Cardinal Numbers 1–20

The numbers 1–20 contain the building blocks for larger Greek cardinals. Most are invariable, three have everyday/learned pronunciation doublets, and only 1, 3, and 4—including 13 and 14—change for the gender of the noun. Learn the list first in its neuter citation form, then add the agreement choices.

The complete list and pronunciation

The written accent shows which syllable carries stress. Notice that έντεκα begins with the sound e plus a voiced nd, and πέντε likewise contains nd in standard pronunciation. The spelling remains ντ.

Everyday and learned doublets

Modern Greek has two standard series for 7, 8, and 9. Εφτά, οχτώ, εννιά dominate ordinary (informal) conversation. Επτά, οκτώ, εννέα are learned variants favored in (formal) announcements, careful enumeration, official language, and some speakers' personal usage. The variants express the same numbers; none is archaic or wrong.

The same choice continues inside 17–19: δεκαεφτά / δεκαεπτά, δεκαοχτώ / δεκαοκτώ, δεκαεννιά / δεκαεννέα. Keep the register consistent in a formal document, but do not “correct” a native speaker who mixes standard variants in conversation.

Thirteen through nineteen are one word

Greek builds 13–19 with δεκα- plus a unit and writes each result as one word: δεκατρία, δεκατέσσερα, δεκαπέντε. Eleven and twelve are separate inherited forms, έντεκα and δώδεκα, rather than transparent combinations a learner can build from the modern word δέκα.

Gender agreement in 1, 3, 4—and their compounds

The citation list uses neuter ένα, τρία, τέσσερα. With nouns, choose the proper gender form:

Only the final element changes: δεκα- remains fixed. Numbers 2, 5–12, and 15–20 have no gender forms. The case forms ενός, τριών, τεσσάρων and their compounds are developed on one, three, and four.

Counting aloud and counting nouns

The list uses neuter citation forms because Greek normally recites numbers as ένα, δύο, τρία, τέσσερα. Before a noun, however, the noun—not the memorized list—chooses the form. This is why a waiter counting tables may say ένα, δύο, τρία, but a reservation for three people is για τρεις: the understood word ανθρώπους is masculine plural.

An omitted noun can still control gender. At a bakery, Θέλω τέσσερις can refer to an understood feminine noun such as τυρόπιτες, while Θέλω τέσσερα can refer to neuter κουλούρια. The listener recovers the noun from the situation, but Greek agreement remains present even when the noun is silent.

This hidden-noun logic also explains clock time: στις τρεις and στις τέσσερις use the feminine forms because η ώρα is understood. It is not a special irregularity of the clock.

Common Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Memorize 1–20 with stress; 13–19 are single written words.
• Conversational εφτά, οχτώ, εννιά and learned επτά, οκτώ, εννέα are standard doublets.
• Only 1, 3, and 4 change for gender in this range.
• The same agreement appears in 13 and 14: δεκατρείς / δεκατρία, δεκατέσσερις / δεκατέσσερα.
• Fifteen through twenty are invariable.