Finnish numbers present an intriguing system that differs significantly from many other languages. Their structure and formation offer a glimpse into the intricacies of the Finnish language.
Basic Numbers
The numbers from 1 to 10 in Finnish are as follows:
- 1 – yksi
- 2 – kaksi
- 3 – kolme
- 4 – neljä
- 5 – viisi
- 6 – kuusi
- 7 – seitsemän
- 8 – kahdeksan
- 9 – yhdeksän
- 10 – kymmenen
Teens and Tens
Finnish numbers from 11 to 19 follow a https://bcellphonelist.com/special-database/ pattern where the unit number comes first, followed by “toista”, which means “of the second ten”. For example, 13 is “kolmetoista” (three of the second ten).
Finnish Numbers: A Unique System
For the tens, the numbers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 follow a regular pattern:
- 20 – kaksikymmentä
- 30 – kolmekymmentä
- 40 – neljäkymmentä
- 50 – viisikymmentä
- 60 – kuusikymmentä
- 70 – seitsemänkymmentä
- 80 – kahdeksankymmentä
However, 90 is “yhdeksänkymmenen” and 100 is “sata”.
Larger Numbers
Numbers above 100 follow a logical structure. For example, 200 is “kaksisataa” (two hundreds), and 1000 is “tuhat” (thousand). Numbers like 3721 would be expressed as “kolmetuhattaseitsemänsatakaksikymmenyyksi”.
Unique Features
- Repetitive forms: Numbers from 2 to 10, as well as 100, 1000, and 1000000, have repetitive forms used for counting occurrences. For instance, “kahdesti” means “twice”.
- Ordinal numbers: Finnish ordinal Mobile number tracing has become increasingly numbers are formed differently than in many languages. They often involve the partitive case.
- Old forms: Some old forms for numbers between 21 and 99 still exist but are rarely used in modern Finnish.
Conclusion
Finnish numbers exhibit a distinct structure and logic that set them apart from many other numeral systems. While the initial learning curve might be steep, understanding the patterns and rules can lead to a deeper appreciation for the Finnish language. The complexity and regularity of Finnish numbers make them a fascinating subject for language enthusiasts and those interested in number systems.
Would you like to learn how to count to a specific number in Finnish?
