SafekipediaProto-Indo-European numerals
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The words we use for numbers, like "one" or "five," have a long history that goes back thousands of years. Scholars have studied many languages that come from a common root called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). By looking at patterns in these languages, they have guessed what the early words for numbers might have been.
The study of these ancient number words helps us understand how languages have changed over time. It shows the links between many of the languages spoken in Europe and parts of Asia today. These early number words are the foundation for the counting systems we use now in many different places.
Learning about these old number words can be exciting because it lets us see how people thought and communicated a very long time ago. It connects us to the past and helps us appreciate the rich history behind something we use every day.
Cardinal numbers
The cardinal numbers are guessed to have sounded a certain way based on similarities across many languages. These guesses help us understand how ancient people counted.
The words for numbers like "twenty" and "hundred" are thought to come from the word for "ten." Some experts believe numbers bigger than ten were made up separately in different groups of people.
Other guesses about these numbers are very similar to each other. An old guess from the 1800s for the word "thousand" was *tūsḱmtiə.
Gender of numerals
The numbers "three" and "four" might have had special forms that sounded a bit different when talking about girls or women.
See also: Proto-Indo-European numerals
| Number | Reconstruction (Sihler) | Reconstruction (Beekes) |
|---|---|---|
| one | *Hoi-no-/*Hoi-wo-/*Hoi-k(ʷ)o-; *sem- | *Hoi(H)nos ; sem-/sm̥- |
| two | *d(u)wo- | *du̯oh₁ |
| three | *trei- (full grade) / *tri- (zero grade) | *trei̯es |
| four | *kʷetwor- (o-grade) / *kʷetur- (zero grade) (see also the kʷetwóres rule) | *kʷétu̯ōr |
| five | *penkʷe | *penkʷe |
| six | *s(w)eḱs; originally perhaps *weḱs | *(s)u̯éks |
| seven | *septm̥ | *séptm̥ |
| eight | *(h₁)oḱtṓw or *h₃eḱtō, *h₃eḱtow | *h₃eḱteh₃ |
| nine | *(h₁)newn̥ | *(h₁)néun |
| ten | *déḱm̥/*deḱm̥(t) | *déḱm̥t |
| twenty | *wīḱm̥t-; originally perhaps *widḱomt- | *du̯idḱm̥ti |
| thirty | *trīḱomt-; originally perhaps *tridḱomt- | *trih₂dḱomth₂ |
| forty | *kʷetwr̥̄ḱomt-; originally perhaps *kʷetwr̥dḱomt- | *kʷeturdḱomth₂ |
| fifty | *penkʷēḱomt-; originally perhaps *penkʷedḱomt- | *penkʷedḱomth₂ |
| sixty | *s(w)eḱsḱomt-; originally perhaps *weḱsdḱomt- | *u̯eksdḱomth₂ |
| seventy | *septm̥̄ḱomt-; originally perhaps *septm̥dḱomt- | *septm̥dḱomth₂ |
| eighty | *oḱtō(u)ḱomt-; originally perhaps *h₃eḱto(u)dḱomt- | *h₃eḱth₃dḱomth₂ |
| ninety | *(h₁)newn̥̄ḱomt-; originally perhaps *h₁newn̥dḱomt- | *h₁neundḱomth₂ |
| hundred | *ḱm̥tom; originally perhaps *dḱm̥tom | *dḱm̥tóm |
| thousand | *ǵʰeslo-; *tusdḱomti (originally "big hundred") | *ǵʰesl- |
| PIE | English | Gothic | Latin | Ancient Greek | Sanskrit | Iranian | Slavic | Baltic | Celtic | Armenian | Albanian | Tocharian | Hittite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *sem- "one, together" | same (ON samr); OE sam- "together"; [also German zusammen] | sama "same" | sem-el "once", sem-per "always", sim-plex "single, simple", sin-gulī "one each, single" | heĩs, hén, mía "one" *sems, *sem, *smiH₂ | sam- "together", samá "same, equal, any" | Av hama-, OPers hama- "any, all" Past sam "even, fine" | OCS samŭ "self, alone, one" | Lith san-, są- "with"; OPrus sa-, sen- "with, dividing" | OIr samlith "at the same time"; W hafal "equal" | mi "one" | gjithë "all" *semdza | A sas, B ṣe "one" sems | |
| *(h₁)óynos, (h₁)óywos "one" | one (OE ān) | ains "one" | ūnus (archaic oinos) | oĩnos "one (on a die)", oĩ(w)os "alone" | (ēka- *oi-ko-; Mitanni-Aryan aika-vartana "one turn (around a track)") | Av aēva-, OPers aiva-, (NPers yek- "one, only, alone") | OCS inŭ "one, another" | Lith víenas, OPrus ains "one" | OIr ōen, W un "one" | andr-ēn "right there", ast-ēn "right here" | ? Gheg tânë, Tosk tërë "all" tod-oino-; ??? një "one" *ňân eni-oino- | B -aiwenta "group" | ās "one" |
| *dwóh₁, neut. *dwóy(H₁) "two" | two (OE twā) | twái (fem. twōs, neut. twa) "two" | duo "two" | dúō "two" | dvā́(u) "two" | Av dva, fem. neut. baē "two"; NPers do "two"; Kurd diwa "two (fem.)" | OCS dŭva "two" | Lith dù, OPrus dwai "two" | OIr da, W dau (fem. dwy) "two" | erku "two" | dy "two" | A wu, B wi "two"(PTC *tuwó) | dā-, ta-; HLuw tuwa/i- "two"; Lyc kbi- "two"; Mil tba "two" |
| *tréyes (fem. *tisres, neut. *tríH₂) "three" | three (OE þrīe) | þreis "three" | trēs "three" | treĩs "three" | tráyas (fem. tisrás) "three" | Av θrayō, θrayas (fem. tisrō, neut. θri), OPers çi-, Parth hrē "three" | OCS trĭje "three" | Lith trỹs, OPrus tris, Latg treis "three" | OIr trí (fem. téoir), W tri (fem. tair, teir) "three" | erekʿ "three" | tre masc., tri fem. "three" | A tre, B trai "three" | tri- "three"; teriyas- (gen. pl.) |
| *kʷetwóres (fem. *kʷétesres, neut. *kʷetwṓr) "four" | four (OE fēower) | fidwor "four" (In Germanic influenced by pénkʷe "five") | quattuor "four" | téssares "four" | masc. catvā́ras (acc. catúras), neut. catvā́ri, fem. cátasras "four" | Av masc. čaθwārō (acc. čaturąm), fem. čataŋrō "four"; NPers čahār "four"; Kurd çwar | OCS četyre "four" | Lith keturì, OPrus ketturei "four" | Gaul petuar[ios] "four" | čʿorkʿ, kʿaṙ (rare) "four | katër "four" | A śtwar, B śtwer "four" | (remodelled in Hittite and Luwian) Lyc teteri |
| *pénkʷe "five" | five (OE fīf) | fimf "five" | quīnque "five" | pénte "five" | páñca "five"; Mitanni-Aryan panza- "five" | Av panča "five"; Kurd pênc/pênz | OCS pętĭ "five" | Lith penkì, OPrus penkei "five" | Gaul pinpe-, pompe "five" | hing "five" | pesë "five" | A päñ, B piś "five" | Luw paⁿta "five" |
| *swéḱs "six" | six (OE siex) | sáihs "six" | sex "six" | héx, dial. wéx "six" | ṣáṣ "six" | Av xšvaš "six" | OCS šestĭ "six" | Lith šešì, OPrus uššai "six" | Celtib sues "six"; | vecʿ "six" | gjashtë "six" | A ṣäk, B ṣkas "six" | |
| *septḿ̥ "seven" | seven (OE seofon) | sibun "seven" | septem "seven" | heptá "seven" | saptá "seven"; Mitanni-Aryan šatta- "seven" | Av hapta, NPers haft-, "seven" | OCS sedmĭ "seven" | Lith septynì, OPrus septinnei "seven" | OIr secht, W saith "seven" | eawtʿn "seven" | shtatë "seven" | A ṣpät, B ṣukt "seven" | sipta- "seven" |
| *h₁oḱtṓ(w) "eight" | eight (OE eahta) | ahtáu "eight" | octō "eight" | oktṓ "eight" | aṣṭā́(u) "eight" | Av ašta "eight" | OCS osmĭ "eight" | Lith aštuonì, OPrus astonei, Latg ostoni "eight" | Gaul oxtu- "eight" | utʿ "eight" | tetë "eight" H₁ok̂tō-t- | A okät, B okt "eight" | Lyc aitãta "eight" |
| *(h₁)néwn̥ "nine" | nine (OE nigon) | niun "nine" | novem "nine" | ennéa "nine" | náva "nine" | Av nava, NPers noh- "nine" | OCS devętĭ "nine" *newn̥-ti- (Influenced by *dékm̥t "ten") | Lith devynì (influenced by *dékm̥t "ten"), OPrus newinei "nine" | OIr noí n-, W naw "nine" | inn "nine" | nëntë "nine" *newn̥-ti- | AB ñu | Lyc nuñtãta "nine" |
| *déḱm̥t "ten" | ten (OE tien) | taíhun "ten" | decem "ten" | déka "ten" | dáśa "ten" | Av dasa, NPers dah- "ten" | OCS desętĭ "ten" | Lith dẽšimt, OPrus desimtan "ten" | Gaul decam- "ten"; | tasn "ten" | dhjetë "ten" dék̂m̥t-i- | A śäk, B śak "ten" | |
| *wídḱm̥ti(h₁) "twenty" *dwi-dḱm̥t-i(h₁) "two tens" | (remodelled) | (remodelled) | vīgintī "twenty" | eíkosi "twenty" | viṁśatí "twenty", dviṁśatí "twenty" | Av vīsaiti, Ossetian insäi "twenty" | (remodelled) | (remodelled) | OIr fiche (fichet), OW uceint "twenty" | kʿsan "twenty" | zet "twenty" | A wiki, B ikäṃ "twenty" | |
| *ḱm̥tóm "hundred" *dḱm̥tóm | hundred (OE hund, hund-red) | hunda (pl.) "hundred" | centum "hundred" | he-katón "hundred" | śatám "hundred" | Av satǝm "hundred" | OCS sŭto "hundred" | Lith šim̃tas, OPrus simtan "hundred" | OIr cét, W can(t) "hundred" | qind "hundred" (possibly borrowed from Latin centum) | A känt, B kante "hundred" | ||
| *ǵʰéslom "thousand" | mīlle "thousand" | kʰī́lioi "thousand" | sahásra "thousand" | Av hazaŋra "thousand" | |||||||||
| *tuHsont- "thousand" | thousand (OE þūsend) | þūsundi "thousand" | OCS tysǫšti "thousand" | Lith tūkstantis; OPrus tusimtons "thousand" |
Numerals as prefixes
Some special forms of numbers were used as prefixes, often to make special kinds of words. For example, they could create words like "five-fingered," similar to how we use numbers in English.
| Number | Prefix (Fortson) |
|---|---|
| one- (together, same) | *sm̥- |
| two- | *dwi- |
| three- | *tri- |
| four- | *kʷ(e)tru- or *kʷetwr̥- |
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers, which tell the position in a series like "first" or "second," are hard to figure out for the ancient Proto-Indo-European language because they change a lot in the languages that came from it.
We can guess some forms, like using a word that means "foremost" for "first." For "third" through "sixth," people added a special ending to the basic number words. For "seventh" to "tenth," they added another sound to the basic words. Some special patterns happened with certain numbers ending in sounds like "n" or "m."
Reflexes
Reflexes, or descendants of the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language forms, can be seen in many modern languages. These reflexes show how numbers and counting changed over time in different parts of the world.
In languages like Albanian, Armenian, English, German, Irish, Ossetic, Persian, and Tocharian, we can see traces of the original PIE numbers. These languages have older and newer forms, showing how words for numbers evolved.
| Number | Reconstruction (Sihler) | Reflexes |
|---|---|---|
| one | *Hoi-no- | Alb. njã > një (dialectal nji/njo), Lith. vienas, Latv. viens, Gaul. oinos, Gm. ein/eins, Eng. ān/one, Gk. οἶος oîos, Av. aēuua, Ir. óin/aon, Kashmiri akh, Lat. ūnus, Roman. unu, Osc. uinus, OCS edinŭ, ON einn, OPruss. aīns, Osset. iu/ieu, Pers. aiva-/yek, Kamviri ev, Pol. jeden, Russ. odin, Ved. aika, Umbr. uns, Goth. ains, Welsh un, Kurdish (Kurmanji) yek/êk |
| *sem- | Arm. mi/mek/meg, Alb. gjithë, Lith. sa, sav-as, Eng. sum/some, Gm. saman/zusammen, Gk. εἷς heîs, Hitt. san, Av. hakeret, Ir. samail/samhail, Lat. semel, Lyc. sñta, Kamviri sâ~, Pers. hama/hamin, Russ. odin, yedin, perviy Ved. sakŕ̥t, Toch. sas/ṣe, Welsh hafal, ON sami, Goth. sama | |
| two | *du(w)o- | Hitt. dā-, Luv. tuwa/i-, Lyc. kbi-, Mil. tba-, Ved. dvā(u), Av. duua, Pers. duva/do, Osset. dyuuæ/duuæ, Kashmiri zū', Kamviri dü, Gk. δύο dúo, Lat. duō, Osc. dus, Umbr. tuf, Roman. doi, ON tveir, Goth. twai, Eng. twā/two, Gm. zwêne/zwei, Gaul. vo, Ir. dá/dó, Welsh dau, Arm. erkow/yerku/yergu, Toch. wu/wi, OPruss. dwāi, Latv. divi, Lith. dù, OCS dŭva, Pol. dwa, Russ. dva, Alb. dy;di/dy;dў, Kurdish (Kurmanji) du |
| three | *trei- | Hitt. teriyaš (gen. pl.), Lyc. trei, Ved. tráyas, Av. θrāiiō, Pers. çi/se, Osset. ærtæ/ærtæ, Kashmiri tre, Kamviri tre, Gk. τρεῖς treîs, Lat. trēs, Osc. trís, Umbr. trif, Roman. trei, ON þrír, Goth. þreis, Eng. þrēo/three, Gm. drī/drei, Gaul. treis, Ir. treí/trí, Welsh tri, Arm. erek῾/yerek῾/yerek῾, Toch. tre/trai, OPruss. tri, Latv. trīs, Lith. trỹs, OCS trije, Pol. trzy, Russ. tri, Alb. tre/tre. Kurdish (Kurmanji) sê |
| four | *kʷetwor- | Lyc. teteri, Ved. catvāras, Av. caθuuārō, Pers. /čahār, Osset. cyppar/cuppar, Kashmiri tsor, Kamviri što, Gk. τέτταρες téttares, Lat. quattuor, Osc. petora, Roman. patru, Umbr. petor, ON fjórir, Goth. fidwor, Eng. fēower/four, Gm. feor/vier, Gaul. petor, Ir. cethir/ceathair, Welsh pedwar, Arm. čork῾/čors/čors, Toch. śtwar/śtwer, OPruss. keturjāi, Latv. četri, Lith. keturì, OCS četyre, Pol. cztery, Russ. četyre, Alb. katër;katrë/katër, Kurdish (Kurmanji) çar |
| five | *pénkʷe | Luv. panta, Ved. pañca, Av. panca, Pers. panča/panj, Osset. fondz/fondz, Kashmiri pā.~tsh Kamviri puč, Gk. πέντε pénte, Lat. quīnque, Roman. cinci, Osc. pompe, Umbr. pumpe, ON fimm, Goth. fimf, Eng. fīf/five, Gm. fimf/fünf, Gaul. pempe, Ir. cóic/cúig, Welsh pump, Arm. hing/hing/hink, Toch. päñ/piś, OPruss. pēnkjāi, Latv. pieci, Lith. penkì, OCS pętĭ, Pol. pięć, Russ. pjat', Alb. pesë/pes(ë);pês, Kurdish (Kurmanji) pênc |
| six | *s(w)eḱs | Ved. ṣáṣ, Av. xšuuaš, Pers. /šeš, Osset. æxsæz/æxsæz, Kashmiri śe, Kamviri ṣu, Gk. ἕξ héx, Lat. sex, Osc. sehs, Umbr. sehs, ON sex, Goth. saíhs, Eng. siex/six, Gm. sëhs/sechs, Gaul. suex, Ir. sé/sé, Welsh chwech, Arm. vec῾/vec῾/vec῾, Toch. ṣäk/ṣkas, OPruss. usjai, Latv. seši, Lith. šešì, OCS šestĭ, Pol. sześć, Roman. șase, Russ. šest', Alb. gjashtë/gjasht(ë);xhasht, Kurdish (Kurmanji) şeş |
| seven | *septm̥ | Hitt. šipta-, Ved. saptá, Av. hapta, Pers. hafta/haft, Osset. avd/avd, Kashmiri sath, Kamviri sut, Gk. ἑπτά heptá, Lat. septem, Osc. seften, Roman. șapte, ON sjau, Goth. sibun, Eng. seofon/seven, Gm. sibun/sieben, Gaul. sextan, Ir. secht/seacht, Welsh saith, Arm. ewt῾n/yot῾/yot῾ě, Toch. ṣpät/ṣukt, OPruss. septīnjai, Lith. septynì, Latv. septiņi, OCS sedmĭ, Pol. siedem, Russ. sem', Alb. shtatë/shtat(ë), Kurdish (Kurmanji) heft |
| eight | *h₃eḱtō | Lyc. aitãta-, Ved. aṣṭā(u), Av. ašta, Pers. ašta/hašt, Osset. ast/ast, Kashmiri ā.ṭh, Kamviri uṣṭ, Gk. ὀκτώ oktṓ, Lat. octō, Roman. opt, Osc. uhto, ON átta, Goth. ahtau, Eng. eahta/eight, Gm. ahto/acht, Gaul. oxtū, Ir. ocht/ocht, Welsh wyth, Arm. owt῾/ut῾ě, Toch. okät/okt, OPruss. astōnjai, Latv. astoņi, Lith. aštuonì, OCS osmĭ, Pol. osiem, Russ. vosem', Alb. tëte/tet(ë), Kurdish (Kurmanji) heşt |
| nine | *(h₁)newn̥ | Lyc. ñuñtãta-, Ved. nava, Av. nauua, Pers. nava/noh, Kashmiri nav, Kamviri nu, Gk. ἐννέ(ϝ)α enné(w)a, Lat. novem, Osc. nuven, Umbr. nuvim, Roman. nouă, ON níu, Goth. niun, Eng. nigon/nine, Gm. niun/neun, Gaul. navan, Ir. nói/naoi, Welsh naw, Arm. inn/inn/inně, TochA. ñu, OPruss. newīnjai, Latv. deviņi, Lith. devynì, OCS devętĭ, Pol. dziewięć, Russ. devjat', Alb. nëntë/nëndë/nând(ë);non(t), Kurdish (Kurmanji) neh, no |
| ten | *deḱm̥(t) | Ved. dáśa, Av. dasa, Pers. daθa/dah, Osset. dæs/dæs, Kashmiri da.h, Kamviri duc, Gk. δέκα déka, Lat. decem, Osc. deken, Umbr. desem, Roman. zece, ON tíu, Goth. taíhun, Eng. tīen/ten, Gm. zëhen/zehn, Gaul. decam, Ir. deich/deich, Welsh deg, Arm. tasn/tas/dasě, Toch. śäk/śak, OPruss. desīmtan, Latv. desmit, Lith. dẽšimt, OCS desętĭ, Pol. dziesięć, Russ. desjat', Alb. dhjetë/dhet(ë), Kurdish (Kurmanji) deh, de |
| twenty | *wīḱm̥t- | Ved. viṁśatí-, Av. vīsaiti, Pers. /bēst, Kashmiri vuh, Kamviri vici, Doric ϝίκατι wíkati, Lat. vīgintī, Gaul. vocontio, Ir. fiche/fiche, M. Welsh ugein(t), Arm. k῾san/k῾san/k῾san, Toch. wiki/ikäṃ, Lith. dvi-de-šimt, Alb. njëzet/njizet, Kurdish (Kurmanji) bîst |
| thirty | *trīḱomt- | Skr. triṅśat, Gk. τριάκοντα triákonta, Lat. trīgintā, Ir. trícho/tríocha, Lith. tris-de-šimt, Kurdish (Kurmanji) sih, sî |
| forty | *kʷetwr̥̄ḱomt- | Skr. catvāriṅśat, Gk. τεσσαράκοντα tessarákonta, Lat. quadrāgintā, Ir. cethorcho/ceathracha, Lith. keturias-de-šimt, Kurdish (Kurmanji) çil |
| fifty | *penkʷēḱomt- | Skr. pañcāśat, Gk. πεντήκοντα pentḗkonta, Lat. quinquāgintā, Ir. coíca/caoga, Lith. penkias-de-šimt, Kurdish (Kurmanji) pênceh, pêncî |
| sixty | *s(w)eḱsḱomt- | Skr. ṣaṣṭih, Gk. ἑξήκοντα hexḗkonta, Lat. sexāgintā, Ir. sesca/seasca, Lith. šešias-de-šimt, Russ. šest'desjat, Kurdish (Kurmanji) şêst |
| seventy | *septm̥̄ḱomt- | Skr. saptatih, Gk. ἑβδομήκοντα hebdomḗkonta, Lat. septuāgintā, Ir. sechtmoga/seachtó, Lith. septynias-de-šimt, Russ. sem'desjat, Kurdish (Kurmanji) heftê |
| eighty | *h₃eḱtō(u)ḱomt- | Skr. aśītih, Gk. ὀγδοήκοντα ogdoḗkonta, Lat. octōgintā, Ir. ochtmoga/ochtó, Lith. aštuonias-de-šimt, Russ. vosem'desjat, Kurdish (Kurmanji) heştê |
| ninety | *(h₁)newn̥̄ḱomt- | Skr. navatih, Gk. ἐνενήκοντα enenḗkonta, Lat. nōnāgintā, Ir. nócha/nócha, Lith. devynias-de-šimt, Russ. devjanosto, Kurdish (Kurmanji) not, newet |
| hundred | *ḱm̥tom | Ved. śatám, Av. satəm, Roman. sută, Pers. /sad, Osset. sædæ, Kashmiri śath, Gk. ἑκατόν hekatón, Lat. centum, ON hundrað, Goth. hund, Eng. hundred/hundred, Gm. hunt/hundert, Gaul. cantam, Ir. cét/céad, Welsh cant, Toch. känt/kante, Latv. simts, Lith. šim̃tas, OCS sŭto, Pol. sto, Russ. sto/sotnja, Kurdish (Kurmanji) sed |
| thousand | *(sm̥-)ǵʰéslo- | Skr. sahasram, Av. hazarəm, Pers. /hazār, Gk. χίλιοι khílioi, Lat. mīlle, Kurdish (Kurmanji) hezar |
| *tusdḱomti | ON þúsund, Goth. þūsundi, Eng. þūsend/thousand, Gm. þūsunt/tausend, TochA. tmāṃ, TochB. tmāne/tumane, Lith. tūkstantis, Latv. tūkstots, OCS tysǫšti, Pol. tysiąc, Russ. tys'ača | |
| *wel-tyo- | Toch. wälts/yaltse; OCS velьjь/velikъ |
| Number | Reconstruction | Reflexes (with examples) |
|---|---|---|
| one- (together, same) | *sm̥- | Ved. sa-kŕ̥t "once", Gk. ᾰ̔πλόος haplóos "one-fold, simple", Lat. sim-plex "one-fold" |
| two- | *dwi- | Ved. dvi-pád- "two-footed", Gk. dí-pod- "two-footed", Archaic Lat. dui-dent "a sacrificial animal with two teeth", Lith. dvi-kojis "two-footed" |
| three- | *tri- | Ved. tri-pád- "three-footed", Gk. trí-pod- "three-footed (table)", Lat. tri-ped- "three-footed", Lith. tri-kojis "three-footed", Gaul. tri-garanus "having three cranes", Alb. tri-dhjetë "thirty" (three ten) |
| four- | *kʷ(e)tru- | Ved. cátuṣ-pád- "four-footed", Av. caθru-gaoša- "four-eared", Gk. tetrá-pod- "four-footed", Lat. quadru-ped- "four-footed", Lith. ketur-kojis "four-footed" |
| Number | Reconstruction | Reflexes |
|---|---|---|
| first | *pr̥h₃-wó- | Ved. pūrviyá-, Lat. prīvus, OCS prĭvŭ, Pol. pierwszy, Russ. pervyj, Toch. parwät/parwe |
| *pr̥h₃-mó- | Goth. fruma, Lith. pìrmas, Latv. pirmais, Lat. prīmus, Osc. perum | |
| other forms | Eng. fyrst/first, Hitt. para, Lyc. pri, Av. pairi, vienet-as, paoiriia, | |
| second | *(d)wi-teró- | Skr. dvitīya, Gk. δεύτερος deúteros, Russ. vtoroj |
| third | *tri-t(y)ó- | Ved. tr̥tīya-, Gk. τρίτος trítos, Lat. tertius, |
| fourth | *kʷetwr̥-tó- | Gk. τέταρτος tétartos, Eng. feorþa/fourth, OCS četvrĭtŭ, |
| fifth | *penkʷ-tó- | Av. puxδa-, Gk. πέμπτος pémptos, |
| sixth | *sweḱs-tó- | Gk. ἕκτος héktos, Lat. sextus, |
| seventh | *septm̥-(m/t)ó- | Gk. ἕβδομος hébdomos, Lat. septimus, OCS sedmŭ, |
| eighth | *h₃eḱtōw-ó-s | Gk. ὄγδο(ϝ)ος ógdo(w)os, Lat. octāvus, Russ. vos'moj |
| *oḱtm-o-s? | Lith. ašmas (then displaced by the neologism "aštuntas") | |
| ninth | *(h₁)newn̥-(n/t)ó- | Lat. nōnus, |
| tenth | *deḱm̥-(m/t)ó- | Ved. daśamá-, Av. dasəma-, Lat. decimus, |
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This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Proto-Indo-European numerals, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.