Numbers 1 to 4
Let's start by learning the first four numbers in Russian:
- один (one)
- два (two)
- три (three)
- четыре (four)
The number один (one) behaves like an adjective, coming directly before the noun it describes.
| There is only one student here. | Здесь только один студент. |
For numbers two and above, counting objects directly (like "two buses" or "three rooms") triggers specific case changes in Russian. To master the numbers themselves first, we will practice using them as labels or identifiers. Just like in English, simply place the number after the noun (e.g., "bus two"). This leaves the noun in its normal form.
| This is bus two. | Это автобус два. |
| Where is room three? | Где комната три? |
| They are going to classroom four. | Они идут в класс четыре. |
Numbers 5 to 10
Next, let's learn the numbers five through ten. Notice that all of these numbers end in a soft sign (ь), which makes the final consonant soft.
- пять (five)
- шесть (six)
- семь (seven)
- восемь (eight)
- девять (nine)
- десять (ten)
You will continue to see these used as labels to identify specific texts, apartments, or offices.
| Do you work in office five? | Ты работаешь в офисе пять? |
| Text six is very difficult. | Текст шесть очень трудный. |
| We live in apartment seven. | Мы живём в квартире семь. |
| Is this apartment eight? | Это квартира восемь? |
| Where is bus ten? | Где автобус десять? |
Simple Math
You can also use these cardinal numbers on their own to do basic math. Use the conjunction и for "and" (plus) and a dash (—) to represent "is" or "equals".
| Four and five is nine. | Четыре и пять — девять. |
