Numbers 11 to 20

Identifying by Number

In this lesson, you will learn the numbers 11 through 20. You will also practice using these bare numbers as simple identifiers, like a room, bus, or problem number. To do this, simply use the word номер (number) followed by the dictionary form of the number.

Eleven and Twelve

Numbers 11 through 19 are built by taking the base digits (1 through 9) and adding the suffix -надцать. Historically, this meant "on ten." Pay special attention to 11 (одиннадцать), which is spelled with a double н.

Thirteen to Nineteen

This same pattern continues for 13 through 19. Notice a minor spelling change: for the numbers 15 through 19, the soft sign (ь) at the end of the base digit (like пять or восемь) is dropped before adding -надцать. The new combined word only has one soft sign, located at the very end.

Twenty

The number 20 breaks the "-teen" pattern. Instead, it is двадцать (literally "two tens").