Article by Oana Iosifidis
When you study a foreign language, the numbers and how to count are probably in the top of the priorities.
I am sure you already know some of the information you will find below, but it is better to have them all in one place. We have mentioned some of them in the previous articles, as well.
The Romanian numbers are the system of number names used in Romanian to express counts, quantities, ranks in ordered sets, fractions, multiplication, and other information related to numbers.
In Romanian grammar, the words used to name numbers are sometimes considered a specific part of speech, called “numeral”, like the nouns, verbs, etc.
The symbols for numbers in Romanian are not different from English. The difference is, though, the use of comma as a decimal separator. Grouping digits by three in large numbers is made with a period or a space.
Romanian numbers from 1 to 10
Just in case you need a reminder, please find below the number names, from 0 to 10:
1 – Unu
2 – Doi
3 – Trei
4 – Patru
5 – Cinci
6 – Șase
7 – Șapte
8 – Opt
9 – Nouă
10 – Zece
What do you need to know about Romanian numbers?
When counting, the number names for one and two have the forms given above. But when they are used in sentences, they change according to the gender of the noun they refer to.
Also, it is important to know that the adjectival forms of the cardinal number 1 (”un” and ”o”) are identical with the corresponding indefinite articles.
- Un câine – “one dog, a dog”,
- unul dintre câini – “one of the dogs”,
- o pisică – “one cat, a cat”,
- una dintre pisici – “one of the cats”,
- doi câini – “two dogs”,
- două pisici – “two cats”.
Numbers from 11 to 19
11 – unsprezece
12 – doisprezece
13 – treisprezece
14 – paisprezece
15 – cincisprezece
16 – șaisprezece
17 – șaptesprezece
18 – optsprezece
19 – nouăsprezece
What you need to know, extra, about the above:
- the name doisprezece for 12 is the masculine form. It is the only number in this range that has a feminine form as well: douăsprezece. However, there are situations when „doisprezece” is used even with feminine nouns. If you take Romanian language lessons, you will learn about all these situations and you will find out also that most of them are considered incorrect.
- Number names paisprezece and șaisprezece do not respect the formation rule. The forms patrusprezece and șasesprezece exist, but they are very rarely used.
- Cincisprezece also exists as cinsprezece.
- Optsprezece if famous for the longest consonant cluster (five consonants with to vowels between). There are two more variants used, opsprezece and optisprezece, quite frequent, and easier to pronounce.
Numbers from 20 to 99
20 – douăzeci
30 – treizeci
40 – patruzeci
50 – cincizeci
60 – șaizeci
70 – șaptezeci
80 – optzeci
90 – nouăzeci
As you can see, the formation of this series is quite easy to understand.
Very often, 50 is often pronounced cinzeci (but not written like this). Șaizeci does not follow the rule but I think it does not surprize you, after learning 16 (șaisprezece).
The other numbers, from 20 to 99 are formed by combining 3 words: the number of tens + the conjunction și (and) + the units.
For example, 23 is douăzecișitrei.
When the unit is 1 or 2, the numbers have both feminine and masculine form.
Masculine: douăzeci și unu de băieți (21 boys), douăzeci și doi de băieți (22 boys)
Feminine: treizeci și una de fete (31 girls), treizeci și două de fete (32 girls)
Neuter:patruzeci și unu de pahare (41 glasses), patruzeci și două de pahare (42 glasses)
Do you practice pronunciation in Romanian online classes?
The numbers from 20 to 99 are often pronounced in a simplified, shorter version. This is just an informal prononciation and it does not affect the way the word it is written. If you have started the romanian language lessons, especially if and you have a native teacher, I am sure you have already noticed the shorter forms.
- douăzeci de cărți is pronounced douăjde cărți (“20 books”)
- treizeci și doi is pronounced treijdoi (“32”)
- cincizeci și unu is often pronounced cinzeșunu (“51”)
- șaptezeci și cinci is pronounced șapteșcinci (“75”)
- optzeci și opt is pronounced obzeșopt (“88”)
Numbers from 100 to 999
100 – o sută
200- două sute
300 – trei sute
After 100, if you know everything above, things are pretty simple.
You just name the hundreds, and, without any connecting word, the two-digit numbers of tens and units.
For example, 263 is două sute șaizeci și trei.
The word sută (hundred) is feminine, so you will notice that for 1 and 2 hundreds we have used the feminine forms.
Did you find the Romanian numbers hard?
This would be just the basis for learning the Romanian numbers. There are more interesting things to be said and also other important details that will help you speak correctly.
Right not, it is easier then ever to learn Romanian, because you can find a lot of options for Romanian classes online.
If distance is important to you, and you were looking for “Romanian classes near me”, what is closer then your living room? You can access the classes online, from wherever you are. It is more comfortable and you save a lot of time.
Please feel free to browse the site for more resources and leave a comment below telling us what you would like to find, about Romanian language or this beautiful country.