Numbers in Hebrew

Overview

The concept of Numbers (מספרים) is a beginner-level topic in Hebrew grammar. Numbers 0-100 have masculine and feminine forms. Gender agreement with noun: שני ילדים (two boys), שתי ילדות (two girls).

Understanding numbers builds on your knowledge of Noun Gender and is essential for constructing natural-sounding Hebrew sentences. This topic is classified at the A1 level of the CEFR framework, meaning it is expected of learners at the beginner stage.

Even at the early stages, getting comfortable with numbers will give you the confidence to express yourself more clearly. Hebrew learners often find that once they grasp this concept, many other parts of the language start to fall into place.

How It Works

Key Principles

Numbers 0-100 have masculine and feminine forms. Gender agreement with noun: שני ילדים (two boys), שתי ילדות (two girls).

Core Forms

Hebrew	Meaning
אחד/אחת	one (m/f)
שני ספרים	two books
שלוש בנות	three daughters
עשרים ואחד	twenty-one

Number Gender

Hebrew numbers have both masculine and feminine forms. Counter-intuitively, the "masculine" number form (ending in -ה) is used with feminine nouns, and vice versa.

Number	With Masculine Nouns	With Feminine Nouns
1	אחד	אחת
2	שניים / שני	שתיים / שתי
3	שלושה	שלוש
4	ארבעה	ארבע
5	חמישה	חמש

Numbers 11-19

These combine units with עשר/עשרה and are notoriously tricky for learners because the gender patterns reverse again.

Examples in Context

Hebrew	English	Note
אחד/אחת	one (m/f)	common usage
שני ספרים	two books	common usage
שלוש בנות	three daughters	common usage
עשרים ואחד	twenty-one	common usage
ארבע בנות	four daughters	feminine number
חמישה ספרים	five books	masculine number (note: -ה ending)
עשר שקלים	ten shekels	everyday usage
מאה אנשים	one hundred people	round number

Common Mistakes

Applying English patterns to Hebrew

• Wrong: Structuring numbers the same way as in English
• Right: Learn and follow the Hebrew-specific rules
• Why: While some concepts exist in both languages, the specific rules and patterns usually differ. Direct translation often produces errors.

Forgetting gender agreement

• Wrong: Using a form that does not agree in gender with other sentence elements
• Right: Ensure gender agreement throughout the sentence
• Why: Gender is pervasive in Hebrew grammar. Almost every part of a sentence must agree in gender.

Overgeneralizing the rule

• Wrong: Applying the basic rule to all cases without exception
• Right: Learn the exceptions alongside the rule
• Why: Hebrew has regular patterns with notable exceptions. Both the rules and the exceptions need to be learned.

Practice Tips

1. Create flashcards with examples of numbers. On one side, write the Hebrew; on the other, the English translation and a note about the rule. Review daily until the pattern feels natural.
2. Practice with a language partner or tutor. Have them create sentences that test your understanding of numbers, and then try producing your own sentences using the same patterns.

Related Concepts

• Noun Gender — prerequisite concept
• Telling Time and Dates — builds on this concept
• Ordinal Numbers and Date Expressions — builds on this concept