Chapter 9: Large Numbers
📌 Large Numbers in German (100–1,000,000)
In German, large numbers follow a logical pattern. Understanding how to build and pronounce them helps with telling time, discussing money, population, statistics, and more.
🔢 Large Numbers: Vocabulary & Pronunciation
| Number | German | Pronunciation (EN) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | hundert | HOON-dert |
| 101 | hundertundeins | HOON-dert-oont-ines |
| 110 | hundertzehn | HOON-dert-tsayn |
| 120 | hundertzwanzig | HOON-dert-TSVAHN-tsikh |
| 200 | zweihundert | TSVY-hoon-dert |
| 300 | dreihundert | DRI-hoon-dert |
| 400 | vierhundert | FEER-hoon-dert |
| 500 | fünfhundert | FUENF-hoon-dert |
| 600 | sechshundert | ZEKS-hoon-dert |
| 700 | siebenhundert | ZEE-ben-hoon-dert |
| 800 | achthundert | AHKT-hoon-dert |
| 900 | neunhundert | NOYN-hoon-dert |
| 1,000 | tausend | TOW-zent |
| 1,100 | elfhundert | ELF-hoon-dert |
| 1,500 | fünfzehnhundert | FUENF-tsayn-hoon-dert |
| 2,000 | zweitausend | TSVY-tow-zent |
| 10,000 | zehntausend | TSAYN-tow-zent |
| 50,000 | fünfzigtausend | FUENF-tsikh-tow-zent |
| 100,000 | hunderttausend | HOON-dert-tow-zent |
| 1,000,000 | eine Million | EYE-nuh mee-lee-OWN |
| 2,000,000 | zwei Millionen | TSVY mee-lee-OWN-en |
🧠 Grammar Notes
- No commas: Germans use periods as thousand separators (e.g.,
1.000 = 1,000) and commas for decimals (3,14 = 3.14). - Nouns: "Million" and "Milliarde" are nouns → they take an article and plural form:
eine Million(1 million)zwei Millionen(2 million)eine Milliarde(1 billion),Milliarden(billions)
- Hundert, tausend = adjectives (no article)
- Compound numbers are written as one word:
einhundertdreiundvierzig = 143
💬 Example Sentences
| English | German |
|---|---|
| I have 200 books. | Ich habe zweihundert Bücher. |
| Berlin has over 3 million people. | Berlin hat über drei Millionen Einwohner. |
| He earns 100,000 euros per year. | Er verdient hunderttausend Euro im Jahr. |
| The product costs 2,345 euros. | Das Produkt kostet zweitausenddreihundertfünfundvierzig Euro. |
🗣️ Common Phrases & Questions
| English | German |
|---|---|
| How many people live here? | Wie viele Menschen wohnen hier? |
| What's the population? | Wie hoch ist die Bevölkerung? |
| That costs one thousand euros. | Das kostet tausend Euro. |
| My phone number is... | Meine Telefonnummer ist... |
📚 Cultural Notes
- Zahlen verstehen: Germans often pause between large numbers when speaking for clarity. E.g., “eine Million – zweihunderttausend – fünfhundert.”
- Phone Numbers: Usually spoken in groups (e.g., 0176 345 77 11 = null-eins-sieben-sechs drei-vier-fünf sieben-sieben eins-eins).
- Banking and Formal Use: In contracts or formal documents, large numbers may be written in both digits and words.
🔗 Resources and Links
- German Numbers 1-1,000,000 (ThoughtCo)
- German Numbers with Pronunciation (GermanPod101)
- Zahlen auf Deutsch (Lingolia)
- BBC Bitesize - German Numbers
- Digital Dialects - German Numbers Game
🧩 Practice Exercise
-
Write these numbers in German:
- 103
- 719
- 1,482
- 23,500
- 999,999
-
Translate into English:
- zweitausendvierundzwanzig
- fünfundachtzigtausendsechshundertdreiundzwanzig
- eine Million fünfhunderttausend
🗣️ Conversation Practice
A: Wie viele Einwohner hat München?
B: Etwa eineinhalb Millionen Menschen.
A: Und wie viele Touristen kommen jedes Jahr?
B: Über sieben Millionen.
📘 Summary
- Learn base numbers and build up logically.
- Use compound construction rules.
- Note cultural/grammar differences in punctuation and usage.
Next Chapter ➡️ Chapter 10: Telling Time in German 🕰️