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Numbers & Basic Ordinals

A1

Numbers

Numbers are essential in everyday Turkish. They appear in prices, time expressions, dates, quantities, addresses, and descriptions. Turkish numbers follow a simple and fully regular system, making them easy to learn and expand.


1. Cardinal Numbers (Temel Sayılar)

Cardinal numbers indicate how many of something there are.
Turkish uses a consistent decimal-based structure.


0–10
  • sıfır (zero)

  • bir (one)

  • iki (two)

  • üç (three)

  • dört (four)

  • beş (five)

  • altı (six)

  • yedi (seven)

  • sekiz (eight)

  • dokuz (nine)

  • on (ten)


11–19

Formed as on + unit:

  • on bir (11)

  • on iki (12)

  • on üç (13)

  • on dört (14)

  • on beş (15)

  • on altı (16)

  • on yedi (17)

  • on sekiz (18)

  • on dokuz (19)


Tens
  • yirmi (20)

  • otuz (30)

  • kırk (40)

  • elli (50)

  • altmış (60)

  • yetmiş (70)

  • seksen (80)

  • doksan (90)


20–99 pattern

Tens + unit:

  • yirmi bir (21)

  • otuz dört (34)

  • kırk dokuz (49)

  • yetmiş sekiz (78)


Hundreds and thousands

  • yüz (100)

  • iki yüz (200)

  • üç yüz (300)

  • bin (1000)

  • iki bin (2000)


All numbers follow a predictable pattern with no irregular forms.


2. Numbers in Sentences

When a number comes before a noun, the noun stays singular in Turkish.


Examples:

  • iki kitap (two books)

  • beş öğrenci (five students)

  • on elma (ten apples)

  • dört kedi (four cats)


This rule applies to all nouns.


3. Ordinal Numbers (Sıra Sayıları)

Ordinal numbers indicate order or ranking: first, second, third, etc.
They are formed with the suffix -(I)ncI, adapted through vowel harmony and consonant harmony.


Basic forms
  • birinci (first)

  • ikinci (second)

  • üçüncü (third)

  • dördüncü (fourth)

  • beşinci (fifth)

  • altıncı (sixth)

  • yedinci (seventh)

  • sekizinci (eighth)

  • dokuzuncu (ninth)

  • onuncu (tenth)


Larger ordinals

Add the suffix to the full number:

  • yirmi birinci (21st)

  • otuz üçüncü (33rd)

  • kırk beşinci (45th)

  • yüzüncü (100th)


The suffix always appears at the end of the entire number.


4. Numbers Used in Everyday Expressions


Age
  • Ben yirmi dokuz yaşındayım. (I am 29.)

  • O on yaşında. (He/She is 10.)


Time
  • Saat üç. (It is three o’clock.)

  • Saat sekiz buçuk. (It is 8:30.)


Prices
  • On lira. (10 lira)

  • Yirmi beş lira. (25 lira)


Addresses
  • On ikinci kat. (12th floor)

  • Beş numara. (Number 5)


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Numbers are never pluralized
    ❌ iki kitaplar
    ✔ iki kitap


  • Ordinal suffix attaches to the entire number, not to each part
    ❌ yirmi birinci → yirmi + birinci (wrong structure)
    ✔ yirmi birinci (correct single unit)


  • When reading compound numbers, stress remains on the last word
    yirmi beş, yetmiş iki

Examples

  • Üç öğrenci sınıfta. (Three students are in the classroom.)

  • Onuncu sayfayı açın. (Open the tenth page.)

  • Beş elma istiyorum. (I want five apples.)

  • Saat dörtte buluşuyoruz. (We are meeting at four.)

  • Birinci soru kolay. (The first question is easy.)

Notes

  • Cardinal numbers are regular and predictable.

  • Ordinal numbers use the suffix -(I)ncI, adapted by vowel harmony.

  • Nouns remain singular after numbers.

  • Numbers appear frequently in time, dates, age, money, and daily communication.

Numbers & Basic Ordinals – FAQ (A1)


Q: How do Turkish cardinal numbers work?
A: Turkish cardinal numbers follow a regular decimal system and are formed in a predictable way without irregular forms.


Q: Does a noun become plural after a number in Turkish?
A: No. When a number comes before a noun, the noun always stays singular.


Q: How are ordinal numbers formed in Turkish?
A: Ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -(I)ncI to the entire number, adapted by vowel harmony.

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