Quick answer
Дво́е, тро́е, че́тверо + genitive plural. Used for groups of people, for children, and for plural-only nouns like но́жницы.
The forms
| Number | Collective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | дво́е | дво́е друзе́й |
| 3 | тро́е | тро́е дете́й |
| 4 | че́тверо | че́тверо студе́нтов |
| 5 | пя́теро | пя́теро мужчи́н |
| 6 | ше́стеро | ше́стеро рабо́чих |
| 7 | се́меро | се́меро козля́т |
They go up to де́сятеро in theory, but above пя́теро they are rare and sound folksy — the fairy tale Волк и се́меро козля́т is where most Russians last met се́меро.
When you must use them
Three cases. With nouns that exist only in the plural: дво́е но́жниц (two pairs of scissors), тро́е су́ток (three days and nights). With де́ти and лю́ди: тро́е дете́й. And with the pronouns: нас бы́ло тро́е — there were three of us.
When you may not
Never with female-only groups — две же́нщины, not дво́е же́нщин. Never with things: два стола́, not дво́е столо́в. With mixed or male groups both work, and the collective sounds slightly warmer: дво́е друзе́й feels more like a pair than два дру́га.
на двои́х
The form you will actually use most is the oblique двои́х / трои́х after prepositions: сто́лик на двои́х, но́мер на трои́х — in restaurants and hotels.
Typical mistakes
дво́е же́нщин
две же́нщины
Collective numerals are not used for all-female groups.
три дете́й
тро́е дете́й
With де́ти the collective form is standard.
Check yourself
How do you say “three children”?