Numbers 1 to 20
Learning numbers 1 to 20 is one of the first steps in mastering German. These basic numbers form the foundation for all larger numbers.
This lesson covers the German numbers from 1 to 20 with pronunciation and usage examples.
Explanation
Numbers 1-12 are unique words: eins (1), zwei (2), drei (3), vier (4), fünf (5), sechs (6), sieben (7), acht (8), neun (9), zehn (10), elf (11), zwölf (12).
Numbers 13-19 follow a pattern: add 'zehn' (ten) to the base number: dreizehn (13), vierzehn (14), fünfzehn (15), sechzehn (16), siebzehn (17), achtzehn (18), neunzehn (19).
Note: 'sechs' becomes 'sech-' and 'sieben' becomes 'sieb-' when combined with 'zehn'.
The number 'eins' changes to 'ein' when used before nouns: 'ein Buch' (one book), but 'eins' when alone: 'Ich habe eins' (I have one).
Numbers 1 to 20
| Number | German | Pronunciation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | eins | EYNS | ein Buch | one book |
| 2 | zwei | TSVY | zwei Bücher | two books |
| 3 | drei | DRY | drei Bücher | three books |
| 4 | vier | FEER | vier Bücher | four books |
| 5 | fünf | FYUNF | fünf Bücher | five books |
| 6 | sechs | ZEKS | sechs Bücher | six books |
| 7 | sieben | ZEE-ben | sieben Bücher | seven books |
| 8 | acht | AKHT | acht Bücher | eight books |
| 9 | neun | NOYN | neun Bücher | nine books |
| 10 | zehn | TSAYN | zehn Bücher | ten books |
| 11 | elf | ELF | elf Bücher | eleven books |
| 12 | zwölf | TSVUHLF | zwölf Bücher | twelve books |
| 13 | dreizehn | DRY-tsayn | dreizehn Bücher | thirteen books |
| 14 | vierzehn | FEER-tsayn | vierzehn Bücher | fourteen books |
| 15 | fünfzehn | FYUNF-tsayn | fünfzehn Bücher | fifteen books |
| 16 | sechzehn | ZEK-tsayn | sechzehn Bücher | sixteen books |
| 17 | siebzehn | ZEEP-tsayn | siebzehn Bücher | seventeen books |
| 18 | achtzehn | AKHT-tsayn | achtzehn Bücher | eighteen books |
| 19 | neunzehn | NOYN-tsayn | neunzehn Bücher | nineteen books |
| 20 | zwanzig | TSVAN-tsikh | zwanzig Bücher | twenty books |
Examples
Ich habe ein Buch.
I have one book.
Es gibt zwei Tische.
There are two tables.
Wir sind drei Personen.
We are three people.
Das kostet zehn Euro.
That costs ten euros.
Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt.
I am twenty years old.
Common Mistakes
Ich habe eins Buch
Ich habe ein Buch
When 'eins' is used before a noun, it becomes 'ein' (without 's'). Use 'eins' only when the number stands alone.
sechszehn
sechzehn
When combining 'sechs' with 'zehn', drop the 's' from 'sechs': 'sechzehn', not 'sechszehn'.
siebenzehn
siebzehn
When combining 'sieben' with 'zehn', drop the 'en': 'siebzehn', not 'siebenzehn'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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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.