Numbers one to ten
The numbers one to ten are among the most useful words you can carry into a Latin text or inscription: dates, ages, legion numbers, and prices all res
Can recognize Numbers one to ten in a short Latin prompt
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Marcus reads.
Julia sees the tablet.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The numbers one to ten are among the most useful words you can carry into a Latin text or inscription: dates, ages, legion numbers, and prices all rest on them. Many are the ancestors of English words, so they double as a memory aid.
| Numeral | Latin word | English echo |
|---|---|---|
| I | unus | unit, union |
| II | duo | duo, dual |
| III | tres | trio, triple |
| IV | quattuor | quart, quatrain |
| V | quinque | quintet |
| VI | sex | sextet |
| VII | septem | September (7th month) |
| VIII | octo | octopus, October |
| IX | novem | November |
| X | decem | decimal, decade |
Examples:
- Tres pueri in via sunt. = Three boys are in the street.
- Decem annos habeo. = I am ten years old (literally, I have ten years).
- Legio quinta. = The Fifth Legion.
For English speakers: a small trap is that most of these numbers do not change their endings. Quattuor through decem are indeclinable, so you will not see the case endings you have learned elsewhere: this is normal, not an error. Only unus, duo, and tres shift form (for example duo, duae, duo and tres, tria). Also note the Roman practice of subtraction in numerals: IV is 4 (one before five) and IX is 9 (one before ten), not 6 and 11.
Marcus reads.
Example for Numbers one to ten.
Julia sees the tablet.
A short A1 sentence with visible endings.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Put it into practice
Try a free exercise from the courseFrequently asked questions
- When is Numbers one to ten used?
- The numbers one to ten are among the most useful words you can carry into a Latin text or inscription: dates, ages, legion numbers, and prices all rest on them. Many are the ancestors of English words, so they double as a memory aid.
- How is Numbers one to ten formed?
- For English speakers: a small trap is that most of these numbers do not change their endings. Quattuor through decem are indeclinable, so you will not see the case endings you have learned elsewhere: this is normal, not an error. Only unus, duo, and tres shift form (for example duo, duae, duo and tres, tria ). Also note the Roman practice of subtraction in numerals: IV is 4 (one before five) and IX is 9 (one before ten), not 6 and 11.