де́сять
désjatʹ
The English number ten is translated into Russian as де́сять (désjatʹ). Wiktionary also lists де́сятеро (désjatero).
Meaning: the cardinal number occurring after 9 and before 11 (num)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| де́сять | désjatʹ | |
| де́сятеро | désjatero | collective |
You may also encounter the collective form де́сятеро or the noun деся́ток, which refers to a set or group with ten elements.
Which one should you use?
The collective form де́сятеро is used specifically with masculine or mixed-gender groups of people, rather than inanimate objects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The number де́сять changes to деся́ти in the genitive case. When used as a direct object, the form де́сять remains unchanged in the accusative case for inanimate objects.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is désjatʹ.
Did you know?
- The word де́сять is a cognate of the Latin 'decem' and the English 'decimal'. They all share a common root from the Proto-Indo-European language.
- The word деся́ток is often used in Russian recipes or markets to refer to a standard bunch of ten items, such as eggs, even if they are not in a formal carton.
- The Russian word for 'ten' contains a hidden instruction for pronunciation. The soft sign 'ь' at the end of 'де́сять' tells you to soften the final consonant, a concept that does not exist in English numbers.
Examples in context
- Он заплатил десять рублей за билет.He paid ten rubles for the ticket.
- У него было десять котов.He had ten cats.
- Сегодня я встретил десяток старых друзей.Today, I met ten old friends.
- Они заказали десять пицц.They ordered ten pizzas.
- У меня есть де́сять рублей.U menya yest' desyat' rubley.I have ten rubles.
- Мне нужно де́сять минут.Mne nuzhno desyat' minut.I need ten minutes.
- Там ровно де́сять человек.Tam rovno desyat' chelovek.There are exactly ten people there.
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Aleksandr are checking the items in a shopping basket.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСколько яиц в упаковке?Skol'ko yayets v upakovke?How many eggs are in the package?
- Александр AleksandrЗдесь ровно де́сять штук.Zdes' rovno desyat' shtuk.There are exactly ten pieces here.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто отличная цена.Eto otlichnaya tsena.That is a great price.
- Александр AleksandrСогласен, берём их.Soglasen, beryom ikh.I agree, let's take them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ten” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
