Numbers open the everyday world
Numbers are among the first things you "spend" in a new language - prices at the market, your age when someone asks, a phone number you have to read aloud. Learn them in Serbian and a whole layer of daily life suddenly makes sense. They are also satisfying to practice because you carry them with you everywhere.
What are the numbers from 0 to 10 in Serbian?
Here are the first eleven numbers with their Serbian spelling and Cyrillic script side by side. If you are focusing on Latin script for now, the middle column is all you need - but keeping an eye on the Cyrillic column will pay off later.
| Number | Serbian (Latin) | Cyrillic |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | nula | нула |
| 1 | jedan | један |
| 2 | dva | два |
| 3 | tri | три |
| 4 | cetiri | четири |
| 5 | pet | пет |
| 6 | sest | шест |
| 7 | sedam | седам |
| 8 | osam | осам |
| 9 | devet | девет |
| 10 | deset | десет |
What are the numbers from 11 to 20 in Serbian?
The teens in Serbian follow a very clear pattern - most of them are simply the single-digit number plus the suffix -naest. Once you see that, the whole group becomes much easier to hold in your memory.
| Number | Serbian (Latin) | Cyrillic |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | jedanaest | једанаест |
| 12 | dvanaest | дванаест |
| 13 | trinaest | тринаест |
| 14 | cetrnaest | четрнаест |
| 15 | petnaest | петнаест |
| 16 | sesnaest | шеснаест |
| 17 | sedamnaest | седамнаест |
| 18 | osamnaest | осамнаест |
| 19 | devetnaest | деветнаест |
| 20 | dvadeset | двадесет |
How do numbers grow after 20?
Compound numbers in Serbian are written as two separate words. Twenty-one is dvadeset jedan, thirty-five is trideset pet, and so on - the tens word comes first, then the units word, with a space between them. The only exception is formal writing such as cheques and official documents, where some people write them joined. And a warm thank-you to the followers who wrote in asking for the audio version of numbers from 20 to 100 - that recording is coming in a future post, keep an eye out for it.
How can you practice Serbian numbers today?
Three small habits make numbers settle in very quickly:
- Count your steps in Serbian when you walk down a hallway or up a flight of stairs. One to ten is enough to start.
- Say your age out loud in Serbian. It is one sentence - "Imam ... godina." - and you will never forget the number that matches your own age.
- Read a price aloud next time you see one - a receipt, a price tag, anything with digits. Turn the number into Serbian words before you move on.
Quick questions about Serbian numbers
Do I need Cyrillic for numbers?
Not immediately - Serbian is written in both Latin and Cyrillic scripts, and the Latin versions in the tables above are perfectly standard. That said, Cyrillic is everywhere in Serbia on signs, menus, and official documents, so getting comfortable with it gradually is a very worthwhile investment. The numbers are a friendly place to start because they are short words.
How do I say compound numbers like 22?
Say the tens first, then the units, with a space: dvadeset dva (22), dvadeset tri (23), trideset jedan (31). The pattern holds all the way up. It is one of the most regular things in Serbian, which is a relief.
Are Serbian numbers hard to pronounce?
Honestly, no - especially the first ten. Serbian is a phonetic language, meaning every letter makes the same sound every time, with no silent letters and no irregular pronunciations. What you see is what you say. The longer teens like jedanaest and sedamnaest take a little practice, but once you have the rhythm of the -naest suffix your mouth finds the rest naturally.
I am Marina Petrovic, and numbers were the very first thing I taught my earliest students - because they are useful from day one and because that moment when someone counts to ten in Serbian for the first time and grins is just wonderful. Leave a comment if you would like the audio for any of these, or if you have a question about a number that is not covered here. I am always happy to help.