When learning foreign languages, can we say that counting is a skill?
Well... not actually.
But that doesn’t mean that counting isn’t one of the essentials. In fact, knowing how to count in a foreign language is the basic knowledge every language learner should have.
If you know numbers, you can ask for a coffee in a coffee shop, you can ask for a price, or you can even use it in some important conversations.
We have to admit that learning to count isn’t something extraordinarily fun and entertaining, but it is quite important for every language, even your native.
Why counting is so important in learning a foreign language, how to make all the fun of it, and how to count in different languages, find out in the following lines.
Let’s dive in.
Why Learn to Count in a Foreign Language?
Numbers are essential in any language.
Often, we aren’t even aware of using numbers. We can say that we use numbers and counting practically every day both in our native language and foreign ones.
Start paying attention to numbers and counting during one ordinary day. How many hours do you spend talking on the telephone? Or perhaps driving a car to work or taking a walk?
Maybe how much money do you spend in a store buying groceries?
Now you see how numbers and counting are important.
We simply can’t live without them.
How to Learn Counting in Different Languages The Entertaining Way?
As much as important counting is, we can’t say that it is fun to learn it.
On the contrary, it can be pretty dull.
Luckily, today many clever people came up with ideas for learning numbers and counting in an entertaining way.
Here are some tips:
- Make fun of counting practically everything. Start counting stairs, cars, steps, everything you can think of during one day.
- Use special apps to learn to count. Today, there are plenty of useful and fun apps that can help you learn to count in a fun way. Download the app, and start counting. Some apps are suitable for multiple languages, so you don’t have to learn counting only in one language.
One of these apps is Polynuminal. This app is amazing because it offers you to learn counting in more than 50 different languages.
- Count with catchy songs on YouTube. One of the best resources for practically everything is YouTube. Therefore, no further explanations but go to YouTube and find some catchy songs in foreign languages where counting is one of the topics. You’ll surely have quite fun!
Here’s one YouTube video where you can learn to count from one to ten by singing.
Learn to Count in 8 Different Languages
Counting in Arabic
Besides being the most spoken language in Africa, Arabic is also quite challenging to learn.
However, the beauty of the language only makes it more and more popular.
In the following lines, you can start with learning numbers and counting in Arabic.
Number
Number in Arabic
Transcription
0
صفر
Sifr
1
واحد
wahed
2
اثنين
ethnein
3
ثلاثة
thalatha
4
أربعة
arba-a
5
خمسة
khamsa
6
ستة
sitta
7
سبعة
sab-a
8
ثمانية
thamanya
9
تسعة
tis-a
10
عشرة
ashara
Counting in Chinese
Besides being the most difficult language to learn, Chinese is also the number one most spoken language.
Therefore, learning to count in Chinese can be both useful and fun because numbers in Chinese culture and tradition take a very important place, so you have to list them in your basic Chinese words and phrases basket.
Number
Number in Chinese
Pronunciation
0
零
Líng
1
一
Yī
2
二
Èr
3
三
sān
4
四
Sì
5
五
Wǔ
6
六
Liù
7
七
Qī
8
八
Bā
9
九
Jiǔ
10
十
Shí
Counting in French
If you want to visit at least one of the French-speaking countries in Africa or try to communicate in Canadian French, numbers are something you should know in the middle of the night.
Number
Number in French
Pronunciation
0
Zéro
zay-ro
1
Un
uh
2
Deux
duh
3
Trois
twah
4
Quatre
kat-ruh
5
Cinq
sank
6
Six
sees
7
Sept
set
8
Huit
wheet
9
Neuf
nuhf
10
Dix
dees
Counting in German
No matter if you still haven’t started learning German because you don’t know is German easy to learn or you haven’t decided if you’ll visit some of the German-speaking countries, sometimes it is good to be prepared in advance.
Learning to count in German from zero to ten is, undoubtedly, is something you should start right now. You can also try learning to count with this tune as well.
Number
Number in German
Pronunciation
0
Null
nul
1
eins
eyns
2
zwei
tsvey
3
drei
dry
4
vier
feer
5
fünf
fuhnf
6
sechs
zex
7
sieben
Zee-bin
8
acht
akt
9
neun
noin
10
zehn
tsayn
Counting in Japanese
Even though it might seem similar to Chinese, Japanese surely isn’t.
The language of the Land of the rising Sun is worth learning.
Among common Japanese words, you should know, numbers and counting are, undoubtedly, one of them.
The following numbers are Syno- Japanese numbers, which are the most common ones.
Number
Number in Japanese
Pronunciation
0
れい、ゼロ、マル
rei, zero, maru
1
いち
ichi
2
に
ni
3
さん
san
4
し、よん
Shi, yon
5
ご
go
6
ろく
roku)
7
しち、なな
shichi, nana
8
はち
hachi
9
く、きゅう
ku, kyuu
10
じゅう
juu
Counting in Portuguese
If among you there are language learned who fight Portuguese Vs. Spanish battles here is good news.
If you want to see how similar these two languages are, you can start comparing numbers and counting.
Here are the Portuguese ones.
Number
Number in Portuguese
Pronunciation
0
Zero
zeh-ro
1
um
oohm
2
dois
doy-z
3
três
treh-z
4
quatro
kwah-troh
5
cinco
seen-coh
6
seis
say-z
7
sete
seh-chee
8
oito
oy-too
9
nove
noh-vee
10
dez
deh-z
Counting in Russian
If not the most beautiful, this is definitely the most spoken Slavic language.
Besides being melodical, Russian is also a synonym for romantic winters when you sit by the fireplace and listen to the Russian fairy tales.
But before you get to that cozy point, first you need to learn the basic Russian, which means number and counting.
Number
Number in Russian
Pronunciation
0
ноль
nol’
1
один
a'deen
2
два
dva
3
три
tri
4
четыре
chetyre
5
пять
pyat'
6
шесть
shest
7
семь
sem'
8
восемь
vosem'
9
девять
devyat'
10
десять
'desyat'
Counting in Spanish
A little bit more about passion and warmth.
Spanish counting is one of the essentials, if you want to communicate with the locals from the Spanish-speaking countries.
Besides, it is quite similar to Portuguese, which will help you easily memorize numbers from both languages.
If you want to learn further more numbers, try with Don Quijote. Not only will you learn to count up to 100 but you will get a short history lesson on numbers as well.
Number
Number in Spanish
Pronunciation
0
cero
say-roh
1
uno
oo-noh
2
dos
dohs
3
tres
trays
4
cuatro
kwah-troh
5
cinco
seen-koh
6
seis
says
7
siete
see-ay-tay
8
ocho
oh-choh
9
nueve
new-ay-vay
10
diez
dee-ays
Final Thoughts
Now that you have numbers and counting in 8 different languages in one place, there’s only one thing left to do. Don’t stop here. Continue learning to count.
And keep practicing and learning counting in a fun way, by playing games, singing catchy songs with numbers, or watching entertaining videos on YouTube.
If you’re interested in becoming fluent in a new language, check out these top online learning resources: Kick off your learning with Babbel, where interactive, enjoyable lessons are designed to blend smoothly into your routine, fostering fast and effective language learning. For those aiming for an in-depth understanding, Udemy provides a broad spectrum of courses from basic to advanced levels. To enhance your speaking skills, Preply connects you with native speakers for personalized coaching, ensuring significant improvement. Take advantage of a 50% discount on your first lesson at Preply with this link.
Good luck!
Why Learn to Count in a Foreign Language?
Numbers are essential in any language. Often, we aren’t even aware of using numbers. We can say that we use numbers and counting practically every day both in our native language and foreign ones. Start paying attention to numbers and counting during one ordinary day. How many hours do you spend talking on the telephone? Or perhaps driving a car to work or taking a walk? Maybe how much money do you spend in a store buying groceries? Now you see how numbers and counting are important. We simply can’t live without them. The same as practicing speaking skills with tutors, or expanding your vocabulary, counting in different languages is important for overall communication.
How to Learn Counting in Different Languages The Entertaining Way?
As much as important counting is, we can’t say that it is fun to learn it. On the contrary, it can be pretty dull. Luckily, today many clever people came up with ideas for learning numbers and counting in an entertaining way. Here are some tips: Make fun of counting practically everything. Start counting stairs, cars, steps, everything you can think of during one day. Use special apps to learn to count. Today, there are plenty of useful and fun apps that can help you learn to count in a fun way. Download the app, and start counting. Some apps are suitable for multiple languages, so you don’t have to learn counting only in one language. One of these apps is Polynuminal. This app is amazing because it offers you to learn counting in more than 50 different languages. Count with catchy songs on YouTube. One of the best resources for practically everything is YouTube. Therefore, no further explanations but go to YouTube and find some catchy songs in foreign languages where counting is one of the topics. You’ll surely have quite fun!
