Collective Numerals — Russian Grammar

Besides the ordinary numbers, Russian has collective numerals for counting groups: (dvóyedvóje), (tróyetróje), (chétveročétvero), (pyáteropjátero)... They mean a group of two, three, four.

Where They Are Used

Collective numerals are used mainly in three situations:

with nouns for male persons and for children: (dvóye detéydvóje detéj), (tróye brát'yevtróje brátʹjev)
with plural-only nouns: (dvóye chasóvdvóje časóv), (tróye bryuktróje brjuk)
on their own, meaning two people: (nas dvóyenas dvóje) (there are two of us)

У меня́ дво́е дете́й, сын и дочь.
U menyá dvóye detéy, syn i doch'.U menjá dvóje detéj, syn i dočʹ.
I have two children, a son and a daughter.
Нас бы́ло тро́е.
Nas býlo tróye.Nas býlo tróje.
There were three of us.
Сто́лик на двои́х, пожа́луйста.
Stólik na dvoíkh, pozháluysta.Stólik na dvoíx, požálujsta.
A table for two, please.

The Case After Them

In the nominative, a collective numeral is followed by the genitive plural.

У нас тро́е дете́й.
U nas tróye detéy.U nas tróje detéj.
We have three children.

Declension

They decline like plural adjectives: (dvoíkhdvoíx), (dvoím), (dvoími).

Биле́ты на двои́х.
Biléty na dvoíkh.Biléty na dvoíx.
Tickets for two.

Higher Numbers

Collective numerals beyond seven are rare. Ordinary numbers are always correct with female persons: (tri sestrý).

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Russian course

3 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 31. A few of them, with the words “Collective Numerals” is about in bold:

У тебя двое очень красивых детей. Сколько им лет?
U tebyá dvóye óchen' krasívykh detéy. Skól'ko im let?U tebjá dvóje óčenʹ krasívyx detéj. Skólʹko im let?
You have two very beautiful children. How old are they?
Lesson 264

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