eight
devet	/dɛvɛt/	nine
deset	/dɛsɛt/	ten

== Counting Beyond Ten

Once you’ve mastered the numbers 1 to 10, we can build up to twenty and beyond. Here are the numbers from 11 to 20:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
jedanaest	/jɛdanɛst/	eleven
dvanaest	/dʋanɛst/	twelve
trinaest	/trinɛst/	thirteen
četrnaest	/tʃɛtrnɛst/	fourteen
petnaest	/pɛtnɛst/	fifteen
šesnaest	/ʃɛsnɛst/	sixteen
sedamnaest	/sɛdamanɛst/	seventeen
osamnaest	/ɔsamnaɛst/	eighteen
devetnaest	/dɛvɛtnaɛst/	nineteen
dvadeset	/dʋadəsɛt/	twenty

== Forming Larger Numbers

To form larger numbers in Serbian, you combine the tens and the units. For example:

• 21 is "dvadeset i jedan" (twenty and one).

• 35 is "trideset i pet" (thirty and five).

• 42 is "četrdeset i dva" (forty and two).

Here’s a more comprehensive table from 21 to 30:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
dvadeset i jedan	/dʋadəsɛt i jɛdan/	twenty-one
dvadeset i dva	/dʋadəsɛt i dʋa/	twenty-two
dvadeset i tri	/dʋadəsɛt i tri/	twenty-three
dvadeset i četiri	/dʋadəsɛt i tʃɛtiri/	twenty-four
dvadeset i pet	/dʋadəsɛt i pɛt/	twenty-five
dvadeset i šest	/dʋadəsɛt i ʃɛst/	twenty-six
dvadeset i sedam	/dʋadəsɛt i sɛdam/	twenty-seven
dvadeset i osam	/dʋadəsɛt i ɔsam/	twenty-eight
dvadeset i devet	/dʋadəsɛt i dɛvɛt/	twenty-nine
trideset	/tridɛsɛt/	thirty

Ordinal Numbers

In addition to cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3...), Serbian also has ordinal numbers (first, second, third...). Here’s how they are formed for the first ten:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
prvi	/prʋi/	first
drugi	/drugi/	second
treći	/trɛtʃi/	third
četvrti	/tʃɛtvɛrti/	fourth
peti	/pɛti/	fifth
šesti	/ʃɛsti/	sixth
sedmi	/sɛdmi/	seventh
osmi	/ɔsmi/	eighth
deveti	/dɛvɛti/	ninth
deseti	/dɛsɛti/	tenth

Notice how the endings change based on gender and number. For example, "prvi" (first) can become "prva" (first, feminine) and "prvo" (first, neuter).

Using Numbers in Everyday Situations

Now that you have a grasp on numbers, let’s explore how to use them in various everyday scenarios. Here are some practical examples:

1. Shopping:

• "Koliko košta ovo?" (How much does this cost?)

• "To je dvadeset dinara." (That’s twenty dinars.)

2. Telling Time:

• "Koliko je sati?" (What time is it?)

• "Sada je pet sati." (It’s five o’clock now.)

3. Ordering Food:

• "Želim tri piva." (I would like three beers.)

• "Dajte mi pet jaja." (Give me five eggs.)

4. Talking about Age:

• "Imam dvadeset godina." (I am twenty years old.)

• "On ima trideset i pet godina." (He is thirty-five years old.)

5. Counting Items:

• "Imam dva brata." (I have two brothers.)

• "Na stolu su četiri jabuke." (There are four apples on the table.)

6. Discussing Dates:

• "Danas je osmi mart." (Today is the eighth of March.)

• "Moj rođendan je dvadeset petog jula." (My birthday is on the twenty-fifth of July.)

7. Expressing Quantities:

• "Potreban mi je jedan sto." (I need one table.)

• "Kupujem tri knjige." (I am buying three books.)

8. Giving Directions:

• "Idite tri ulice desno." (Go three streets to the right.)

• "To je samo dva minuta odavde." (It’s only two minutes from here.)

9. Sports:

• "Naš tim ima pet igrača." (Our team has five players.)

• "Takmičenje počinje za dva dana." (The competition starts in two days.)

10. Travel:

• "Putujem za sedam dana." (I am traveling in seven days.)

• "Odlazim na more za deset dana." (I am going to the sea in ten days.)

These examples demonstrate how numbers can be seamlessly integrated into various aspects of daily communication. Practice using these phrases to become more comfortable with numbers in context!

Exercises for Practice

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises designed to help you practice counting and using numbers in Serbian.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct Serbian number.

1. Imam ___ godina. (I am ___ years old.)

2. Na stolu je ___ jabuka. (There are ___ apples on the table.)

3. Dajte mi ___ piva. (Give me ___ beers.)

4. Koliko košta ovo? To je ___ dinara. (How much does this cost? That’s ___ dinars.)

5. Idem na more za ___ dana. (I am going to the sea in ___ days.)

Solutions:

1. (your answer)

2. (your answer)

3. (your answer)

4. (your answer)

5. (your answer)

Exercise 2: Number Translation

Translate the following numbers from English to Serbian.

1. Eleven

2. Twenty-three

3. Fifth

4. Seventeen

5. Thirty

Solutions:

1. jedanaest

2. dvadeset tri

3. peti

4. sedamnaest

5. trideset

Exercise 3: Match the Numbers

Match the Serbian numbers with their English equivalents.

A. deset

B. dvanaest

C. devet

D. osam

E. četiri

1. Eight

2. Twelve

3. Nine

4. Ten

5. Four

Solutions:

A - 4

B - 2

C - 3

D - 1

E - 5

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Use the numbers provided to create sentences in Serbian.

1. 5 (piva)

2. 3 (knjige)

3. 10 (dinara)

4. 7 (godina)

5. 2 (brata)

Example Sentence:

1. Dajem ti pet piva. (I give you five beers.)

Solutions:

1. (your sentence)

2. (your sentence)

3. (your sentence)

4. (your sentence)

5. (your sentence)

Exercise 5: Listening Comprehension

Listen to a short audio clip where numbers are mentioned and write down what you hear.

Solutions:

1. (your answer)

2. (your answer)

3. (your answer)

Exercise 6: Choose the Correct Answer

Select the correct Serbian number for each question.

1. How do you say "three"?

• A. dva

• B. tri

• C. četri

Solution: B. tri

2. What is "six" in Serbian?

• A. pet

• B. šest

• C. osam

Solution: B. šest

3. How do you say "fourth"?

• A. četvrti

• B. četri

• C. peti

Solution: A. četvrti

Exercise 7: Number Ordering

Order the following numbers from smallest to largest.

1. 15

2. 7

3. 3

4. 20

5. 12

Solutions:

1. 3

2. 7

3. 12

4. 15

5. 20

Exercise 8: Number Stories

Write a short story using at least five different Serbian numbers.

Example Story:

Danas je moj rođendan. Imam dvadeset godina i pozvao sam tri prijatelja. Kupili smo pet torti i osam balona. (Today is my birthday. I am twenty years old and I invited three friends. We bought five cakes and eight balloons.)

Solutions:

(Your story)

Exercise 9: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences from English to Serbian.

1. I have two brothers.

2. The book costs ten dinars.

3. She is the first in her class.

4. We have twenty apples.

5. It takes five minutes.

Solutions:

1. Imam dva brata.

2. Knjiga košta deset dinara.

3. Ona je prva u razredu.

4. Imamo dvadeset jabuka.

5. Treba pet minuta.

Exercise 10: Create a Dialogue

Write a short dialogue between two people discussing their ages and what they want to buy.

Example Dialogue:

• A: Koliko imaš godina? (How old are you?)

• B: Imam dvadeset godina. A ti? (I am twenty years old. And you?)

• A: Imam trideset godina. Šta želiš da kupiš? (I am thirty years old. What do you want to buy?)

• B: Želim tri knjige. (I want three books.)

Solutions:

(Your dialogue)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the "Numbers and Counting" lesson. You should now feel more comfortable with basic numbers in Serbian, how to use them in everyday conversations, and how to create sentences using those numbers. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using numbers in your daily life, whether you're counting items, telling time, or discussing prices.

As you progress in your Serbian journey, numbers will be a constant companion, aiding you in countless interactions. Don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

Happy counting, and see you in the next lesson!

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative
• Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Verbs: Past Tense

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Food and Drink
• Family and Relationships
• Transportation and Directions

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Culture

• Traditional Serbian Music
• Religious Festivals
• Folk Dances
• Serbian Films
• Cuisine

  ---

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

• Verbs: Future Tense
• Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative
• Verbs: Imperative

  ---

Shopping

• Clothes and Accessories
• At the Market
• Banking and Money

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

  ---

Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

  ---

Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

  ---

Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

  ---

Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

  ---

Art and Artists

• Famous Serbian Painters
• Contemporary Serbian Art Scene

Sources

• Serbian games and flashcards: learn Serbian online for free
• Learn Numbers in Serbian from 0 to 1000 and more in no time!
• Numbers in Serbian - Learn Serbian

Other Lessons

• At the Market
• Family and Relationships
• Weather
• Musical instruments
• Art
• People in Serbian
• Shapes
• Bird
• Music

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