German, like many other languages, uses a base-10 number system. This means that the numbers 1-10 have distinct names, and numbers above 10 are formed by combining these names with a tens and/or a ones place.
1-10
1: eins
2: zwei
3: drei
4: vier
5: fünf
6: sechs
7: sieben
8: acht
9: neun
10: zehn
11-19
11: elf
12: zwölf
13: dreizehn
14: vierzehn
15: fünfzehn
16: sechzehn
17: siebzehn
18: achtzehn
19: neunzehn
Tens and Ones
To form numbers in the tens and ones place, the appropriate number from 1-10 is combined with the appropriate multiple of ten.
20: zwanzig (literal translation: “two tens”)
21: einundzwanzig (literal translation: “one and twenty”)
22: zweiundzwanzig
25: fünfundzwanzig
30: dreißig
40: vierzig
50: fünfzig
60: sechzig
70: siebzig
80: achtzig
90: neunzig
100 and Beyond
To form numbers in the hundreds place and beyond, the appropriate number from 1-10 or 20-90 is combined with the appropriate multiple of one hundred or one thousand.
100: hundert
200: zweihundert
300: dreihundert
1000: tausend
2000: zweitausend
10,000: zehntausend
Counting
To count objects or people, the numbers 1-10 are used for small quantities, and numbers 11 and beyond are used for larger quantities.
ein Apfel (one apple)
zwei Äpfel (two apples)
drei Äpfel (three apples)
elf Äpfel (eleven apples)
zwölf Äpfel (twelve apples)
Ordinal Numbers
To indicate order or position, ordinal numbers are used. These are formed by adding the suffix “-te” to the cardinal number.
erster (first)
zweiter (second)
dritter (third)
vierter (fourth)
fünfter (fifth)
Summary
German uses a base-10 number system, with distinct names for numbers 1-10 and a combination of tens and ones for numbers above 10.
To form numbers in the hundreds and thousands place, the appropriate number from 1-10 or 20-90 is combined with the appropriate multiple of one hundred or one thousand.
To count objects or people, the numbers 1-10 are used for small quantities, and numbers 11 and beyond are used for larger quantities.
To indicate order or position, ordinal numbers are used by adding the suffix “-te” to the cardinal number.
