Numbers 1-100 in Hungarian

Overview

Hungarian numbers follow a logical, regular pattern that makes them relatively easy to learn. The basic numbers 1-10 must be memorized, but from 11 onward, the system is compositional and predictable. At the CEFR A1 level, numbers are essential for shopping, telling time, giving your age, and exchanging phone numbers.

One critical rule distinguishes Hungarian from most European languages: after a number, the noun stays in the singular. While English says "five houses," Hungarian says öt ház (five house). This applies to all numbers greater than one and catches English speakers off guard consistently.

The number two has two forms: kettő (standalone) and két (before a noun), which is another common source of errors for beginners.

How It Works

Numbers 0-10

Number	Hungarian
0	nulla
1	egy
2	kettő / két
3	három
4	négy
5	öt
6	hat
7	hét
8	nyolc
9	kilenc
10	tíz

Numbers 11-19

Formed with tizen- (from tíz) + unit:

Number	Hungarian
11	tizenegy
12	tizenkettő / tizenkét
13	tizenhárom
14	tizennégy
15	tizenöt
16	tizenhat
17	tizenhét
18	tizennyolc
19	tizenkilenc

Tens (20-90)

Number	Hungarian
20	húsz
30	harminc
40	negyven
50	ötven
60	hatvan
70	hetven
80	nyolcvan
90	kilencven
100	száz

Compound Numbers (21-99)

Written as one word with the connector form of the ten:

• 21 = huszonegy (húsz → huszon-)
• 35 = harmincöt
• 47 = negyvenhét
• 99 = kilencvenkilenc

Note: húsz becomes huszon- in compounds, and tíz becomes tizen-.

The Singular Rule After Numbers

Hungarian	English	Note
öt ház	five houses	noun is singular!
három könyv	three books	singular
tíz ember	ten people	singular

Examples in Context

Hungarian	English	Note
egy, kettő, három	one, two, three	basic counting
tíz, húsz, harminc	ten, twenty, thirty	tens
huszonegy	twenty-one	compound
öt ház	five houses	singular noun
két könyv	two books	két before noun
Kettő van.	There are two.	kettő standalone
Hány éves vagy?	How old are you?	asking age
Harminc éves vagyok.	I am thirty years old.	stating age
Mennyibe kerül? — Száz forint.	How much does it cost? — 100 forints.	shopping
Hányan vagytok? — Öten.	How many of you are there? — Five of us.	counting people

Common Mistakes

Using plural after numbers

• Wrong: öt házak
• Right: öt ház
• Why: Hungarian nouns stay singular after any number. The number itself conveys plurality.

Using kettő before a noun

• Wrong: kettő könyv
• Right: két könyv
• Why: Before a noun, use két. Use kettő only when the number stands alone (Kettő van. — There are two.)

Mispronouncing compound numbers

• Wrong: húsz-egy (for 21)
• Right: huszonegy
• Why: Húsz changes to huszon- in compounds, and tíz to tizen-. The compounds are single words.

Usage Notes

In formal contexts (phone numbers, official announcements), numbers are spoken digit by digit. In everyday speech, numbers flow naturally in compound form. When telling time, hét (seven) and hét (week) are distinguished by context.

Hungarian uses a period as a thousands separator and a comma for decimals: 1.000 = one thousand, 3,14 = pi.

Practice Tips

• Count objects around you in Hungarian throughout the day: három szék, öt ablak, két ajtó.
• Practice phone numbers digit by digit, then try saying years and prices as compound numbers.
• Drill the tens (húsz, harminc, negyven...) until they are automatic, then practice combining them with units.

Related Concepts

This is a foundational concept with no direct prerequisites or follow-up grammar topics, but numbers interact with nearly every other structure in Hungarian.