Language/Hebrew/Vocabulary/Count-to-10

Hebrew Vocabulary - Count to 10

Hi Hebrew learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to count to 10 in Hebrew. Numbers are one of the most primary and basic building blocks of any language. You can use numbers to describe how many objects there are, to give out your phone number, or even to tell time. Hence, it is always good to learn how to count in the language you are studying.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Fruits, Countries, Idiomatic Expressions & Clothing.

The Basics

Numbers are simple and easy to understand, and Hebrew is no exception. The numbers from 1 to 10 in Hebrew are:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
אֶחָד	e-ḥād (/e.ˈħaːd/), eh-khād (transliteration)	One
שְׁתַּיִם	sh-tay-yim (/ʃta.ˈjim/), sh-ta-yeem (transliteration)	Two
שָׁלוֹשׁ	shā-losh (/ʃa.ˈloʃ/), sha-losh (transliteration)	Three
אַרְבַּע	ar-ba (/ar.ˈba/), ar-bah (transliteration)	Four
חָמֵשׁ	ḥa-mēsh (/xa.ˈmeʃ/), khā-mesh (transliteration)	Five
שֵׁשׁ	shēsh (/ʃeʃ/), shaysh (transliteration)	Six
שֶׁבַע	she-vā (/ʃe.ˈva/), shay-va (transliteration)	Seven
שְׁמוֹנֶה	sh-mō-nē (/ʃmo.ˈne/), sh-mon-ah (transliteration)	Eight
תֵּשַׁע	tē-sha (/te.ˈʃa/), teh-shah (transliteration)	Nine
עֶשֶׂר	e-ser (/e.ˈseʁ/), eh-ser (transliteration)	Ten

You might have noticed that the numbers from 1 to 9 all have elongated vowels in their pronunciation.

Below is an example dialogue to illustrate how to count to 10:

• Person 1: אֶחָד (e-ḥād) (One)
• Person 2: שְׁתַּיִם (sh-tay-yim) (Two)
• Person 1: שָׁלוֹשׁ (shā-losh) (Three)
• Person 2: אַרְבַּע (ar-ba) (Four)
• Person 1: חָמֵשׁ (ḥa-mēsh) (Five)
• Person 2: שֵׁשׁ (shēsh) (Six)
• Person 1: שֶׁבַע (she-vā) (Seven)
• Person 2: שְׁמוֹנֶה (sh-mō-nē) (Eight)
• Person 1: תֵּשַׁע (tē-sha) (Nine)
• Person 2: עֶשֶׂר (e-ser) (Ten)

With practice, you will soon be counting to 10 in Hebrew with confidence! 😊

Fun facts about Hebrew Numbers

In Hebrew culture, there are many superstitions and beliefs associated with numbers. Here are some interesting facts:

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers

Just like in many other cultures, some numbers are considered lucky or unlucky in Hebrew.

The lucky numbers are 3 and 7. In Hebrew, the word "חַי" (chai) means "life," and its numerical value is 18. Therefore, the number 18 is also considered a lucky number, and it is often used in gift giving, weddings, and other celebrations.

Conversely, the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in Hebrew. There is even a term for it – “yud gimel" – which is used to describe bad luck or being cursed.

Gematria

Gematria is a Kabbalistic numerology system used in Hebrew for divination and mystical study. Each Hebrew letter corresponds to a numerical value, and by adding up the numerical value of the letters in a word or phrase, you can derive deeper meaning and significance.

For instance, the numerical value of the Hebrew word "צָדָקָה" (tseda-kah) meaning "charity" is 194. The numerical value of the Hebrew word for "echad" (one) is 13. You could say, therefore, that giving charity on the 1st of the month corresponds to blessings for the entire year (13 x 194 = 2,522). Fascinating, isn't it?

If you want to explore more intricate uses of numbers in Hebrew, you can check out the Wikipedia article on gematria.

Practice

Now it's your turn! Try to count to 10 in Hebrew on your own. See if you can memorize the numbers and their pronunciations. When you are comfortable counting to 10, try to count to 20 or even to 100!

You can also improve your Hebrew Vocabulary by using the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Feminine Counting Numbers 1-10 Hebrew Vocabulary | Learn ...
• Masculine Counting Numbers 1-10 Hebrew Vocabulary | Learn ...

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Other Lessons

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• Time
• Demonstrative
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• City
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• Education
• Geography