Lesson 02

The A1 level of the German language course is designed for beginners, introducing students to the fundamentals of the language. The course is divided into two parts: A1.1 and A1.2. 

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.

NumberGermanPronunciation
0nullnool
1einsains
2zweitsvai
3dreidry
4vierfeer
5fünffewnf
6sechszeks
7siebenZEE-ben
8achtakt
9neunnoin
10zehntsayn
11elfelf
12zwölftswelf
13dreizehnDRY-tsayn
14vierzehnFEER-tsayn
15fünfzehnFUE-nf-tsayn
16sechzehnZEK-tsayn
17siebzehnZEEB-tsayn
18achtzehnAKT-tsayn
19neunzehnNOIN-tsayn
20zwanzigTSVAN-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:

  • 21einundzwanzig (literally: one-and-twenty)
  • 32zweiunddreißig (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.

NumberGermanPronunciation
10zehntsayn
20zwanzigTSVAN-tsikh
30dreißigDRY-sikh
40vierzigFEER-tsikh
50fünfzigFUENF-tsikh
60sechzigZEK-tsikh
70siebzigZEEB-tsikh
80achtzigAKT-tsikh
90neunzigNOIN-tsikh
100hundertHOON-dert

Examples of Numbers from 21 to 99

NumberGermanPronunciation
21einundzwanzigAIN-oont-TSVAN-tsikh
34vierunddreißigFEER-oont-DRY-sikh
47siebenundvierzigZEE-ben-oont-FEER-tsikh
52zweiundfünfzigTSVAI-oont-FUENF-tsikh
69neunundsechzigNOIN-oont-ZEK-tsikh
73dreiundsiebzigDRY-oont-ZEEB-tsikh
88achtundachtzigAKT-oont-AKT-tsikh
99neunundneunzigNOIN-oont-NOIN-tsikh

Special Case: 100

  • 100hundert (HOON-dert)

Tips for Learning German Numbers

  1. 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.
  2. Practice with Real-World Scenarios: Try using numbers in practical situations, like saying your age, telling the time, or practicing shopping phrases.
  3. 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!

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