One of the very first things you need to do when you start learning Macedonian is learn to count.

Whether you are buying vegetables at the pazar (market), telling someone your age, or just trying to catch the right bus, numbers are essential.

The good news? Macedonian numbers are very logical.

Once you memorize the first ten digits, the rest follows a simple pattern that is actually quite similar to English.

You won’t have to do any complex mental math (like you do in French) or flip numbers around (like in German).

In this guide, I’ll walk you through counting from zero to one hundred, and explain a few small grammar rules you need to know about “one” and “two”.

The numbers 0 to 10

This is the foundation. You simply need to memorize these.

Everything else in the Macedonian number system is built using these ten words.

Gender rules for numbers 1 and 2

There is one small “trick” to Macedonian numbers that you should know right away.

In Macedonian, nouns have genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). Because of this, the numbers 1 and 2 change their form depending on what you are counting.

For the number 1:

• Eden (masculine)
• Edna (feminine)
• Edno (neuter)

For the number 2:

• Dva (masculine)
• Dve (feminine/neuter)

Here is how that looks in real life:

For numbers 3 and up, the word stays the same regardless of the gender of the noun.

The numbers 11 to 20

Now that you know the basics, the “teens” are easy.

To make a number between 11 and 19, you just take the basic number (1-9) and add the suffix -naeset.

This suffix comes from an old phrase meaning “on ten” (na-deset). Over time, it was shortened to just naeset.

• Pattern: Number + naeset

There are a few slight spelling changes to make the pronunciation smoother (like dropping a letter here or there), but the pattern is very consistent.

Counting by tens (20, 30, 40…)

The “tens” are formed by taking the base number and adding the suffix -deset (ten).

However, in modern Macedonian, this is almost always shortened to just -set or -eset.

Be careful with numbers 50 and 60. We drop the last letter of the root word to make it easier to say.

• 5 is pet, but 50 is pe-deset (not pet-deset).
• 6 is shest, but 60 is she-eset (not shest-eset).

How to form compound numbers (21-99)

This is where Macedonian is very easy for English speakers.

To say a number like 24, 35, or 99, you simply say the “tens” number, add the word i (which means “and”), and then say the “unit” number.

• Formula: [Ten] + i + [Unit]

Here are some examples:

21 (Twenty and one)

Dvaeset i eden

(Дваесет и еден)

35 (Thirty and five)

Trieset i pet

(Триесет и пет)

42 (Forty and two)

Chetirieset i dva

(Четириесет и два)

99 (Ninety and nine)

Devedeset i devet

(Деведесет и девет)

Let’s look at a dialogue where you might use this, for example, asking about age.

Regional variations and pronunciation tips

Macedonia is a small country, but we have many dialects.

While the standard written forms are what I have listed above, you will hear variations when people speak fast, especially in Skopje or in the western dialects.

1. Swallowing the “v”

In spoken Macedonian, the “v” sound in dvaeset (20) or devet (9) is often dropped or softened.

• Dvaeset might sound like “Dwa-eset”.

2. Dropping the “t” at the end

When locals count quickly, they often drop the final “t” from the tens.

• Dvaeset becomes dvaes.
• Trieset becomes tries.
• Pedest becomes pedes.

If you go to a shop and the total is 250 denars, the clerk might say: Dve-sta i pedes (Two hundred and fifty, dropping the ‘t’).

This is informal, but very common. As a learner, stick to the full form first, but don’t be confused if you hear the shorter version on the street!

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Counting in Macedonian is a great way to build confidence because the rules are consistent.

Here’s a quick checklist to remember:

• Memorize 0-10 perfectly.
• Remember that 1 and 2 change gender (eden/edna/edno and dva/dve).
• Add -naeset for teens.
• Add -set (or -eset) for tens.
• Use i (and) to connect numbers (e.g., 20 i 5).