Chapter 6: Numbers
German Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide (1–100+)
Mastering numbers in German is essential for everyday communication, from telling time and discussing dates to shopping and sharing your age. This guide provides an in-depth look at German numbers, including vocabulary, grammar rules, pronunciation, cultural insights, and practical applications.
📚 Vocabulary: Numbers 0–100
🔢 Cardinal Numbers (Grundzahlen)
| Number | German | Pronunciation (IPA) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | null | [nʊl] | zero |
| 1 | eins | [aɪns] | one |
| 2 | zwei | [tsvaɪ] | two |
| 3 | drei | [dʁaɪ] | three |
| 4 | vier | [fiːɐ̯] | four |
| 5 | fünf | [fʏnf] | five |
| 6 | sechs | [zɛks] | six |
| 7 | sieben | [ˈziːbn̩] | seven |
| 8 | acht | [axt] | eight |
| 9 | neun | [nɔʏn] | nine |
| 10 | zehn | [tseːn] | ten |
| 11 | elf | [ɛlf] | eleven |
| 12 | zwölf | [tsvœlf] | twelve |
| 13 | dreizehn | [ˈdʁaɪtseːn] | thirteen |
| 14 | vierzehn | [ˈfiːɐ̯tseːn] | fourteen |
| 15 | fünfzehn | [ˈfʏnftseːn] | fifteen |
| 16 | sechzehn | [ˈzɛçtseːn] | sixteen |
| 17 | siebzehn | [ˈziːptseːn] | seventeen |
| 18 | achtzehn | [ˈaxtseːn] | eighteen |
| 19 | neunzehn | [ˈn ɔʏntseːn] | nineteen |
| 20 | zwanzig | [ˈtsvan.tsɪç] | twenty |
(Promova, Preply, Fluent in 3 Months, GermanPod101, Lingopie)
Numbers from 21 to 99 are formed by stating the unit digit first, followed by "und" (and), and then the tens digit. For example:(Busuu)
- 21: einundzwanzig (one and twenty)
- 45: fünfundvierzig (five and forty)
- 99: neunundneunzig (nine and ninety)(Lingopie)
| Tens | German | Pronunciation (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | dreißig | [ˈdʁaɪsɪç] |
| 40 | vierzig | [ˈfiːɐ̯tsɪç] |
| 50 | fünfzig | [ˈfʏnftsɪç] |
| 60 | sechzig | [ˈzɛçsɪç] |
| 70 | siebzig | [ˈziːptsɪç] |
| 80 | achtzig | [ˈaxtsɪç] |
| 90 | neunzig | [ˈnɔʏntsɪç] |
| 100 | (ein)hundert | [aɪnˈhʊndɐt] |
(Busuu, The German Project, Promova, Lingopie, Fluent in 3 Months)
🧠 Grammar Notes
1. Number Formation
-
13–19: Formed by combining the unit digit with "zehn" (ten).
- Example: 16 = sechzehn (sixteen)
-
21–99: Unit digit + "und" + tens digit.
- Example: 42 = zweiundvierzig (two and forty)(GermanPod101)
2. Ordinal Numbers (Ordnungszahlen)
| Number | Ordinal (German) | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | erste | first |
| 2 | zweite | second |
| 3 | dritte | third |
| 4 | vierte | fourth |
| 5 | fünfte | fifth |
| 6 | sechste | sixth |
| 7 | siebte | seventh |
| 8 | achte | eighth |
| 9 | neunte | ninth |
| 10 | zehnte | tenth |
(Olesen Tuition, Lingopie, Berlitz, The German Professor, Preply, Wikipedia, Gymglish, Study German Online, The German Project, Fluent in 3 Months, YouTube, BBC)
- For numbers 1–19, add "-te" to the base number.
- For numbers 20 and above, add "-ste".
- Ordinal numbers are declined like adjectives and agree in gender, case, and number with the noun they modify.(Study German Online, ThoughtCo)
3. Dates
-
Dates are written in the format: day.month.year
- Example: 3rd October 2025 = 03.10.2025
-
When spoken, ordinal numbers are used with the definite article.
- Example: "der dritte Oktober" (the third of October)
🗣️ Usage Examples
1. Expressing Age
- "Ich bin 25 Jahre alt." (I am 25 years old.)
- "Wie alt bist du?" (How old are you?)
2. Telling Time
- "Es ist zehn Uhr." (It is ten o'clock.)
- "Es ist halb drei." (It is half past two.)
3. Discussing Dates
- "Heute ist der erste Mai." (Today is the first of May.)
- "Mein Geburtstag ist am zwölften Juli." (My birthday is on the twelfth of July.)
4. Phone Numbers
-
Numbers are read digit by digit.
- Example: 0176 1234567 = null eins sieben sechs eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben(Mondly)
💬 Sample Conversations
A: Wie alt bist du? B: Ich bin dreißig Jahre alt.
A: Welches Datum ist heute? B: Heute ist der fünfte April.
A: Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Film? B: Der Film beginnt um achtzehn Uhr dreißig.
🎧 Pronunciation Guide
For an auditory learning experience, refer to the following resources:
🎓 Cultural Tips
-
Decimal and Thousand Separators: In German, a comma is used as the decimal separator, and a period is used to separate thousands.
- Example: 1.000,50 € (equivalent to 1,000.50 € in English notation)
-
Date Format: The standard format is day.month.year.
- Example: 24.12.2025 for December 24, 2025
-
Time Format: The 24-hour clock is commonly used, especially in formal contexts.
- Example: 18:30 for 6:30 PM(GermanPod101)
🛠️ Practical Applications
- Shopping: Understanding prices and quantities.
- Appointments: Scheduling and understanding dates and times.
- Travel: Reading timetables and making reservations.
- Personal Information: Stating your age, birthdate, and phone number.
📚 Additional Resources
- Counting and Calculating in German
- German Numbers: Learn How to Count from 1 to 100
- German Numbers: A Complete Guide
By familiarizing yourself with German numbers and their usage, you'll enhance your ability to communicate effectively in various everyday situations.