German Numbers – Counting in German up to 999,999

Today you will learn the German numbers 1 up to 999,999.

No need to learn all numbers by heart ❌ There’s a system.

Counting in German is easy if you do it right!

Numbers One to Five in German

Let’s start simple.

Listen to the numbers in German 12345 and also the 4 vocabulary words you need for the exercise further down the page.

German Numbers | Tips

Now it’s getting serious.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to learn all German numbers up to 999,999 by heart. If you see the pattern you are able to continue the series of numbers by yourself.

By the way, usually we don’t write numbers in words. We write one to ten in words, then we write just numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 …

Please also note that in some cases the g at the end of a word sounds rather like a ch especially when the word ends with ig.

Mastering numbers is great, but becoming fluent in German requires knowing 7 special rules. Curious? Take the 7 Rule Challenge!

Numbers in German 1 to 10

1 = eins

2 = zwei

3 = drei

4 = vier

5 = fünf

6 = sechs

7 = sieben

8 = acht

9 = neun

10 = zehn

The German numbers from 11 to 20 can also be a little tricky

11 = elf

12 = zwölf

13 = dreizehn

14 = vierzehn

15 = fünfzehn

16 = sechzehn

17 = siebzehn

18 = achtzehn

19 = neunzehn

20 = zwanzig

You can clearly see the pattern in the German numbers from 21 to 999,999

21 = einundzwanzig

22 = zweiundzwanzig

23 = dreiundzwanzig

24 = vierundzwanzig

25 = fünfundzwanzig

31 = einunddreißig

32 = zweiunddreißig

33 = dreiunddreißig

50 = fünfzig

60 = sechzig

70 = siebzig

80 = achtzig

90 = neunzig

100 = einhundert (hundert)

101 = einhunderteins

102 = einhundertzwei

103 = einhundertdrei

110 = einhundertzehn

111 = einhundertelf

120 = einhundertzwanzig

121 = einhunderteinundzwanzig

130 = einhundertdreißig

131 = einhunderteinunddreißig

140 = einhundertvierzig

150 = einhundertfünfzig 

201 = zweihunderteins

210 = zweihundertzehn

300 = dreihundert

400 = vierhundert

1.000 = eintausend (tausend)

1.001 = eintausendeins

1.100 = eintausendeinhundert

2.000 = zweitausend

3.000 = dreitausend

10.000 = zehntausend

100.000 = einhunderttausend

999.999

= neunhundertneunundneunzigtausendneunhundertneunundneunzig

Ordinal number (how to say first, second and third etc. in German)

Ordinal numbers in German are essential for everyday conversations, helping you to express order and rank.

Here’s a quick guide on how to say the first ten ordinal numbers in German:

1. erste (first) – Pronounced as “AIR-stuh”, this term is used to indicate the very first in a sequence.
2. zweite (second) – Pronounced as “TSVY-tuh”, it denotes the second position.
3. dritte (third) – Pronounced as “DRI-tuh”, this word signifies the third place.
4. vierte (fourth) – Pronounced as “FEER-tuh”, this term is used for the fourth position.
5. fünfte (fifth) – Pronounced as “FUENF-tuh”, it signifies the fifth place.
6. sechste (sixth) – Pronounced as “ZECHST-uh”, this term is for the sixth position.
7. siebte (seventh) – Pronounced as “ZEEB-tuh”, it denotes the seventh place.
8. achte (eighth) – Pronounced as “AHCH-tuh”, this word signifies the eighth position.
9. neunte (ninth) – Pronounced as “NOIN-tuh”, it is used for the ninth place.
10. zehnte (tenth) – Pronounced as “TSEHN-tuh”, this term indicates the tenth position.

Understanding ordinal numbers is crucial for situations such as giving directions, organizing events, or simply describing the order of things.

🧮 Calculate with the German numbers 1 to 5

Now you will learn how to calculate in German.

Don’t worry, it is not that difficult.

Have you listened to the vocabulary words from the top of the page? Now you need them. Try to answer the questions out loud.

Frage:
Was ist eins und eins? (1 + 1)

Kurze Antwort:
Zwei

Lange Antwort:
Eins und eins ist zwei.

Was ist eins plus zwei? (1 + 2)
Drei
Eins plus zwei ist drei.

Was ist vier minus drei? (4 – 3)
Eins
Vier minus drei ist eins.

Was ist fünf minus eins? (5 – 1)
Vier
Fünf minus eins ist vier.
Oder: Fünf minus eins ist gleich vier.

Und was ist drei plus zwei? (3 + 2)
Fünf
Drei plus zwei ist gleich fünf.

Was ist 789621598 + 45968521255?
Ich mache nur Spaß!
Just kidding 😅

Period or comma in numbers?

I know that the use of the comma and the period in German numbers often leads to confusion. You just have to remember the following:

In German we use the comma as the decimal separator and the period as the thousands separator.

In Germany it is in contrast to e.g. England. In England you write it the other way around.

In Germany:
one thousand = 1.000

In England:
one thousand = 1,000

Here you can learn the German punctuation.

Es spielt keine Rolle, wie langsam du gehst, solange du nicht aufhörst. 

= It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. 

~ Confucius

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