Numbers

Cardinal (how many?) and ordinal (which one?) numbers, agreement and usage.

Quick explanation

Hebrew distinguishes between cardinal and ordinal numbers. Often agreement with the noun’s gender and number is required. Some forms are irregular.

Image

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Gender in Hebrew, Noun Gender

In Hebrew, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine or feminine. This affects other words in the sentence.

Affects:

•Numbers: forms change by gender
•Verbs: sometimes agree with subject

More examples:

•Adjectives: must agree in gender
•Pronouns: match the referent

Important: There’s no absolute rule for every noun, you often memorize the gender.

Agreement Between Number and Noun

A 6‑part course to master numbers

Number 1

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Explanation

When referring to one (masc./fem.), the number comes after the noun and agrees with its gender.

When using number 1, it comes after the noun and agrees in gender.

📝

Examples

יֶלֶד אֶחָד

one boy

יַלְדָּה אַחַת

one girl

Number 2

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Explanation

In construct with a noun, the form changes: shnei (masc.), shtei (fem.).

Construct forms: shnei (masc.) / shtei (fem.)

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Examples

שְׁנֵי יְלָדִים

two boys

שְׁתֵּי יַלְדּוֹת

two girls

Numbers 3–10

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Explanation

Each number has masculine and feminine forms which match the noun.

Numbers have masculine/feminine forms that match the noun.

📝

Examples

שְׁלוֹשָׁה יְלָדִים

three boys

חֲמִשָּׁה סְפָרִים

five books

שָׁלוֹשׁ יַלְדּוֹת

three girls

חָמֵשׁ מַחְבָּרוֹת

five notebooks

11–19: Agreement by the Units Digit

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Explanation

For 11–19, the units digit matches the noun’s gender; ‘asar/eshre’ also shows gender.

Units determine gender; also ‘asar/eshre’ shows gender.

📝

Examples

Masculine

אֶחָד עָשָׂר סְפָרִים

שְׁנַיִים עָשָׂר תַּלְמִידִים

שְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר כִּסְאוֹת

Feminine

אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה מַחְבָּרוֹת

שְׁתַּיִים עֶשְׂרֵה טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

שָׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה יַלְדוֹת

‘asar’ (masc.) vs ‘eshre’ (fem.)

20–100: Round Tens

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Explanation

For round tens (20, 30, 40... 90) the forms are the same for masculine and feminine.

Round tens are gender-neutral, one form for both.

📝

Examples

עֶשְׂרִים סְפָרִים / עֶשְׂרִים מַחְבָּרוֹת

20 books / 20 notebooks

אַרְבָּעִים כִּסְאוֹת / אַרְבָּעִים טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

40 chairs / 40 televisions

שִׁשִּׁים רְחוֹבוֹת / שִׁשִּׁים תַּלְמִידִים

60 streets / 60 students

Compound numbers (21, 34, 99)

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Explanation

In compound numbers the tens stay fixed; the units digit agrees with the noun’s gender.

Tens stay the same; units agree in gender.

📝

Examples

עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד סְפָרִים

21 books

שְׁלוֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִים תַּלְמִידִים

32 students

אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה כִּסְאוֹת

43 chairs

עֶשְׂרִים וְאַחַת מַחְבָּרוֹת

21 notebooks

שְׁלוֹשִׁים וּשְׁתַּיִים יַלְדוֹת

32 girls

אַרְבָּעִים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

43 televisions

Numbers

Cardinal (how many?) and ordinal (which one?) numbers, agreement and usage.

Quick explanation

Hebrew distinguishes between cardinal and ordinal numbers. Often agreement with the noun’s gender and number is required. Some forms are irregular.

Image

📚

Gender in Hebrew, Noun Gender

In Hebrew, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine or feminine. This affects other words in the sentence.

Affects:

•Numbers: forms change by gender
•Verbs: sometimes agree with subject

More examples:

•Adjectives: must agree in gender
•Pronouns: match the referent

Important: There’s no absolute rule for every noun, you often memorize the gender.

Agreement Between Number and Noun

A 6‑part course to master numbers

Number 1

💡

Explanation

When referring to one (masc./fem.), the number comes after the noun and agrees with its gender.

When using number 1, it comes after the noun and agrees in gender.

📝

Examples

יֶלֶד אֶחָד

one boy

יַלְדָּה אַחַת

one girl

Number 2

💡

Explanation

In construct with a noun, the form changes: shnei (masc.), shtei (fem.).

Construct forms: shnei (masc.) / shtei (fem.)

📝

Examples

שְׁנֵי יְלָדִים

two boys

שְׁתֵּי יַלְדּוֹת

two girls

Numbers 3–10

💡

Explanation

Each number has masculine and feminine forms which match the noun.

Numbers have masculine/feminine forms that match the noun.

📝

Examples

שְׁלוֹשָׁה יְלָדִים

three boys

חֲמִשָּׁה סְפָרִים

five books

שָׁלוֹשׁ יַלְדּוֹת

three girls

חָמֵשׁ מַחְבָּרוֹת

five notebooks

11–19: Agreement by the Units Digit

💡

Explanation

For 11–19, the units digit matches the noun’s gender; ‘asar/eshre’ also shows gender.

Units determine gender; also ‘asar/eshre’ shows gender.

📝

Examples

Masculine

אֶחָד עָשָׂר סְפָרִים

שְׁנַיִים עָשָׂר תַּלְמִידִים

שְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר כִּסְאוֹת

Feminine

אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה מַחְבָּרוֹת

שְׁתַּיִים עֶשְׂרֵה טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

שָׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה יַלְדוֹת

‘asar’ (masc.) vs ‘eshre’ (fem.)

20–100: Round Tens

💡

Explanation

For round tens (20, 30, 40... 90) the forms are the same for masculine and feminine.

Round tens are gender-neutral, one form for both.

📝

Examples

עֶשְׂרִים סְפָרִים / עֶשְׂרִים מַחְבָּרוֹת

20 books / 20 notebooks

אַרְבָּעִים כִּסְאוֹת / אַרְבָּעִים טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

40 chairs / 40 televisions

שִׁשִּׁים רְחוֹבוֹת / שִׁשִּׁים תַּלְמִידִים

60 streets / 60 students

Compound numbers (21, 34, 99)

💡

Explanation

In compound numbers the tens stay fixed; the units digit agrees with the noun’s gender.

Tens stay the same; units agree in gender.

📝

Examples

עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד סְפָרִים

21 books

שְׁלוֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִים תַּלְמִידִים

32 students

אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה כִּסְאוֹת

43 chairs

עֶשְׂרִים וְאַחַת מַחְבָּרוֹת

21 notebooks

שְׁלוֹשִׁים וּשְׁתַּיִים יַלְדוֹת

32 girls

אַרְבָּעִים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ טֵלֵוִיזְיוֹת

43 televisions