Mastering German Numbers: Count from 0 to 100 Easily

Whether you’re learning German for travel, work, or personal interest, mastering German numbers and their pronunciation is essential for effective conversation. Knowing how to count and express numerical concepts will enhance your communication skills and boost your confidence in speaking the language.

While it might feel daunting at first, mastering German numbers is achievable with a few key insights. The numbers from 0 to 19 are unique, but starting at 20, a consistent pattern emerges, making it much easier to navigate. With a little practice, you’ll be counting like a pro in no time!

Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about German numbers and kickstart your journey into learning the German language!

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German numbers 0-100

What are the German number patterns?

In German, the first twelve numbers are unique words that don’t follow a clear pattern. However, from 13 to 19, there’s a fascinating consistency: each number ends with the suffix -zehn, which translates to “ten,” and begins with the digit representing the ones place. For instance, the number 15 is expressed as fünfzehn (fuenf-tsen), combining “five” with “ten.”

In the German numbering system, numbers from 20 to 99 typically follow a consistent pattern ending in “-zig,” with the exception of the 30s, which end in “-ßig.” To form numbers between 20 and 100, combine the digit in the ones place with the digit in the tens place using the conjunction “und,” which means “and.” For instance, the number 32 is expressed as “zweiunddreißig” (pronounced “tsvai-unt-drai-sig”), translating to “two and thirty.”

Let’s look at each pattern in more detail:

German numbers 0-12

In contrast to the other German numbers, which often follow a recognizable pattern, the numbers from 0 to 12 stand out as exceptions. These foundational numbers must be memorized individually, as they do not adhere to a consistent rule.

German numbers 13-19

The numbers from 13 to 19 follow a unique pronunciation pattern in German: they all end with “zehn,” meaning “ten,” and begin with the digit representing the ones place (3 through 9). For instance, the number 14 combines “vier” (four) with “zehn” (ten), resulting in “vierzehn,” pronounced as “feer-tsen.”

You might come across a few unique cases that break the usual pattern, and these exceptions can simply be memorized. They still start with the digit from the ones place, followed by “zehn” (ten), but feature slight spelling variations. For instance,

• **The Number 16 in German:** In German, 16 is “sechzehn” (pronounced zejs-tsen). Unlike the expected formation of “sechs” (six) + “zehn” (ten), this term is an exception as it omits the “s” from “sechs.”
• The number 17: In German, this is siebzehn (zib-tsen), but it also doesn’t follow the pattern, removing the –en from sieben (seven).

German numbers 20-29

The numbers 20 through 29 follow a pattern with three parts:

• The digit (or number) in the ones place comes first.
• That digit is followed by the conjunction und (and). 
• Conclude by stating “20,” pronounced as “zwanzig” (tsvan-tsig). Note the spelling change from “wie” (two) to “zwan.”

To express the number 21 in German, you say “einundzwanzig” (pronounced “ain-unt-tsvan-tsig”). This word is formed by combining “ein” (one) + “und” (and) + “zwanzig” (twenty). While it sounds like “one and twenty,” it represents the number twenty-one.

Once you master this structure, you’ll feel empowered to tackle numbers from 40 to 99, as they adhere to the same pattern.

German numbers 30-39

The numbers 30 to 39 share a similar pattern, but there’s a twist: their suffix changes from -zig to -ßig, using the German letter ß instead of z. While this alteration makes the written form appear distinct, the pronunciation stays consistent with the sound “sig.”

Once you get used to how the suffix is spelled, the pattern is similar to that of 20 through 29:

• Say the digit (or number) in the ones place first .
• That digit is followed by the conjunction und (and).
• Then you finish it by saying the number 30 dreißig (drai-sig). 

To express the number 31 in German, you say “einunddreißig” (pronounced ain-unt-drai-sig). This term is formed by combining “ein” (one), “und” (and), and “dreißig” (thirty). While it literally translates to “one and thirty,” it represents the number thirty-one in German.

German numbers 40-99

The final section of German numbers is a breeze to learn! They follow a straightforward pattern, just like the 20s. You say the ones place digit first, followed by “und” (and), and then the tens place digit. For instance, 45 is pronounced “fünfundvierzig” (fuenf-unt-feer-tsig), which translates to “five and forty” in English. Similarly, 89 is “neunundachtzig” (noin-unt-ajt-tsig), meaning “nine and eighty.” It’s really simple, isn’t it?

What are the many ways to say one in German?

In German, the word for “one” can vary based on grammatical rules and gender. Understanding these distinctions will help you select the appropriate form of “one” in different contexts, making it easier to communicate effectively in German.

This chart offers a clear visualization to guide your choice based on case (nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive) and gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). Understanding these two key aspects will help you select the correct form of “one” to use in your sentences.

In German, the nominative case is used when a noun acts as the subject of a sentence—essentially, when it identifies who or what is carrying out the action.

The accusative case is used to indicate when a noun acts as a direct object, which means it receives the action of the verb in the sentence.

There’s an interesting yet subtle distinction between the first two cases: the masculine pronoun “one” is represented as “sein” in the nominative case, while in the accusative case, it changes to “seinen,” as illustrated in the chart above.

The dative case serves a vital role in language by signaling the indirect object—essentially, the person or thing that experiences the effects of a verb’s action.

Lastly, the genitive case is used to indicate possession of an object.

While there are notable pattern variations between these two cases, following these tips will help you master them effortlessly:

• The masculine and neuter gender become -em (in the dative case) and -es (in the genitive case).
• The feminine gender becomes -er (in both cases). 

Remember that in German, all nouns are capitalized. Check out the chart below for a clearer understanding of this important rule!

What are the hundreds and thousands in German?

When counting larger numbers in German, there’s a clear pattern to follow. Begin by stating the digit in the hundreds place, followed by the word “hundert” (which means “hundred”). Next, add the digits in the tens and ones places, connecting them with the conjunction “und.” This systematic approach makes it easier to master counting in German!

For example, “567” is fünfhundertsiebenundsechzig (five hundred and sixty-seven). 

The same pattern holds true for numbers in the thousands. Start by stating the digit in the thousands place, followed by “tausend” (which means “thousand”). Next, mention the digit in the hundreds place and add “hundert.” Finally, include the digit in the tens place. For instance, the number “2,350” is expressed as “zweitausenddreihundertfünfzig” in German, translating to “two thousand, three hundred and fifty.”

As you progress in counting, notice the placement of the period, which often replaces a comma in numerical notation. This awareness will guide you in grouping the numbers correctly. For instance, the number 231.795 translates to “two hundred thirty-one thousand, seven hundred ninety-five.”

How to say phone numbers and addresses in German

In Germany, phone numbers are recited one digit at a time, beginning with the country code, followed by the area code, and concluding with the phone number. Each digit is pronounced individually using its specific name in German, making it clear and easy to follow.

• For the German phone number “49 30 1461097,” it can be broken down as follows: Country code 49 (vier neun), area code 30 (drei null), and phone number 1461097 (eins vier sechs eins null neun sieben).
• Pronunciation guide: “feer noin” (4, 9), “drai null” (3, 0), “ains feer zejs ains null noin zi-ben.”

When reciting an address in German, you typically start with the street name, followed by the house number, and end with the city or town name. It’s important to note that the street and city names are presented in their German forms, while the house number is articulated one digit at a time for clarity.

• Let’s take the address “Königsallee 60, 40212 Düsseldorf” as an example. This would be pronounced Königsallee sechzig, vier-null-zwei-eins-zwei Düsseldorf. 
• You would say: “Koenigsallee zejs-tsig, feer-nul-tsvai-ains-tsvai Dusseldorf.”

Learn the German language

German numbers have their own distinct structure, setting them apart from English. While they do follow specific patterns, mastering their pronunciation and application in everyday conversations can be challenging and often benefits from personalized guidance. To enhance your German skills and deepen your understanding of the language, consider working with aLingualNeeds tutor who can provide tailored instruction to meet your needs.

After securing a tutor that fits your schedule, take advantage of LingualNeeds’ complimentary resources to enhance your German number pronunciation skills and accelerate your language mastery. With a diverse range of German tutors available, you can select based on ratings, proficiency, availability, and budget. Book your first lesson today, knowing that if you’re not completely satisfied, you can easily switch tutors at no extra cost or request a full refund.