Numbers in German (1, 10, 100, 1000, …)
The numbers that we use for counting are called cardinal numbers. In this lesson, you will be learning the cardinal numbers in German.
Learn the Numbers 1-10 in German
The German cardinal numbers from 1 to 10 are shown in Table 1.1. You will have to learn them by heart.
No | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
0 | null | zero |
1 | eins | one |
2 | zwei | two |
3 | drei | three |
4 | vier | four |
5 | fünf | five |
6 | sechs | six |
7 | sieben | seven |
8 | acht | eight |
9 | neun | nine |
10 | zehn | ten |
❗ Note: Don’t confuse the German numeral “eins” (one = 1) with the indefinite article “ein” (a/an).
Numbers 11-20 in German
The German cardinal numbers from 11 to 20 are shown in Table 1.2.
No | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
11 | elf | eleven |
12 | zwölf | twelve |
13 | dreizehn | thirteen |
14 | vierzehn | fourteen |
15 | fünfzehn | fiveteen |
16 | sechzehn | sixteen |
17 | siebzehn | seventeen |
18 | achtzehn | eightteen |
19 | neunzehn | nineteen |
20 | zwanzig | twenty |
❗ You will also have to learn 11 and 12 by heart.
Did You Notice? Numbers between 13 and 19 follow a particular pattern: unit number + “zehn”. However, remember that numbers 16 (sechzehn) and 17 (siebzehn) have shortened versions of 6 (sechs) and 7 (sieben).
3 (drei) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 13 (dreizehn) |
4 (vier) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 14 (vierzehn) |
5 (fünf) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 15 (fünfzehn) |
6 (sechs) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 16 (sechzehn |
7 (sieben) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 17 (siebzehn |
8 (acht) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 18 (achtzehn) |
9 (neun) | ➕ 10 (zehn) | ➡️ 19 (neunzehn) |
Numbers 21-30 in German
Numbers in German, particularly between 21 and 99, are formed differently than in English. They follow a pattern where the smaller number precedes the larger one.
German numbers 21-29 follow the pattern: base number + “und” + “zwanzig”. For example; einundzwanzig (twenty-one), zweiundzwanzig (twenty-two), and so on. The German cardinal numbers from 21 to 30 are shown in Table 1.4.
No | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
21 | einundzwanzig | twenty-one |
22 | zweiundzwanzig | twenty-two |
23 | dreiundzwanzig | twenty-three |
24 | vierundzwanzig | twenty-four |
25 | fünfundzwanzig | twenty-five |
26 | sechsundzwanzig | twenty-six |
27 | siebenundzwanzig | twenty-seven |
28 | achtundzwanzig | twenty-eight |
29 | neunundzwanzig | twenty-nine |
30 | dreißig | thirty |
❗ It’s important to note that it’s “dreißig” and not “dreizig”.
Numbers 31-40 in German
The German cardinal numbers from 31 to 40 are shown in Table 1.5.
No | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
31 | einunddreißig | thirty-one |
32 | zweiunddreißig | thirty-two |
33 | dreiunddreißig | thirty-three |
34 | vierunddreißig | thirty-four |
35 | fünfunddreißig | thirty-five |
36 | sechsunddreißig | thirty-six |
37 | siebenunddreißig | thirty-seven |
38 | achtunddreißig | thirty-eight |
39 | neununddreißig | thirty-nine |
40 | vierzig | forty |
❗ Numbers between 31 and 40 follow the pattern “number + und + dreißig“: einunddreißig (thirty-one), zweiunddreißig (thirty-two), and so on.
Numbers 40-100 in German (Multiples of 10)
The German cardinal numbers from 40 to 100 are shown in Table 1.6.
No | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
40 | vierzig | forty |
50 | fünfzig | fifty |
60 | sechzig | sixty |
70 | siebzig | seventy |
80 | achtzig | eighty |
90 | neunzig | ninety |
❗ Between 40 and 90, all of these numbers are regular and follow the pattern “number + zig“: vierzig (forty), fünfzig (fifty), and so on. However, 60 and 70 contain a shortened version of the words for 6 (sechs) and 7 (sieben).
❗ 2 | zwei | + zig | = 20 (zwanzig) |
❗ 3 | drei | + ßig | = 30 (dreißig) |
4 | vier | + zig | = 40 (vierzig) |
5 | fünf | + zig | = 50 (fünfzig) |
❗ 6 | sechs | + zig | = 60 (sechzig) |
❗ 7 | sieben | + zig | = 70 (siebzig) |
8 | acht | + zig | = 80 (achtzig) |
9 | neun | + zig | = 90 (neunzig) |
How To Count From 100 to 1,000 In German
Three-digit numbers in German are made with the same logic as in English. They follow the pattern “number + hundert“: zweihundert (two hundred), dreihundert (three hundred), and so on.
no | Zahlen | Numbers |
---|---|---|
100 | (ein)hundert | one hundred |
200 | zweihundert | two hundred |
300 | dreihundert | three hundred |
400 | vierhundert | four hundred |
500 | fünfhundert | five hundred |
600 | sechshundert | six hundred |
700 | siebenhundert | seven hundred |
800 | achthundert | eight hundred |
900 | neunhundert | nine hundred |
1000 | eintausend | one thousand |