You will count from zero to twenty, build 11 to 19 from on and a unit, and use a number with a noun.
The idea
The numbers 0 to 10 are single words: sıfır, bir, iki, üç, dört, beş, altı, yedi, sekiz, dokuz, on. From 11 to 19 you say on first and then the unit, as two separate words: on bir, on üç, on dokuz. Twenty is a word of its own: yirmi.
| Number | Turkish | Number | Turkish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bir | 11 | on bir |
| 2 | iki | 12 | on iki |
| 3 | üç | 13 | on üç |
| 4 | dört | 14 | on dört |
| 5 | beş | 15 | on beş |
| 6 | altı | 16 | on altı |
| 7 | yedi | 17 | on yedi |
| 8 | sekiz | 18 | on sekiz |
| 9 | dokuz | 19 | on dokuz |
| 10 | on | 20 | yirmi |
Examples
- Sınıfta on iki öğrenci var.There are twelve students in the classroom.After a number the noun stays singular: öğrenci, not öğrenciler.
- Kapıda on beş kişi bekliyor.Fifteen people are waiting at the door.
- Bugün hava sıfır derece.It is zero degrees today.
- Saat on bir.It is eleven o’clock.Ten comes first: eleven is on bir, literally ten-one, and it is written as two words.
- Dört kardeşim var.I have four siblings.Even with the possessive ending the noun stays singular after a number: dört kardeşim, not dört kardeşlerim.
- on üçthirteenNot üç on and not onüç: the ten comes first and the two words stay apart.
- on dokuznineteenNineteen is the last number built with on. Twenty has a word of its own.
- yirmitwentyTwenty is not iki on: it has its own word, yirmi.
- altısixThe word ends in the dotless ı. With a dotted i, alti, it would not be a Turkish word.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Turkish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Turkish device voice is available. You can still read the text.
Watch out
Say the ten before the unit and keep the words apart: thirteen is on üç, not üç on and not onüç. Learners whose own language puts the unit first, as German and Arabic do, often reverse it. After a number the noun stays singular: on iki öğrenci, never on iki öğrenciler.
Try it yourself
Write the number 13 in words.
Show answer or example answer
on üç
on üç: the ten comes first and the unit second, and the two words are written apart: ten plus three.
Write the number 6 in words.
Show answer or example answer
altı
altı: the word ends in the dotless ı; alti with a dotted i is not a Turkish word.
Eighteen children are playing in the garden. Write 18 in words.
Show answer or example answer
on sekiz
on sekiz: ten plus eight; çocuk stays singular after the number, so there is no -lar.
Write the number 4 in words.
Show answer or example answer
dört
dört: the vowel is the rounded front ö and the word ends in t; dort would be a spelling mistake.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 13 in words.
Write the number 6 in words.
Eighteen children are playing in the garden. Write 18 in words.
Write the number 4 in words.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Count the objects on your desk up to twenty. Write each number in words and check that every number from 11 on has two words.