German Numbers — How to Count in German (1 to 1000)
Learn how to count in German from 1 to 1000 and beyond. Full number lists, ordinal numbers, dates, prices, and phone numbers — everything a beginner needs in one guide.
Learn how to count in German from 1 to 1000 and beyond. Full number lists, ordinal numbers, dates, prices, and phone numbers — everything a beginner needs in one guide.
German numbers 1–20
The numbers 1 to 12 are unique and need to be memorised. From 13 onwards, a clear pattern begins.
| Number | German | Pronunciation tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | eins | eyns |
| 2 | zwei | tsvye |
| 3 | drei | dry |
| 4 | vier | feer |
| 5 | fünf | fuenf |
| 6 | sechs | zex |
| 7 | sieben | zee-ben |
| 8 | acht | akht |
| 9 | neun | noyn |
| 10 | zehn | tsayn |
| 11 | elf | elf |
| 12 | zwölf | tsvölf |
| 13 | dreizehn | dry-tsayn |
| 14 | vierzehn | feer-tsayn |
| 15 | fünfzehn | fuenf-tsayn |
| 16 | sechzehn | zex-tsayn |
| 17 | siebzehn | zeep-tsayn |
| 18 | achtzehn | akht-tsayn |
| 19 | neunzehn | noyn-tsayn |
| 20 | zwanzig | tsvan-tsig |
Pattern for 13–19: unit number + -zehn
- drei + zehn = dreizehn (13)
- vier + zehn = vierzehn (14)
Note: 16 drops the s from sechs → sechzehn, and 17 drops the en from sieben → siebzehn. These are the only two exceptions in this range.
German numbers 21–99
From 21 onwards, German constructs compound numbers differently from English. In English you say twenty-one; in German you say the unit first, then und (and), then the ten:
Formula: unit + und + ten
einundzwanzig = 21 (one-and-twenty) dreiundvierzig = 43 (three-and-forty) siebenundneunzig = 97 (seven-and-ninety)
This is the reverse of English order and trips up many beginners. The key is to remember: small number first, then und, then the big number.
The tens (multiples of 10)
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 20 | zwanzig |
| 30 | dreißig |
| 40 | vierzig |
| 50 | fünfzig |
| 60 | sechzig |
| 70 | siebzig |
| 80 | achtzig |
| 90 | neunzig |
Pattern: unit number + -zig — with these exceptions:
- 20 = zwanzig (not zwezig)
- 30 = dreißig (uses -ßig, not -zig)
- 60 drops the s: sechzig (not sechszig)
- 70 drops the en: siebzig (not siebenzig)
Full numbers 21–99 — selected examples
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 21 | einundzwanzig |
| 22 | zweiundzwanzig |
| 25 | fünfundzwanzig |
| 31 | einunddreißig |
| 42 | zweiundvierzig |
| 55 | fünfundfünfzig |
| 63 | dreiundsechzig |
| 78 | achtundsiebzig |
| 84 | vierundachtzig |
| 99 | neunundneunzig |
Important: All German numbers are written as one word. Einundzwanzig, not ein und zwanzig. This applies no matter how long the number gets.
German numbers 100–1000
Hundreds
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 100 | hundert |
| 200 | zweihundert |
| 300 | dreihundert |
| 400 | vierhundert |
| 500 | fünfhundert |
| 600 | sechshundert |
| 700 | siebenhundert |
| 800 | achthundert |
| 900 | neunhundert |
| 1000 | tausend |
Pattern: number + hundert — simple and consistent, no exceptions.
Combining hundreds with tens and units
To form numbers like 345 or 782, combine the hundred, then the rest as a single compound word:
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 101 | hunderteins |
| 115 | hundertfünfzehn |
| 200 | zweihundert |
| 237 | zweihundertsiebenunddreißig |
| 345 | dreihundertfünfundvierzig |
| 512 | fünfhundertzwölf |
| 678 | sechshundertachtundsiebzig |
| 999 | neunhundertneunundneunzig |
| 1000 | tausend |
The full formula for any number up to 999:
[hundreds] + hundert + [unit] + und + [ten]
456 = vier + hundert + sechs + und + fünfzig = vierhundertsechsundfünfzig
Beyond 1000
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | tausend |
| 2,000 | zweitausend |
| 10,000 | zehntausend |
| 100,000 | hunderttausend |
| 1,000,000 | eine Million |
| 1,000,000,000 | eine Milliarde |
Note: In German, a comma is used where English uses a decimal point, and a period (or space) is used where English uses a comma:
- German: 1.000 = one thousand
- German: 3,50 € = three euros fifty
This catches many learners off guard when reading prices and large numbers.
Ordinal numbers in German
Ordinal numbers are used for order and ranking: first, second, third. In German they follow a clear pattern.
The rule
- 1st–19th: number + -te (with a few irregular forms)
- 20th and above: number + -ste
Ordinal numbers 1–20
| Number | Ordinal (stem) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | erst- | der erste |
| 2 | zweit- | der zweite |
| 3 | dritt- | der dritte |
| 4 | viert- | der vierte |
| 5 | fünft- | der fünfte |
| 6 | sechst- | der sechste |
| 7 | siebt- | der siebte |
| 8 | acht- | der achte |
| 9 | neunt- | der neunte |
| 10 | zehnt- | der zehnte |
| 11 | elft- | der elfte |
| 12 | zwölft- | der zwölfte |
| 19 | neunzehnt- | der neunzehnte |
| 20 | zwanzigst- | der zwanzigste |
Irregular forms to memorise: erst- (1st), dritt- (3rd), siebt- (7th), acht- (8th — no extra t).
Important: Ordinal numbers are adjectives in German, so they take adjective endings depending on gender and case. See the German adjective endings guide for the full declension rules.
der erste Mai — the first of May zum dritten Mal — for the third time Sie ist die beste Studentin. — She is the best student.
Numbers in real life: dates, prices, and phone numbers
Dates
German dates use ordinal numbers. The format is: day (ordinal) + month + year.
der 3. April — the 3rd of April (spoken: der dritte April) am 15. August — on the 15th of August (spoken: am fünfzehnten August) am 1. Januar 2026 — on the 1st of January 2026
The dot after the number (3.) signals an ordinal in written German.
Key months:
| Month | German |
|---|---|
| January | Januar |
| February | Februar |
| March | März |
| April | April |
| May | Mai |
| June | Juni |
| July | Juli |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| October | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | Dezember |
Prices
Das kostet drei Euro fünfzig. — That costs three euros fifty. (€3.50) Zwanzig Euro, bitte. — Twenty euros, please. Es kostet neunundneunzig Cent. — It costs ninety-nine cents.
Remember: in German, the decimal comma replaces the English decimal point. €3,50 is three euros fifty.
Telling the time
German time works slightly differently from English. The 24-hour clock is common in formal contexts; in everyday speech, Germans often use a half-past system that confuses English speakers:
Es ist drei Uhr. — It is three o'clock. Es ist halb vier. — It is half past three. (literally: half four — meaning halfway to four) Es ist Viertel nach zwei. — It is quarter past two. Es ist Viertel vor fünf. — It is quarter to five.
Watch out: halb vier means 3:30, not 4:30. German halb refers to the hour coming up, not the hour just passed.
Phone numbers
Germans typically read phone numbers in pairs:
030 45 67 89 → null-dreißig, fünfundvierzig, siebenundsechzig, neunundachtzig
The area code is read digit by digit or as a full number; the rest in pairs. Null (zero) is used for the digit 0.
Most useful numbers for everyday situations
| Situation | Numbers to know |
|---|---|
| Shopping | 1–100, decimal prices |
| Telling the time | 1–12 (analogue), 1–24 (digital) |
| Dates | Ordinals 1–31, months |
| Addresses | Any number — practise 1–999 |
| Phone numbers | All digits 0–9, pairs |
| Transport | Platform numbers, times, prices |
A 7-day plan to learn German numbers
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Memorise 1–20 — say them aloud, write them out |
| Day 2 | Learn the tens (20, 30, 40... 90) — note the exceptions |
| Day 3 | Practise 21–99 using the unit + und + ten formula |
| Day 4 | Learn hundreds — combine with smaller numbers |
| Day 5 | Practise numbers in context — prices, ages, years |
| Day 6 | Learn ordinals 1–20 and practise with dates |
| Day 7 | Real-life practice — read prices aloud, say today's date, count objects around you |
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Saying the ten before the unit
In English: twenty-one. In German: einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty). The unit always comes first in German compound numbers. This is one of the most persistent beginner errors.
Mistake 2: Writing numbers as separate words
Ein und zwanzig is wrong — it must be written as one word: einundzwanzig. This applies to all compound numbers in German.
Mistake 3: Confusing the decimal comma and thousands period
€1.000 in German means one thousand euros, not one euro. €3,50 means three euros fifty. The symbols are the reverse of English usage.
Mistake 4: Forgetting halb means the next hour, not the last
Halb drei is 2:30, not 3:30. German halb points forward to the upcoming hour — the opposite of English "half past."
Mistake 5: Not adding adjective endings to ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers are adjectives and must be declined. Der erste (nominative) becomes den ersten (accusative), dem ersten (dative). Review the adjective endings guide for the full rules.
Final thoughts
German numbers follow clear, logical patterns — once you know the building blocks, you can construct any number up to a million and beyond. Memorise 1–20 first, learn the tens, master the unit-und-ten formula for 21–99, and add hundreds on top. Practise numbers in real contexts — prices, dates, times — from the very beginning, and they will become automatic quickly.
Numbers are also a great foundation for building broader A1 vocabulary and for practising the common phrases you need in everyday situations.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Pronunciation guides are approximate. Always consult audio resources and native speakers to develop accurate pronunciation in German.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say zero in German?
Null — used for the digit zero in phone numbers, addresses, and scores. Nichts (nothing) is used in a general sense but not for the numeral.
Is eins or ein used for the number 1?
Eins is used when counting or saying the number on its own (eins, zwei, drei). Ein/eine/einem etc. are used before nouns and follow the adjective declension rules depending on gender and case.
How do you say years in German?
Years are read as hundreds: 1985 = neunzehnhundertfünfundachtzig (nineteen hundred eighty-five). From 2000 onwards: 2000 = zweitausend, 2026 = zweitausendundzwanzig.
Why does halb mean half past the previous hour in German?
Because halb in German means halfway to the next hour, not half past the last. Halb vier = halfway to four = 3:30. It takes adjustment but becomes automatic quickly.
Do German numbers change with gender?
The number ein (one) changes to agree with the noun it accompanies, like an indefinite article: ein Mann, eine Frau, ein Kind. All other cardinal numbers are invariable.
How are large numbers like millions written in German?
Million and Milliarde are nouns in German and are written as separate words: eine Million, drei Millionen, zwei Milliarden. Unlike smaller numbers, they are not merged into one compound word.
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