Forming Compound Numbers (e.g., dvadeset i jedan)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Croatian, compound numbers are formed by placing the tens digit first, followed by 'i' (and), then the ones digit.
- Numbers 21-99 follow the order: Tens + 'i' + Ones (e.g., dvadeset i jedan).
- The conjunction 'i' is required between the tens and the ones.
- The ones digit must agree in gender if the noun is present, but the base form is masculine.
Compound Number Formation
| Tens | Connector | Ones | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
dvadeset
|
i
|
jedan
|
dvadeset i jedan
|
|
trideset
|
i
|
dva
|
trideset i dva
|
|
četrdeset
|
i
|
tri
|
četrdeset i tri
|
|
pedeset
|
i
|
četiri
|
pedeset i četiri
|
|
šezdeset
|
i
|
pet
|
šezdeset i pet
|
|
sedamdeset
|
i
|
šest
|
sedamdeset i šest
|
|
osamdeset
|
i
|
sedam
|
osamdeset i sedam
|
|
devedeset
|
i
|
osam
|
devedeset i osam
|
|
devedeset
|
i
|
devet
|
devedeset i devet
|
Meanings
This rule governs how to construct numbers between 21 and 99 by combining tens and units.
Cardinal Counting
Used for counting objects, age, or prices.
“Dvadeset i dva studenta.”
“Četrdeset i osam kuna.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Tens + i + Ones
|
Dvadeset i jedan
|
|
Age
|
Imam + Tens + i + Ones
|
Imam trideset i pet
|
|
Price
|
Košta + Tens + i + Ones
|
Košta četrdeset i dva
|
|
Quantity
|
Tens + i + Ones + Noun
|
Pedeset i tri knjige
|
|
Question
|
Koliko je + Tens + i + Ones?
|
Koliko je dvadeset i šest?
|
|
Negative
|
Nije + Tens + i + Ones
|
Nije šezdeset i devet
|
طيف الرسمية
Imam dvadeset i pet godina. (Age introduction)
Imam dvadeset i pet godina. (Age introduction)
Imam dvadeset i pet. (Age introduction)
Imam 25. (Age introduction)
Number Building Blocks
Tens
- dvadeset 20
- trideset 30
Connector
- i and
Ones
- jedan 1
- dva 2
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Imam dvadeset i dvije godine.
I am 22 years old.
To košta trideset i pet kuna.
That costs 35 kuna.
Vidim četrdeset i tri ptice.
I see 43 birds.
On ima pedeset i osam godina.
He is 58 years old.
Kupio sam pedeset i jednu jabuku.
I bought 51 apples.
Čekam dvadeset i četiri minute.
I am waiting for 24 minutes.
Ovo je šezdeset i sedmi put.
This is the 67th time.
Imamo sedamdeset i dva gosta.
We have 72 guests.
Treba mi osamdeset i devet eura.
I need 89 euros.
U gradu živi devedeset i šest ljudi.
96 people live in the city.
Pročitao sam trideset i dvije stranice.
I read 32 pages.
Stiglo je četrdeset i pet pisama.
45 letters arrived.
Cijena je pala za dvadeset i osam posto.
The price dropped by 28 percent.
Sastanak traje pedeset i pet minuta.
The meeting lasts 55 minutes.
Potrebno je šezdeset i devet potpisa.
69 signatures are needed.
Izgubio je sedamdeset i tri boda.
He lost 73 points.
Analiza obuhvaća osamdeset i četiri varijable.
The analysis covers 84 variables.
Projekt je stajao devedeset i dvije tisuće.
The project cost 92 thousand.
Očekuje se dvadeset i šest sudionika.
26 participants are expected.
Pravilo vrijedi za trideset i devet slučajeva.
The rule applies to 39 cases.
Povijesni izvori spominju pedeset i devet kraljeva.
Historical sources mention 59 kings.
Zbirka sadrži sedamdeset i osam artefakata.
The collection contains 78 artifacts.
Ustav ima devedeset i pet članaka.
The constitution has 95 articles.
Potrebno je šezdeset i četiri sata rada.
64 hours of work are required.
سهل الخلط
Learners forget the 'i' in 21-99.
Using masculine 'jedan' for feminine nouns.
Using cardinal numbers for dates.
أخطاء شائعة
dvadeset jedan
dvadeset i jedan
jedan dvadeset
dvadeset i jedan
dvadeset i jedana
dvadeset i jedna
dvadeset i jedni
dvadeset i jedan
trideset i dva knjiga
trideset i dvije knjige
četrdeset i devetom
četrdeset i devet
pedeset i jedan godina
pedeset i jedna godina
šezdeset i dva ljudi
šezdeset i dva čovjeka
sedamdeset i trih
sedamdeset i tri
osamdeset i četiri-a
osamdeset i četiri
devedeset i devetom
devedeset i devet
dvadeset i jedan-a
dvadeset i jedan
trideset i tri-e
trideset i tri
أنماط الجُمل
Imam ___ i ___ godina.
To košta ___ i ___ kuna.
Na stolu je ___ i ___ knjiga.
Vidim ___ i ___ ptica.
Real World Usage
Imam 25 godina!
Vidimo se u 21 sat.
Imam 35 godina iskustva.
Molim 22 pizze.
Autobus 42 kasni.
To je 55 kuna.
The 'i' Bridge
Gender Matters
Practice Aloud
Be Precise
Smart Tips
Always check the noun gender first.
Write out the numbers as words.
Don't skip the 'i'.
Use the masculine form if unsure.
النطق
The 'i' connector
Pronounced as a short 'ee' sound.
Tens stress
Stress is usually on the first syllable of the tens word.
Statement
Imam dvadeset i jedan. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of the 'i' as a bridge connecting the big tens to the little ones.
ربط بصري
Imagine a giant '20' holding hands with a tiny '1' using a bridge labeled 'i'.
Rhyme
Tens then 'i', then the ones, counting numbers is such fun!
Story
Ana is 20. She meets a friend who is 1. They decide to walk together across the 'i' bridge. Now they are 21!
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Write down the numbers 21, 35, 48, and 99 in Croatian right now.
ملاحظات ثقافية
In Croatia, people are very precise with numbers. Using the 'i' is seen as educated.
In some dialects, the 'i' might be swallowed in very fast speech, but it is still written.
Very clear pronunciation of the 'i' is common in formal settings.
The 'i' connector is a Proto-Slavic conjunction meaning 'and'.
بدايات محادثة
Koliko imaš godina?
Koliko košta ova kava?
Koliko studenata ima u grupi?
Koliko je sati?
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
أخطاء شائعة
Test Yourself
Dvadeset ___ jedan.
25 in Croatian is:
Find and fix the mistake:
Trideset dva.
Imam 23 godine. (Change to 43)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Koliko imaš godina? B: ___
Order: i, dvadeset, jedan
66
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercisesDvadeset ___ jedan.
25 in Croatian is:
Find and fix the mistake:
Trideset dva.
Imam 23 godine. (Change to 43)
Match 55.
A: Koliko imaš godina? B: ___
Order: i, dvadeset, jedan
66
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
Yes, in standard Croatian, it is mandatory for numbers 21-99.
It will sound like you are speaking broken Croatian.
Only the number 'one' (jedan -> jedna) changes based on the noun's gender.
The number itself stays the same, but the context changes.
100 is 'sto'. Compound numbers only apply to 21-99.
In texting, yes, but in formal writing, words are preferred.
Because 'godina' (year) is feminine, so 'dva' becomes 'dvije'.
No, the rule is very consistent for all numbers 21-99.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
einundzwanzig
Croatian uses 'i' and keeps the order tens-ones.
vingt-et-un
French only uses 'et' for 21, 31, 41, 51, 61.
veintiuno
Spanish has no 'and' connector.
nijūichi
Japanese is purely positional.
wahid wa 'ishrun
Arabic order is ones-and-tens.
ershiyi
Chinese has no conjunctions in numbers.
