Understanding Numbers in German: A Comprehensive Guide

Counting from 1 to 10 in German

Learning how to count from 1 to 10 is essential for any German language learner. Here are the numbers written in German followed by their pronunciation.

Tens and Beyond: 11 to 100

Once you master the basics, you'll want to understand how numbers are formed beyond 10. Here's how you construct them in German.

- 11 is Elf
- 12 is Zwölf
- 13 through 19 are formed by attaching the German word for the ones digit to the modified 'ten' (e.g., 13 is Dreizehn (three-ten)).

Using Numbers in Different Contexts

It's not just about counting! Numbers can be used in a variety of settings. Let's explore their application in phone numbers, addresses, and currency.

Phone Numbers

German phone numbers are typically expressed in sets of two or three digits. For example, 123456 is verbalized as 'eins zwei drei, vier fünf sechs'.

Addresses

When stating addresses, numbers are read sequentially, similar to English. However, numbers are often written before street names, e.g., '42 Musterstraße'.

Currency

In financial contexts, Germans state the number followed by the currency. For example, €2.50 is spoken as 'zwei Euro fünfzig'.

Ordinal Numbers: First, Second, Third...

Ordinal numbers describe the order of things. In German, most ordinals are formed by adding '-te' or '-ste' to the base number.