Learning how to count in a new language is often one of the first steps in acquiring basic communication skills. Serbian, a South Slavic language, uses a straightforward numerical system similar to other Slavic languages. This article will guide you through counting from 1 to 50 in Serbian, ensuring you have a solid understanding of the numbers and their pronunciations.

Basics of Serbian Numbers

Before we delve into the specifics of counting to 50 in Serbian, it’s essential to understand the structure of Serbian numbers. Serbian numbers are relatively simple and follow a consistent pattern, especially for numbers 1 through 20. Beyond 20, numbers are often a combination of smaller number words.

Numbers 1 to 10 in Serbian

Let’s start with the basics. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Serbian:

1. One – Jedan (YEH-dahn)
2. Two – Dva (DVAH)
3. Three – Tri (TREE)
4. Four – Četiri (CHEH-tee-ree)
5. Five – Pet (PEHT)
6. Six – Šest (SHEHST)
7. Seven – Sedam (SEH-dahm)
8. Eight – Osam (OH-sahm)
9. Nine – Devet (DEH-veht)
10. Ten – Deset (DEH-seht)

These numbers are fundamental and form the basis for constructing higher numbers.

Numbers 11 to 20 in Serbian

The numbers from 11 to 20 in Serbian are constructed by combining 10 with the additional digit. Here are the numbers from 11 to 20:

11. Eleven – Jedanaest (YEH-dah-nah-ehst)
12. Twelve – Dvanaest (DVAH-nah-ehst)
13. Thirteen – Trinaest (TREE-nah-ehst)
14. Fourteen – Četrnaest (CHEH-tur-nah-ehst)
15. Fifteen – Petnaest (PEHT-nah-ehst)
16. Sixteen – Šesnaest (SHEHS-nah-ehst)
17. Seventeen – Sedamnaest (SEH-dahm-nah-ehst)
18. Eighteen – Osamnaest (OH-sahm-nah-ehst)
19. Nineteen – Devetnaest (DEH-veht-nah-ehst)
20. Twenty – Dvadeset (DVAH-deh-seht)

Notice that “naest” is a common suffix from 11 to 19, indicating the combination of “ten” with the units digit.

Numbers 21 to 30 in Serbian

When counting beyond 20, Serbian numbers become a combination of tens and units. Here are the numbers from 21 to 30:

21. Twenty-One – Dvadeset jedan (DVAH-deh-seht YEH-dahn)
22. Twenty-Two – Dvadeset dva (DVAH-deh-seht DVAH)
23. Twenty-Three – Dvadeset tri (DVAH-deh-seht TREE)
24. Twenty-Four – Dvadeset četiri (DVAH-deh-seht CHEH-tee-ree)
25. Twenty-Five – Dvadeset pet (DVAH-deh-seht PEHT)
26. Twenty-Six – Dvadeset šest (DVAH-deh-seht SHEHST)
27. Twenty-Seven – Dvadeset sedam (DVAH-deh-seht SEH-dahm)
28. Twenty-Eight – Dvadeset osam (DVAH-deh-seht OH-sahm)
29. Twenty-Nine – Dvadeset devet (DVAH-deh-seht DEH-veht)
30. Thirty – Trideset (TREE-deh-seht)

Here, “dvadeset” is the word for twenty, and it is combined with the numbers 1 through 9 to form the numbers 21 to 29. Thirty is a new base number.

Numbers 31 to 40 in Serbian

Following the same pattern, here are the numbers from 31 to 40:

31. Thirty-One – Trideset jedan (TREE-deh-seht YEH-dahn)
32. Thirty-Two – Trideset dva (TREE-deh-seht DVAH)
33. Thirty-Three – Trideset tri (TREE-deh-seht TREE)
34. Thirty-Four – Trideset četiri (TREE-deh-seht CHEH-tee-ree)
35. Thirty-Five – Trideset pet (TREE-deh-seht PEHT)
36. Thirty-Six – Trideset šest (TREE-deh-seht SHEHST)
37. Thirty-Seven – Trideset sedam (TREE-deh-seht SEH-dahm)
38. Thirty-Eight – Trideset osam (TREE-deh-seht OH-sahm)
39. Thirty-Nine – Trideset devet (TREE-deh-seht DEH-veht)
40. Forty – Četrdeset (CHEH-tur-deh-seht)

Here, “trideset” is the word for thirty, and it is combined with the numbers 1 through 9 to form the numbers 31 to 39. Forty is another new base number.

Numbers 41 to 50 in Serbian

Continuing with the same structure, here are the numbers from 41 to 50:

41. Forty-One – Četrdeset jedan (CHEH-tur-deh-seht YEH-dahn)
42. Forty-Two – Četrdeset dva (CHEH-tur-deh-seht DVAH)
43. Forty-Three – Četrdeset tri (CHEH-tur-deh-seht TREE)
44. Forty-Four – Četrdeset četiri (CHEH-tur-deh-seht CHEH-tee-ree)
45. Forty-Five – Četrdeset pet (CHEH-tur-deh-seht PEHT)
46. Forty-Six – Četrdeset šest (CHEH-tur-deh-seht SHEHST)
47. Forty-Seven – Četrdeset sedam (CHEH-tur-deh-seht SEH-dahm)
48. Forty-Eight – Četrdeset osam (CHEH-tur-deh-seht OH-sahm)
49. Forty-Nine – Četrdeset devet (CHEH-tur-deh-seht DEH-veht)
50. Fifty – Pedeset (PEH-deh-seht)

In this sequence, “četrdeset” is the word for forty, and it is combined with the numbers 1 through 9 to form the numbers 41 to 49. Fifty is represented by “pedeset.”

Pronunciation Tips

Pronunciation can be challenging when learning a new language. Here are some tips to help you pronounce Serbian numbers correctly:

1. **Stress the First Syllable:** In Serbian, the stress is usually on the first syllable of the word.
2. **Roll the ‘R’:** Serbian uses a rolled ‘r’, similar to the Spanish ‘r’.
3. **Practice the ‘Č’ Sound:** The letter ‘č’ is pronounced like the ‘ch’ in “chocolate”.
4. **Emphasize the ‘Š’:** The letter ‘š’ is pronounced like the ‘sh’ in “shoe”.

By paying attention to these tips, you can improve your pronunciation and sound more natural when speaking Serbian.

Practice Exercises

To help reinforce your learning, here are some practice exercises:

1. **Write the Numbers:** Write out the numbers 1 to 50 in Serbian.
2. **Speak Aloud:** Practice saying the numbers aloud, focusing on pronunciation.
3. **Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the number on one side and the Serbian word on the other.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When learning to count in Serbian, there are a few common mistakes to watch out for:

1. **Incorrect Suffixes:** Ensure you use the correct suffixes for numbers 11 to 19.
2. **Mispronunciation:** Pay attention to the pronunciation of letters like ‘č’ and ‘š’.
3. **Order of Numbers:** Remember that the tens digit comes first, followed by the units digit.

Conclusion

Learning to count to 50 in Serbian is a valuable skill that forms the foundation for further language learning. By understanding the structure of Serbian numbers and practicing regularly, you can quickly become proficient in counting. Whether you’re traveling to Serbia, learning Serbian for personal interest, or expanding your language skills, mastering these numbers will enhance your communication abilities.