How to count in German
Mastering counting is a cornerstone of language acquisition. This article provides a comprehensive guide on counting in German.
German numbers from 0 - 9
Learning to count from 0 to 9 in German is crucial for language proficiency, as these fundamental numerals lay the foundation for expressing more intricate numerical concepts.
Recommended study materials on the topic:
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
Numbers, Shapes and Colors - English to German Flash Card Book
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Here's a brief overview of these numbers in German:
0 = null (nul)
1 = eins (ains)
2 = zwei (tsvai)
3 = drei (drai)
4 = vier (feer)
5 = fünf (fiunf)
6 = sechs (zeks)
7 = sieben (ziben)
8 = acht (ahkt)
9 = neun (noin)
The number "eins" stands out due to its versatile form, which varies depending on usage. When standing alone as a numeral, it remains "eins." However, when employed in counting sequences or many other situations, it transforms into "ein" before masculine and neuter nouns (such as "ein Mann") and "eine" before feminine nouns (like "eine Frau"). This adjustment reflects the German system of case and gender agreement, adding a layer of complexity to the seemingly straightforward task of counting.
These numbers also lay the groundwork for constructing compound numbers down the line, formed by merging these individual digits with additional terms as numbers ascend. Mastering the pronunciation and comprehension of these initial ten German numbers is essential for those aspiring to achieve fluency in the language.
German numbers from 10 - 19
Counting from 10 to 19 in German introduces learners to a format that establishes the foundation for comprehending larger numerical values in the language.
What makes these numbers unique is how German constructs the teen numbers by adding "zehn" (meaning ten) after the preceding digit. For instance, thirteen, which is "three and ten" in English, becomes "dreizehn" in German, literally "three ten." This formation is straightforward for numbers 13 through 19.
However, numbers 11 (elf) and 12 (zwölf) deviate from this pattern. They don't adhere to an obvious formula based on their constituent digits and must be memorized as distinct words. These two numbers also have historical origins in older Germanic languages, explaining their irregular appearance compared to the others.
In "sechzehn," the "s" from "sechs" is missing, and in "siebzehn," the "en" from "sieben" is missing. It's just something you have to remember.
Below are the numbers from 10 to 19 in German:
10 = zehn (tsen)
11 = elf (elf)
12 = zwölf (tsvelf)
13 = dreizehn
14 = vierzehn
15 = fünfzehn
16 = sechzehn (zeks-tsayn) → the “s” of “sechs” falls
17 = siebzehn (zeeb-tsain) → the “en” of “sieben” falls
18 = achtzehn
19 = neunzehn
REMEMBER: German teen numbers always end with “zehn” except of “elf” and “zwölf”
German numbers from 20 - 100
Counting from 20 to 100 in German reveals an intriguing aspect of the language: the reversal of number order in compound numerals. Here's a simple breakdown of how these numbers are structured.
In German, numbers from 21 onwards are formed by stating the unit first, followed by the word "and" (meaning "and"), and then the tens. This order is reversed compared to English. For instance, 21 in German is "einundzwanzig," which directly translates to "one-and-twenty." This pattern remains consistent up to 99, making learning easier once the basic structure is grasped.
The numbers from 30 upwards (dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, etc.) follow a similar pattern, but the tens end in "-zig" instead of "-zehn," as seen in the numbers 10 through 19. It's worth noting that while most numbers ending in zero from 30 onwards use this "-zig" ending, the numbers 20 (zwanzig) and 30 (dreißig) deviate somewhat from this pattern in their formation and pronunciation.
20 = zwanzig (tsvahn-tsik)
30 = dreißig (dry-sik) → no “z” added with “ig”
40 = vierzig (feer-tsik)
50 = fünfzig (fuenf-tsik)
60 = sechzig (zeks-tsik) → the “s” of “sechs” falls
70 = siebzig (zeeb-tsik) → the “en” of “sieben” falls
80 = achtzig (ahkt-tsik)
90 = neunzig (noyn-tsik)
Examples of numbers within each ten-fold:
21 = einundzwanzig (īn-oonts-vahn-tsik)
34 = vierunddreißig (feer-oont-dry-sik)
47 = siebenundvierzig (zeeb-oont-feer-tsik)
59 = neunundfünfzig (noyn-oont-foont-tsik)
62 = zweiundsechzig (tsvai-oont-zeks-tsik)
78 = achtundsiebzig (ahkt-oont-zeeb-tsik)
85 = fünfundachtzig (fuenf-oont-ahkt-tsik)
93 = dreiundneunzig (dry-oont-noyn-tsik)
German numbers from 100 - 1000
Counting from 100 to 1000 in German continues the logical structure observed in lower numbers, with a few additional rules and patterns that are easy to grasp once you're familiar with the basics.
Formation:
Numbers from 100 to 999 are formed by first saying the number of hundreds followed by the rest. If the number is exactly a multiple of a hundred (like 300, 400, etc.), you simply say the number of hundreds followed by "hundert."
For numbers that aren't round hundreds, you place the hundreds part first (like "drei" for three, "hundert" for hundred), followed by the remainder of the number as previously learned (units and tens with "und" between them).
Hundreds
100 = einhundert
200 = zweihundert
300 = dreihundert
400 = vierhundert
500 = fünfhundert
600 = sechshundert
700 = siebenhundert
800 = achthundert
900 = neunhundert
Composing numbers within hundreds
To form numbers within each hundred, you continue using the patterns learned for numbers under 100.
For instance:
101 = einhunderteins
258 = zweihundertachtundfünfzig
364 = dreihundertvierundsechzig
472 = vierhundertzweiundsiebzig
589 = fünfhundertneunundachtzig
690 = sechshundertneunzig
785 = siebenhundertfünfundachtzig
832 = achthundertzweiunddreißig
999 = neunhundertneunundneunzig
German numbers from 1000
In German, numbers starting from 1000 continue to follow a systematic and structured approach. The number 1000 itself is expressed as "eintausend." For larger numbers, the count proceeds by appending the multiplier to "tausend" (thousand). For instance, 2000 is "zweitausend," 3000 is "dreitausend," and so on up to 9000 which is "neuntausend."
For numbers beyond a simple thousand, such as 1,250 or 3,645, the structure involves stating the thousands first, followed by the remainder of the number, as previously learned for numbers under 1000. For example, 1,250 would be "eintausendzweihundertfünfzig," and 3,645 would be "dreitausendsechshundertfünfundvierzig."
1000 = eintausend
2000 = zweitausend
3000 = dreitausend
9000 = neuntausend
1250 = eintausendzweihundertfünfzig
3645 = dreitausendsechshundertfünfundvierzig
Larger numbers in German
In German, larger numbers such as one hundred thousand and one million adhere to a systematic structure. The number 100,000 is expressed as "einhunderttausend," combining "einhundert" (one hundred) and "tausend" (thousand). For the number 1,000,000, German uses the term "eine Million," which introduces the concept of naming numbers in the millions. For multiples of these large numbers, you simply begin with the numeral followed by the word for million or thousand as needed, such as "zwei Millionen" (two million), "drei Millionen" (three million), or "zweihunderttausend" (two hundred thousand). This pattern allows for clear and precise communication of very large numbers, crucial in financial, scientific, and statistical contexts.
100 000 = einhunderttausend
200 000 = zweihunderttausend
1 000 000 = eine Million
2 000 000 = zwei Millionen
3 000 000 = drei Millionen
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you understand German numbers thoroughly and that you are now ready to begin counting confidently.
Additionally, be sure to explore our guide on how to write the date in German.
Bis bald!
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