Ever felt a pang of confusion when a German speaker rattles off a date, a price, or even just their phone number? Numbers are the invisible backbone of daily communication, and for anyone embarking on the journey of learning German, mastering them from 1 to 100 is not just a milestone—it’s an essential gateway to genuine fluency. Without a solid grasp of these fundamental building blocks, even simple interactions can become daunting.

But fear not! Unlike some other aspects of German grammar, numbers follow logical, albeit sometimes counter-intuitive, patterns. This comprehensive guide will demystify German numbers from one to one hundred, covering their cardinal and ordinal forms, and crucially, showing you how to confidently use them in real-world scenarios. By the end of this deep dive, you won’t just be counting; you’ll be communicating with precision and ease.

Cardinal Numbers (Kardinalzahlen): The Basics of Counting

Cardinal numbers are what we use for simple counting: one, two, three. In German, they form the foundation upon which all other number concepts are built. Let’s break them down.

Numbers 1-10: The Foundation

These are your absolute essentials. Commit them to memory, as they are often irregular and form the basis for many other numbers.

  • 0: null
  • 1: eins (Note: often becomes ein when used with a noun, e.g., ein Buch)
  • 2: zwei
  • 3: drei
  • 4: vier
  • 5: fünf
  • 6: sechs
  • 7: sieben
  • 8: acht
  • 9: neun
  • 10: zehn

Numbers 11-19: The “Teen” Numbers

These numbers have some unique forms before settling into a more predictable pattern.

  • 11: elf
  • 12: zwölf
  • 13: dreizehn (drei + zehn)
  • 14: vierzehn (vier + zehn)
  • 15: fünfzehn (fünf + zehn)
  • 16: sechzehn (Note the dropped ‘s’ from sechs)
  • 17: siebzehn (Note the dropped ‘en’ from sieben)
  • 18: achtzehn (acht + zehn)
  • 19: neunzehn (neun + zehn)

Numbers 20-99: The “Units-Then-Tens” Rule

This is where German numbers get interesting for English speakers. Instead of saying “twenty-one,” Germans say “one and twenty” (einundzwanzig). This pattern is crucial for nearly all numbers between 21 and 99.

The Tens (Zehnerzahlen):

  • 20: zwanzig
  • 30: dreißig (Note the ‘ß’ – this is unique to 30)
  • 40: vierzig
  • 50: fünfzig
  • 60: sechzig (Note the dropped ‘s’ from sechs)
  • 70: siebzig (Note the dropped ‘en’ from sieben)
  • 80: achtzig
  • 90: neunzig

Combining Units and Tens:

The structure is always: unit + und + ten.

Let’s look at some examples:

  • 21: einundzwanzig (one and twenty)
  • 34: vierunddreißig (four and thirty)
  • 47: siebenundvierzig (seven and forty)
  • 58: achtundfünfzig (eight and fifty)
  • 63: dreiundsechzig (three and sixty)
  • 79: neunundsiebzig (nine and seventy)
  • 82: zweiundachtzig (two and eighty)
  • 95: fünfundneunzig (five and ninety)

This pattern requires a bit of mental re-wiring, but with practice, it becomes second nature.

Numbers 100: The Century Mark

The number 100 is straightforward:

  • 100: (ein)hundert

You can say hundert or einhundert. Both are correct, though hundert is more common in general speech.

Ordinal Numbers (Ordnungszahlen): Ranking and Ordering

Ordinal numbers tell us position or order: first, second, third. They are essential for dates, sequences, and rankings.

Forming Ordinal Numbers (1-19)

For numbers 1 through 19, you generally add -te to the cardinal number. However, there are a few irregular forms:

Cardinal Ordinal Meaning
eins erste first
zwei zweite second
drei dritte third
vier vierte fourth
fünf fünfte fifth
sechs sechste sixth
sieben siebte seventh
acht achte eighth
neun neunte ninth
zehn zehnte tenth
elf elfte eleventh
zwölf zwölfte twelfth
dreizehn dreizehnte thirteenth
neunzehn neunzehnte nineteenth

Forming Ordinal Numbers (20-100)

For numbers 20 and above, you add -ste to the cardinal number.

Cardinal Ordinal Meaning
zwanzig zwanzigste twentieth
einundzwanzig einundzwanzigste twenty-first
dreißig dreißigste thirtieth
fünfzig fünfzigste fiftieth
hundert hundertste hundredth

Declension of Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers behave like adjectives in German, meaning they change their endings depending on the case, gender, and number of the noun they modify. When used with dates or after definite articles (der, die, das), they typically take an -en ending in the dative case (e.g., am dritten Juli – on the third of July) and an -e ending in the nominative/accusative (e.g., der erste Tag – the first day).

Practical Usage: Bringing Numbers to Life

Knowing the numbers is one thing; using them effectively is another. Let’s explore common scenarios where German numbers are indispensable.

Telling Time (Uhrzeit)

German time telling uses both formal (official) and informal (colloquial) methods. Cardinal numbers are key for both.

  • Official Time: Uses the 24-hour clock. “Es ist [Stunde] Uhr [Minute].” (It is [hour] o’clock [minute].) Example: “Es ist siebzehn Uhr dreißig.” (It is 17:30 / 5:30 PM)
  • Colloquial Time: Uses the 12-hour clock and phrases like “halb” (half), “viertel vor” (quarter to), “viertel nach” (quarter past).
    • “Es ist fünf Uhr.” (It is five o’clock.)
    • “Es ist halb drei.” (It is half past two – literally “half to three”.)
    • “Es ist Viertel nach sechs.” (It is quarter past six.)
    • “Es ist Viertel vor neun.” (It is quarter to nine.)
    • “Es ist zehn nach sieben.” (It is ten past seven.)
    • “Es ist fünf vor zwölf.” (It is five to twelve.)

Dates (Datum)

Ordinal numbers are crucial for dates. The structure is usually: “(am) [ordinal number] [month]”.

  • “Heute ist der erste Mai.” (Today is the first of May.)
  • “Wir treffen uns am fünften Juni.” (We meet on the fifth of June.)
  • “Ihr Geburtstag ist am dreißigsten August.” (Her birthday is on the thirtieth of August.)

Remember the dative ending -en when using “am” (an + dem).

Money (Geld)

When dealing with Euros and Cents, you state the Euro amount first, then the Cent amount, using cardinal numbers.

  • “Das kostet fünf Euro zwanzig (Cent).” (That costs five Euros twenty (cents).) – €5.20
  • “Ich habe dreiundachtzig Euro.” (I have eighty-three Euros.) – €83
  • “Einundneunzig Cent, bitte.” (Ninety-one cents, please.) – €0.91

Phone Numbers (Telefonnummern)

German phone numbers are typically read out digit by digit, or sometimes in pairs, from left to right. There’s no specific “and” or “point” for pauses; a slight pause is usually sufficient.

  • For 0176 1234567: “null eins sieben sechs, eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben”
  • For 030 123 4567: “null drei null, eins zwei drei, vier fünf sechs sieben”

Quantities and Measurements (Mengen und Maße)

Cardinal numbers are used directly with units of measurement.

  • “Ich brauche zwei Kilo Äpfel.” (I need two kilos of apples.)
  • “Das Zimmer ist vier Meter lang.” (The room is four meters long.)
  • “Bitte drei Liter Wasser.” (Three liters of water, please.)
  • “Es sind fünfzig Gramm Zucker.” (It is fifty grams of sugar.)

Tips for Mastering German Numbers

Learning numbers can feel like rote memorization, but a few strategies can make it more effective:

  • Practice Daily: Count objects around you in German. Say prices out loud. Recite your phone number.
  • Flashcards: Create flashcards for numbers 1-20, then for the tens (20, 30, etc.).
  • Listen Actively: Pay attention to numbers in German songs, podcasts, or movies. Try to identify them.
  • Break It Down: Focus on patterns. Master 1-10, then 11-19, then the tens, and finally the “units-then-tens” rule.
  • Identify Common Mistakes: The biggest hurdle is often the “units-then-tens” order. Consciously reverse the order in your mind until it becomes automatic. Also, remember the irregular forms for 16 (sechzehn) and 17 (siebzehn), and 60 (sechzig) and 70 (siebzig).

Mastering German numbers from 1 to 100 is more than just a linguistic exercise; it’s a foundational step towards confidently navigating everyday life in German-speaking environments. With consistent practice and attention to the unique patterns, you’ll soon find yourself effortlessly counting, dating, telling time, and making transactions like a native speaker. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)