Numbers in Hebrew: Complete Easy Guide
Learn Hebrew numbers 1–100 with simple tables, clear pronunciation, gender rules explained, and real-life examples for everyday use.
Numbers are one of the fastest ways to feel functional in Hebrew. You need them for prices, dates, addresses, phone numbers, time, and age—basically everyday life.
If you're just starting, read the Complete Beginner Guide to Hebrew first. And if you still need help reading Hebrew letters, review the Hebrew Alphabet Chart and the step-by-step guide on How to Read Hebrew.
Now let’s make numbers simple.
The important rule: Hebrew numbers have gender
Hebrew nouns are masculine or feminine, and numbers 1–10 change form depending on what you're counting.
This sounds intense, but you’ll recognize patterns quickly—and after 10, Hebrew gets way easier.
Hebrew numbers 1–10 (masculine + feminine)
| Number | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | אחד (echad) | אחת (achat) |
| 2 | שניים (shnayim) | שתיים (shtayim) |
| 3 | שלושה (shlosha) | שלוש (shalosh) |
| 4 | ארבעה (arba’a) | ארבע (arba) |
| 5 | חמישה (chamisha) | חמש (chamesh) |
| 6 | שישה (shisha) | שש (shesh) |
| 7 | שבעה (shiv’a) | שבע (sheva) |
| 8 | שמונה (shmona) | שמונה (shmoneh) |
| 9 | תשעה (tish’a) | תשע (tesha) |
| 10 | עשרה (asara) | עשר (eser) |
Quick pattern tip
For 3–10, masculine forms often end with -ה, and feminine forms are usually shorter.
Why Hebrew numbers feel “backwards”
Here’s the weird beginner trap:
- When counting masculine nouns, you often use the “short” form (that looks feminine to learners).
- When counting feminine nouns, you often use the “-ה” form (that looks masculine to learners).
Examples:
- שלושה ספרים — three books (ספר is masculine)
- שלוש מכוניות — three cars (מכונית is feminine)
It feels backwards for a minute. Then it becomes automatic.
Numbers 11–19 (easier than 1–10)
11–19 are built from (1–9) + “ten”.
Masculine examples:
- 11: אחד עשר
- 12: שנים עשר
- 13: שלושה עשר
- 19: תשעה עשר
Feminine examples:
- 11: אחת עשרה
- 12: שתים עשרה
- 13: שלוש עשרה
- 19: תשע עשרה
You don’t need perfection here to start using them—just get comfortable recognizing the pattern.
Tens: 20–90 (no gender!)
Good news: 20–90 don’t change for gender.
| Number | Hebrew |
|---|---|
| 20 | עשרים |
| 30 | שלושים |
| 40 | ארבעים |
| 50 | חמישים |
| 60 | שישים |
| 70 | שבעים |
| 80 | שמונים |
| 90 | תשעים |
100 in Hebrew
100 is:
- מאה (me’ah)
You’ll see it in prices, dates, and “top 100” style lists.
Building numbers like 21, 25, 47, 99
Hebrew typically says tens + “and” + ones.
- 21: עשרים ואחת / עשרים ואחד (depends on what you count)
- 25: עשרים וחמש
- 47: ארבעים ושבע
- 99: תשעים ותשע
That ו (vav) is “and.” It’s everywhere.
Real-life Hebrew number examples
1) Age
Hebrew uses “I am son/daughter of …” in everyday speech.
- (male) I’m 25: אני בן עשרים וחמש
- (female) I’m 25: אני בת עשרים וחמש
2) Prices
- It costs 50 shekels: זה עולה חמישים שקלים
Numbers show up constantly in ordering, directions, and daily life—learn more useful “chunks” in Essential Hebrew Phrases.
3) Phone numbers (digit by digit)
Phone numbers are often read digit-by-digit:
050-123-4567
אפס חמש אפס, אחת שתיים שלוש, ארבע חמש שש שבע
Ordinal numbers (first, second, third…)
These are used for “first floor,” “second day,” “third place,” and dates.
| English | Hebrew (m) | Hebrew (f) |
|---|---|---|
| first | ראשון | ראשונה |
| second | שני | שנייה |
| third | שלישי | שלישית |
| fourth | רביעי | רביעית |
Do you need Nikud for numbers?
Most real-world Hebrew drops vowel marks, including on signs and menus.
If you still rely on vowels, read Hebrew Vowels (Nikud) Explained so you can transition smoothly into unvoweled Hebrew.
Common beginner mistakes (and how to fix them)
Mixing masculine/feminine forms (1–10).
Fix: practice with a small set of nouns you actually use.Forgetting “and” (ו) when combining tens + ones.
Fix: say numbers out loud: “twenty AND five.”Trying to be perfect instead of functional.
Fix: learn the basics, then refine. Hebrew rewards repetition.
If you want more high-frequency building blocks beyond numbers, study 100 Common Hebrew Words.
How long does it take to learn Hebrew numbers?
If you practice 10 minutes a day, you can get functional with numbers in a few days.
For the full roadmap and realistic timelines, see How Long Does It Take to Learn Hebrew? and the honest answer on Is Hebrew Hard to Learn?.
Final thoughts
Numbers are high-leverage Hebrew. Once you have them, daily life gets easier fast: prices, time, dates, addresses, phone numbers, and ages all become readable.
Master 1–10 carefully, get comfortable with 11–19, and then enjoy how easy 20–100 becomes.
And if you're choosing tools for your learning plan, use this decision guide: Best Hebrew Learning Apps.