Do the Math: How to Count Successfully in Different Languages
“How many?”
It’s a basic question, one we’re accustomed to hearing from an early age.
How many fingers? Toes? Apples?
The problem is: How do you know “how many” there are of anything if you can’t count?
Face it. No counting skills equals no game-playing, no ordering coffee and no traveling with ease. And that’s not a lot of fun, is it?
Fortunately, adding excellent counting skills to your language ability is pretty straightforward. There are lots of ways to do so—in fact, there are almost too many number-learning options to count!
Let’s take a look at why counting is important.
Then let’s add some counting resources to your language program!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Why Should Language Learners Learn to Count?
Numbers play a huge role in daily activities and many times we don’t even realize we’re counting anything.
Think about all the things you count in a day. Miles to work. Hours until you make an important call. Items in your grocery cart as you approach the express checkout.
Fitbit steps, anyone?
Do you see how vitally important it is to know how to count?
Experts agree! We might feel that counting is instinctive but numbers are actually valuable tools that evolved in stages throughout history, according to anthropology professor Caleb Everett. This National Teachers of Mathematics article shows that learning to count begins early and is an essential life skill.
And just like possessing an adequate vocabulary and knowledge of grammar rules, counting is essential for communication.
How to Add Counting Resources to Your Language Program
As I mentioned, there are a multitude of resources for shining up your number skills. Apps, songs and charts are all worthwhile and very useful. How to choose one resource over another? The best advice is to select counting materials that appeal to your learning style and particular interests.
- Do you like singing? YouTube videos teach counting with songs as well as more intensive tutorials. They’re also available in several languages.
- Apps make learning portable so if you download one onto your device you’re prepared to practice counting—wherever and whenever a moment opens up! Another perk is that some apps aren’t language-specific. If you’re working on more than one language at a time, you can choose an app that will deliver several languages in a single app.
- Never discount a basic resource like charts. They work, are clear and concise and make short work of memorizing numbers.
- The biggest resource to your counting program is you! Make it a priority to count everything—steps, stairs, sights, cars—everything!
Make every moment a counting opportunity and practice, practice, practice!
Songs That Help with Learning to Count
You might remember your first counting songs. Whether they involve fingers, toes and maybe even noses, native language learners in many cultures use counting songs.
Songs are an effective way to memorize almost anything. Luckily, YouTube offers lots of number song options in several languages!
Let’s take a listen to one. Or two. Or, you know, ten.
- Spanish: Learn to count from one to 30 with this catchy tune.
- Italian: This adorable counting song is a pleasant earworm that definitely makes counting fun.
- German: Counting to a jazzy tune!
- Japanese: Hum along while learning the intricacies of Japanese counting.
- Mandarin Chinese: Numbers come alive with a band at an insect sock hop!
- Portuguese: Counting is a snap with this lovely guitar melody and simple song.
- Russian: A pleasant tune for learning Russian numbers.
- Arabic: This song features happy hands and toes to teach counting skills.
- French: Worms on a beach sing their way to 100.
- Korean: Learn from one to 10 with a romantic little love song.
If you’d like to watch these videos and other similar ones with interactive subtitles in English and the language of your choice, you can check the program FluentU.
FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
How to Count Successfully in Different Languages
Multiple Languages
Polynumial: This app lays down the counting specifics extremely well. Translate numbers and learn to count in over 50 languages with this one resource!
Marijin: An extensive chart which teaches to count from one to 100 in 20+ languages. A language menu on the left side of the screen displays each available language, which makes changing between languages effortless.
Counting to Ten Song: Count—and sing!—from one to 10 with this fun video featuring some enthusiastic young language pros.
Spanish
Rocket Languages: This site offers a free audio lesson as well as a chart that can teach learners to count to 1,000,000. That’s a cool million in case you’re stuck on all those zeroes!
Don Quijote: Learn to count to 100 and don’t miss the additional, short and informative history lesson on numbers and counting.
Study.com: This website requires an account but the resources can be accessed for free for a trial period. There are several lessons here on counting in Spanish.
Italian
Of Language and Numbers: There is a lot of insider information about the rules of Italian counting here!
Dummies: How to count in Italian, uncomplicated and clear-cut. There are also some excellent examples of common number-related questions.
Japanese
Guide to Japanese: This guide breaks down the difficulties associated with counting in Japanese. It goes over numbers and the Kanji for each. You will also find instructions on using numbers as dates in a month and spans of time. There’s a lot of material but it’s presented clearly.
German
Marjin: This guide for counting from zero to 100 can be downloaded into pdf form for studying offline or on the go. Additionally, the numbers are written out so spelling practice requires no additional effort!
Learn German Easily: This teaches counting from one to 999,999 so, really, they get the job done! Audio is available for learning the correct pronunciation so learning to count in German is as easy as eins, zwei, drei! (One, two, three!)
Chinese
Blog Tutoring: This website offers a detailed chart with counting tips. It provides pronunciation, numbers written in Chinese characters and in-depth explanations about how to count correctly in Chinese.
Ed Helper: Ed Helper is a clear resource that makes sense of the Chinese numeration system, an ancient and somewhat complicated system.
Portuguese
Transparent Language: Count from one to 20 in Portuguese using a chart and a video so you can hear the numbers spoken and see them written.
Russian
Learning Russian: This resource focuses on cardinal numbers but also includes a section regarding large and compound numbers.
Dummies: A great place to learn Russian numbers as well as all the counting rules.
Arabic
Of Languages and Numbers: This page includes rules for counting up to a billion as well as some history and important numbering rules.
French
The French Experiment: This useful page has written French numbers paired with audio recordings for correct pronunciation.
Quizlet: Flashcards deliver a great amount of information in an organized format. Learn to count from one to 50 and practice your pronunciation with the audio provided for each number.
Korean
Life in Korea: If you’re wondering how to count to 100,000, 000 in Korean, refer to this chart. And yes, that is one hundred million! Wow! They also provide the pronunciation for each number as well as the number written in Korean characters.
Take Lessons: The dynamics of the Korean numbering system is explained in easily-understood terms.
Non c’è due senza tre (there’s no two without three).
This old Italian proverb usually refers to unfortunate events coming in threes but it also pretty much sums up the counting experience:
Start at the beginning and build on what you’ve learned. You need two before three and so on.
Proverbs aside, a leading neuropsychologist, Brian Butterworth, theorizes we’re born “hard-wired” to count. That’s great news because it means innate ability + excellent resource = counting success!
You now have everything needed to count in a number of languages. So what are you waiting for?
Make 1+1=success!
Ready, set—count!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing...
If you dig the idea of learning on your own time from the comfort of your smart device with real-life authentic language content, you'll love using FluentU.
With FluentU, you'll learn real languages—as they're spoken by native speakers. FluentU has a wide variety of videos as you can see here:
FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.
Didn't catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.
You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's "learn mode." Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.
And FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You get a truly personalized experience.
Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
