Lesson 02
Lesson 01
Lesson 02
Lesson 03
Lesson 04
Lesson 05
Lesson 06
Lesson 07
Lesson 08
Lesson 09
Lesson 10
Numbers
Numbers from 0 to 100 in German
Learning numbers in German is essential for daily interactions, from telling the time to shopping and understanding quantities. German numbers follow a straightforward pattern with some unique structures that make them easier to learn once the basics are understood.
Numbers 0 to 20
The numbers from 0 to 20 need to be memorized individually, as they form the basis for larger numbers.
| Number | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | null | nool |
| 1 | eins | ains |
| 2 | zwei | tsvai |
| 3 | drei | dry |
| 4 | vier | feer |
| 5 | fünf | fewnf |
| 6 | sechs | zeks |
| 7 | sieben | ZEE-ben |
| 8 | acht | akt |
| 9 | neun | noin |
| 10 | zehn | tsayn |
| 11 | elf | elf |
| 12 | zwölf | tswelf |
| 13 | dreizehn | DRY-tsayn |
| 14 | vierzehn | FEER-tsayn |
| 15 | fünfzehn | FUE-nf-tsayn |
| 16 | sechzehn | ZEK-tsayn |
| 17 | siebzehn | ZEEB-tsayn |
| 18 | achtzehn | AKT-tsayn |
| 19 | neunzehn | NOIN-tsayn |
| 20 | zwanzig | TSVAN-tsikh |
Patterns from 21 to 99
For numbers 21 to 99, German follows a “unit + und + tens” structure. This means numbers are read in reverse order compared to English, with the smaller unit number coming first, followed by “und” (and), and then the tens number.
Example:
- 21 – einundzwanzig (literally: one-and-twenty)
- 32 – zweiunddreißig (two-and-thirty)
This pattern continues for all numbers up to 99.
Tens (10, 20, 30, etc.)
Here’s how multiples of ten are expressed in German.
| Number | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | zehn | tsayn |
| 20 | zwanzig | TSVAN-tsikh |
| 30 | dreißig | DRY-sikh |
| 40 | vierzig | FEER-tsikh |
| 50 | fünfzig | FUENF-tsikh |
| 60 | sechzig | ZEK-tsikh |
| 70 | siebzig | ZEEB-tsikh |
| 80 | achtzig | AKT-tsikh |
| 90 | neunzig | NOIN-tsikh |
| 100 | hundert | HOON-dert |
Examples of Numbers from 21 to 99
| Number | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | einundzwanzig | AIN-oont-TSVAN-tsikh |
| 34 | vierunddreißig | FEER-oont-DRY-sikh |
| 47 | siebenundvierzig | ZEE-ben-oont-FEER-tsikh |
| 52 | zweiundfünfzig | TSVAI-oont-FUENF-tsikh |
| 69 | neunundsechzig | NOIN-oont-ZEK-tsikh |
| 73 | dreiundsiebzig | DRY-oont-ZEEB-tsikh |
| 88 | achtundachtzig | AKT-oont-AKT-tsikh |
| 99 | neunundneunzig | NOIN-oont-NOIN-tsikh |
Special Case: 100
- 100 – hundert (HOON-dert)
Tips for Learning German Numbers
- Focus on the Pattern: Once you learn numbers 1–20 and multiples of ten, you can easily build other numbers by following the “unit + und + tens” rule.
- Practice with Real-World Scenarios: Try using numbers in practical situations, like saying your age, telling the time, or practicing shopping phrases.
- Listening Practice: Listen to German speakers counting or stating numbers, as this will help with pronunciation and understanding numbers when spoken.
Mastering numbers from 0 to 100 will give you the tools to express quantities, prices, dates, and more in German!