A comprehensive guide to learning German numbers, how to pronounce them, and how to form large complex numbers correctly with pronunciation tables and illustrative examples.
Numbers in the German language from zero to one million: written and spoken
Are you surprised to see German numbers written as one very long word? Reading and writing numbers is a vital skill for shopping, dealing with finance and telling the time in Germany. In this guide, we will simplify for you how to compose and pronounce numbers from zero to one million in an easy and organized manner.
💡 The golden rule of counting:When reading double-digit German numbers (such as 25), we read **the ones first**, then **the tens**, with the conjunction between themund(It is exactly the same system used in the Arabic language!)
1. Basic numbers (0 to 12)
These numbers are the basis on which all large numbers are built, and they must be memorized by heart in writing and verbally:
For more information about the numbers, seeNumerology names topic on Wikipedia.
| Number |
German |
Number |
German |
| 0 |
null |
7 |
sieben |
| 1 |
eins |
8 |
acht |
| 2 |
zwei |
9 |
new |
| 3 |
drei |
10 |
zehn |
| 4 |
vier |
11 |
elf |
| 5 |
phone |
12 |
zwölf |
| 6 |
sechs |
- |
- |
2. Composition of tens and complex numbers
From the number 13 to 19, we add the ones with the wordzehn.
Example: 14 isview.
As for the tens (20, 30, 40, etc.), they end with the suffix-zig(Except 30 ending in-ßig).
Example: 40 isvierzig, and 30 aredreißig.
When constructing a number such as 24, we read the ones first (vier), then the conjunction (und), then the tens (zwanzig), so they are written connected as one word:vierundzwanzig(Note: We remove the letter s from the number eins when compositing in ones, so we say einundzwanzig for 21).
3. Hundreds, thousands and millions
To add hundreds, we use the wordhundertAnd for thousands we usetausend. Whole numbers are written as one word, no matter how long.
- 100 = (ein)hundert
- 300 = dreihundert
- 1000 = (ein)tausend
- 342 = dreihundertzweiundvierzig (written in full cursive!)
- 1,000,000 = eine Million (written as a separate word and starting with a capital letter because it is a masculine noun).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I write the number 25 in German?
The number 25 is written first with its ones, then its tens, connected as one word: fünfundzwanzig.
What is the change in the number 1 (eins) when combined?
We remove the letter s from eins when combining the ones with a tens digit, so we say einunddreißig for 31 instead of einsunddreißig.
Why are numbers written as one very long word?
This is part of the official German orthography for numbers under a million, where hundreds, tens and ones are combined into a continuous string.
Is the word million written with a capital letter?
Yes, millions and billions are grammatically considered nouns in German (eine Million) and therefore always begin with a capital letter and are written separately from the numbers that precede them.
Recommended sources and references
Automatic pronunciation and writing
Practice numbers with Deutsch mit Vienix
The application contains a section dedicated to numbers that relies on auditory training and writing large numbers to facilitate correct and automatic pronunciation.
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