German numbers are one of the easiest topics to learn — because once you memorise the basic numbers from 1–12, you can derive the rest using a logical system. You'll need numbers constantly in German: when shopping, telling the time, giving a phone number. Let's get started.
Good news: The German number system follows a clear pattern. "Twenty-one" → "einundzwanzig" (one-and-twenty). Once you grasp the logic, the rest comes automatically.
1–20: The Core Numbers
You must memorise these — they don't follow the derivation rules fully and need to be learned individually.
⚠️ Watch out: 16 = sechzehn (not sechszehn), 17 = siebzehn (not siebenzehn). These two are the most common mistakes.
Tens: 10 to 90
Rule: 30 = dreißig (note the ß!). 60 = sechzig (sechs + zig), 70 = siebzig (sieben + zig). The others are regular: vier + zig = vierzig.
21–99: Compound Numbers
German places the ones digit before the tens, joined by "und" (and). This is the reverse of English.
| Number | German | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | einundzwanzig | ein + und + zwanzig |
| 32 | zweiunddreißig | zwei + und + dreißig |
| 45 | fünfundvierzig | fünf + und + vierzig |
| 57 | siebenundfünfzig | sieben + und + fünfzig |
| 63 | dreiundsechzig | drei + und + sechzig |
| 78 | achtundsiebzig | acht + und + siebzig |
| 99 | neunundneunzig | neun + und + neunzig |
100, 1000 and Beyond
| Number | German |
|---|---|
| 100 | hundert |
| 200 | zweihundert |
| 350 | dreihundertfünfzig |
| 1,000 | tausend |
| 2,500 | zweitausendfünfhundert |
| 1,000,000 | eine Million |
Note: In German, a period separates thousands and a comma marks decimals. 1.500 = one thousand five hundred, 1,5 = one and a half.
Ordinal Numbers (Ordinalzahlen)
For ordinal numbers, add -te for 1–19 and -ste for 20 and above.
| Number | Ordinal | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | erste | der erste Platz (first place) |
| 2nd | zweite | das zweite Mal (second time) |
| 3rd | dritte | die dritte Tür (third door) |
| 7th | siebte | der siebte Tag (seventh day) |
| 20th | zwanzigste | der zwanzigste Juni (June 20th) |
Everyday Examples
Shopping
Das kostet drei Euro fünfzig. (That costs €3.50.)
Ich nehme zwei davon. (I'll take two of those.)
Time
Es ist halb drei. (It's half past two.)
Um neun Uhr treffen wir uns. (We meet at nine.)
Phone Numbers
Meine Nummer ist null, eins, sieben… (Phone numbers are said digit by digit.)
Age
Ich bin dreiundzwanzig Jahre alt. (I am 23 years old.)
Er wird vierzig. (He is turning 40.)
Test Yourself
How do you say this number in German?
Rule: ones (sieben) + und + tens (vierzig) → siebenundvierzig ✓
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