Numbers, Time & Dates
Numbers, time, and dates are essential for everyday communication. You'll use them constantly when speaking German.
German numbers follow patterns, especially from 13 onwards. Learning these patterns will help you master all numbers.
Telling time in German uses a 24-hour format, and dates follow a specific order: day, month, year.
Explanation
German numbers 0-12 are unique and must be memorized: null, eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwölf.
From 13-19, numbers are formed by adding '-zehn' to the base number: dreizehn (13), vierzehn (14), etc. Note: sechzehn (16) and siebzehn (17) drop the final letter.
Tens (20, 30, 40...) are: zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig. For numbers 21-99, say the ones first, then 'und' (and), then the tens: einundzwanzig (21).
To tell time, use 'Es ist' (It is) + hour + 'Uhr' (o'clock). For minutes, add them after: 'Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn' (It's 3:15). Use 'halb' for half past: 'halb vier' (3:30).
Dates use ordinal numbers: der erste (1st), der zweite (2nd), der dritte (3rd). Say: 'der erste Januar' (January 1st) or 'am ersten Januar' (on January 1st).
Numbers 0-20
| Number | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | null | nool |
| 1 | eins | eyns |
| 2 | zwei | tsvay |
| 3 | drei | dry |
| 4 | vier | feer |
| 5 | fünf | fuenf |
| 6 | sechs | zeks |
| 7 | sieben | ZEE-ben |
| 8 | acht | ahkt |
| 9 | neun | noyn |
| 10 | zehn | tsayn |
| 11 | elf | elf |
| 12 | zwölf | tsvoolf |
| 13 | dreizehn | DRY-tsayn |
| 14 | vierzehn | FEER-tsayn |
| 15 | fünfzehn | FUENF-tsayn |
| 16 | sechzehn | ZEK-tsayn |
| 17 | siebzehn | ZEEP-tsayn |
| 18 | achtzehn | AHKT-tsayn |
| 19 | neunzehn | NOYN-tsayn |
| 20 | zwanzig | TSVAHN-tsikh |
Telling Time
In German, use the 24-hour format for official times, but 12-hour format is also common in conversation.
Use 'Es ist' (It is) + number + 'Uhr' (o'clock). For minutes, add them: 'Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn' (It's 3:15).
'Halb' means half past, but note: 'halb vier' means 3:30 (half to four), not 4:30!
Use 'Viertel nach' (quarter past) and 'Viertel vor' (quarter to): 'Viertel nach drei' (3:15), 'Viertel vor vier' (3:45).
| Time | German | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | drei Uhr | three o'clock |
| 3:15 | drei Uhr fünfzehn / Viertel nach drei | quarter past three |
| 3:30 | drei Uhr dreißig / halb vier | half past three / half to four |
| 3:45 | drei Uhr fünfundvierzig / Viertel vor vier | quarter to four |
| 14:00 | vierzehn Uhr | 2 PM / 14:00 |
| 20:30 | zwanzig Uhr dreißig | 8:30 PM |
Es ist drei Uhr.
It is three o'clock.
Es ist halb vier.
It is half past three. (3:30)
Es ist Viertel nach drei.
It is quarter past three. (3:15)
Es ist Viertel vor vier.
It is quarter to four. (3:45)
Um wie viel Uhr?
At what time?
Um acht Uhr.
At eight o'clock.
Dates
German dates use ordinal numbers. The most common ones: erste (1st), zweite (2nd), dritte (3rd), vierte (4th), fünfte (5th).
Say dates as: 'der erste Januar' (January 1st) or 'am ersten Januar' (on January 1st).
Months: Januar, Februar, März, April, Mai, Juni, Juli, August, September, Oktober, November, Dezember.
Years are said as numbers: 'zweitausendvierundzwanzig' (2024).
Heute ist der erste Januar.
Today is January 1st.
Ich habe am fünften Mai Geburtstag.
I have my birthday on May 5th.
Wir treffen uns am dritten März.
We meet on March 3rd.
Das Jahr ist zweitausendvierundzwanzig.
The year is 2024.
Examples
Ich habe zwei Bücher.
I have two books.
Es ist drei Uhr.
It is three o'clock.
Heute ist der erste Januar.
Today is January 1st.
Ich komme um acht Uhr.
I come at eight o'clock.
Es ist halb vier.
It is half past three. (3:30)
Wir haben fünfzehn Minuten.
We have fifteen minutes.
Am zweiten Tag.
On the second day.
Es ist Viertel nach zwei.
It is quarter past two. (2:15)
Ich bin am dritten März geboren.
I was born on March 3rd.
Es ist zwanzig Uhr dreißig.
It is 8:30 PM.
Common Mistakes
Es ist halb drei (meaning 2:30)
Es ist halb drei (correct for 2:30)
Actually correct! 'halb drei' means 2:30 (half to three), not 3:30. This is often confusing for learners.
der ein Januar
der erste Januar
Use ordinal numbers (erste, zweite) for dates, not cardinal numbers (eins, zwei).
Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn (in conversation)
Es ist Viertel nach drei
In conversation, Germans often use 'Viertel nach' instead of 'Uhr fünfzehn'.
am ein Januar
am ersten Januar
After 'am', use dative form of ordinal: 'ersten', not 'erste'.
zweiundzwanzig (for 22)
zweiundzwanzig
Actually correct! But remember: ones come first, then 'und', then tens: zwei + und + zwanzig.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.