Counting in German

Learn to count in German

Learning Numbers Is Important!

Numbers are everywhere! Learning numbers is an important part of communicating in a foreign language. We need numbers for describing things (e.g., how many family members), for shopping, for understanding distances, and for telling the time.

Here are two tools (one for 0-99 and one for 1,000-9,999) and a game for each to help you learn numbers in German or teach them to beginners.

Learn 0-99

Click on a number to see its spelling. You can toggle the sound on and off.

Learn Bigger Numbers

Use this widget to help you learn or teach numbers English numbers up to 9,999. Use the arrows to choose a number then click on audio button to hear how the number is said in full.

Listening Practice for the Numbers 0-99

It's time to practise the numbers 0-99. Press start then click on the number you hear.

Listening Practice for Large Numbers

Press start then write out the number you hear.

The Rules for Counting in German

The numbers 0–12

(unique words)

• 0 = null
• 1–10 = eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn
• 11–12 = elf, zwölf

The numbers 13–19

([unit] + zehn)

• 13 = dreizehn
• 14 = vierzehn
• 15 = fünfzehn
• 16 = sechzehn (not "sechszehn")
• 17 = siebzehn (not "siebenzehn")
• 18 = achtzehn
• 19 = neunzehn

The numbers 20–99

([unit] + und + [tens])

• Multiples of ten: zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig
• Others: [unit] + und + [tens] (written as one word)
• Use ein, not eins, when it forms part of a larger number.

For example: 21 = einundzwanzig, 31 = einunddreißig, 57 = siebenundfünfzig, 99 = neunundneunzig

The numbers 100–199

• 100 = hundert or einhundert
• 101–199 = einhundert + [rest] (written as one word)

For example: 101 = einhunderteins, 135 = einhundertfünfunddreißig

The numbers 200–999

([unit] + hundert + [rest])

• Multiples of 100: zweihundert, dreihundert, vierhundert, fünfhundert, sechshundert, siebenhundert, achthundert, neunhundert
• Others: [unit] + hundert + [rest] (written as one word)

For example: 256 = zweihundertsechsundfünfzig, 999 = neunhundertneunundneunzig

The numbers 1000–9999

(i.e., the thousands)

• 1000 = tausend or eintausend
• Multiples of 1000: [unit] + tausend (e.g., 2000 = zweitausend)
• Others: [unit] + tausend + [rest] (written as one word)

For example: 2345 = zweitausenddreihundertfünfundvierzig, 7001 = siebentausendeins

Summary

• 0–12: unique names
• 13–19: [unit] + zehn (fused)
• 20–99: [unit] + und + [tens] (fused)
• 100–199: einhundert + [rest] (fused)
• 200–900: [unit] + hundert + [rest] (fused)
• 1000–9999: [unit] + tausend + [rest] (fused)

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