Learn Hebrew: Hebrew Numbers 1–20

Numbers are a fundamental building block in Hebrew, essential for everything from telling time and exchanging phone numbers to shopping at a local market. This lesson covers the numbers from one to twenty, providing the foundation you need for daily communication. In Hebrew, numbers have both masculine and feminine forms; the words in this list represent the feminine forms, which are typically used for abstract counting or when the gender of the noun is not yet specified. For example, "One" is אַחַת (achat) and "Two" is שְׁתַּיִם (shtayim).

As you progress into the teens, you will notice a very consistent linguistic pattern. Numbers eleven through nineteen are formed by combining a version of the single digit with the word עֶשְׂרֵה (esre). You can see this logic clearly in "Twelve," שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה (shteim esre), and "Fifteen," חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה (chamesh esre). This "esre" suffix is a variation of the word for "Ten," which is עֶשֶׂר (eser). Finally, you will learn "Twenty," עֶשְׂרִים (esrim), which introduces the plural-style ending used for higher tens. Mastering these first twenty numbers is a vital step toward fluency, as they appear in almost every conversation and establish the counting rhythm you will use for all larger figures.