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Numbers & Time in German
German numbers follow clear patterns once you know the basics. These 35 essential phrases cover counting and time expressions — with native audio.
Practice in the LingoSwipe App →Each phrase includes native audio, an English translation, and cultural notes where relevant. Tap any play button to listen.
🔢 Zahlen von 1 bis 10 — Numbers 1–10
1.
Eins.
One (1)
'Ein/eine/ein' changes by gender before nouns. 'Eins' is used alone.
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2.
Zwei.
Two (2)
'Zwo' is sometimes used on the phone to avoid confusion with 'drei'.
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3.
Drei.
Three (3)
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4.
Vier.
Four (4)
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5.
Fünf.
Five (5)
The 'ü' umlaut: round lips for 'oo', say 'ee'.
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6.
Sechs.
Six (6)
'chs' sounds like 'x' — pronounced 'zex'.
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7.
Sieben.
Seven (7)
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8.
Acht.
Eight (8)
'ch' after 'a' is the guttural sound — like a soft throat clearing.
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9.
Neun.
Nine (9)
'eu' sounds like 'oy' in toy — 'noyn'.
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10.
Zehn.
Ten (10)
German 'z' always sounds like 'ts' — never like English 'z'.
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💯 Größere Zahlen — Bigger Numbers
11.
Elf.
Eleven (11)
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12.
Zwölf.
Twelve (12)
'ö' umlaut: round lips for 'oh', say 'eh'.
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13.
Zwanzig.
Twenty (20)
German puts ones first: 21 = 'einundzwanzig' (one-and-twenty).
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14.
Dreißig.
Thirty (30)
'Dreißig' — note the 'ß' (Eszett/sharp S).
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15.
Fünfzig.
Fifty (50)
Clear pattern: vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig.
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16.
Hundert.
One hundred (100)
Compounds neatly: zweihundert (200), dreihundert (300).
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17.
Tausend.
One thousand (1,000)
German: 1.000 = one thousand; 1,5 = one point five. Opposite of English!
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18.
Was kostet das?
How much does this cost?
Both 'Was kostet das?' and 'Wie viel kostet das?' are correct.
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19.
Das kostet zehn Euro.
That costs ten euros.
'Euro' has no plural 's' in German — always 'zehn Euro'.
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20.
Zwei Tickets, bitte.
Two tickets, please.
Transport ticket = 'Fahrkarte'. Event ticket = 'Ticket' or 'Eintrittskarte'.
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🕐 Die Uhrzeit — Telling the Time
21.
Wie spät ist es?
What time is it?
Literally 'how late is it?' — punctuality is extremely important in German culture.
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22.
Es ist drei Uhr.
It's three o'clock.
Germany widely uses the 24-hour clock — '15 Uhr' = 3 PM.
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23.
Es ist halb vier.
It's half past three. (3:30)
WARNING: 'Halb vier' = 3:30 (half BEFORE four), not half past four!
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24.
Es ist Viertel nach drei.
It's quarter past three. (3:15)
3:45 = 'Viertel vor vier' (quarter before four).
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25.
Am Morgen.
In the morning.
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26.
Am Nachmittag.
In the afternoon.
Evening = 'am Abend'. Night = 'in der Nacht'.
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27.
Heute.
Today.
'Heute Abend' = tonight. 'Heute Morgen' = this morning.
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28.
Morgen.
Tomorrow.
WARNING: 'Morgen' = tomorrow AND morning. Context tells you which!
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📅 Die Wochentage — Days of the Week
29.
Montag.
Monday.
All German days end in '-tag' (day): Moon-day, Mars-day, etc.
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30.
Dienstag.
Tuesday.
Named after 'Ding' (the Germanic assembly) — not Mars like in French/Spanish.
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31.
Mittwoch.
Wednesday.
The only day without '-tag'. 'Mittwoch' = mid-week — very logical!
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32.
Donnerstag.
Thursday.
'Donner' = thunder. Named after Thor/Donar — 'Thor's day'.
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33.
Freitag.
Friday.
Named after Freya/Frigg — the Germanic goddess of love.
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34.
Samstag.
Saturday.
Some regions say 'Sonnabend' — especially in eastern Germany.
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35.
Sonntag.
Sunday.
Most German shops are closed on Sundays — a protected day of rest by law.
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