число́
čislóneuter
The Russian word for number is число́ (čisló).
число́ refers to an abstract mathematical quantity. It is also used in the context of a calendar to mean a specific date or day of the month.
Meaning: abstract entity used to describe quantity (noun)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between число́ and номер. Use число́ for abstract mathematical quantities or dates, whereas use номер for identification numbers or labels, such as a phone number, a room number or a house number.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of число́ is числа́, which is used after many prepositions or to indicate quantity.
How do you pronounce it?
čisló
Did you know?
- The Russian word номер is a loanword from the French numéro, while число́ is a native Slavic word. This historical split is why the two words for 'number' behave so differently in meaning.
- The word номер can also mean a hotel room. This is because the room is referred to by its identification number rather than its function.
- In a circus or variety show, a single performance act is called a номер. The word is used here because each act is typically assigned a sequence number in the program.
Examples in context
- одна книгаOne book (feminine)
Sources
- Wiktionary, “number” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
