Learn Lithuanian: Numbers 1–20

Learning how to count is a fundamental step in mastering any language, and Lithuanian is no exception. This lesson introduces the cardinal numbers from zero (nulis) up to twenty (dvidešimt). These words are the building blocks for essential daily tasks such as telling the time, discussing prices, sharing your age, or giving a phone number. Lithuanian numbers possess a rhythmic logic that makes them easier to memorize once you identify the recurring linguistic patterns.

From eleven (vienuolika) to nineteen (devyniolika), you will notice that every number ends with the suffix -lika. This ending is a distinct feature of Lithuanian counting and functions similarly to the English suffix -teen. For example, the word for four is keturi, while fourteen becomes keturiolika. Likewise, six is šeši and sixteen is šešiolika. By learning the first ten digits, you can quickly recognize the roots of these subsequent numbers.

Another helpful pattern appears when you reach twenty (dvidešimt). This word is a compound formed from the roots for two (du) and ten (dešimt). Understanding these connections not only helps with rote memorization but also provides a glimpse into how the Lithuanian language structures its numerical system. Mastering these first twenty numbers will provide you with a solid foundation for more complex mathematical concepts and common everyday interactions.