Numbers, Dates and Time

The Foundation: German Numbers from Zero to Twenty#

Numbers are absolutely essential for daily life in Germany — you need them for shopping, telling time, understanding addresses, making appointments, and reading bus schedules. The good news is that German numbers follow logical patterns, though there are some quirks that differ from English. Let us start with the numbers from zero to twenty, which you need to memorize individually as they form the foundation for all higher numbers.

Here are the numbers 0-12: null (0), eins (1), zwei (2), drei (3), vier (4), fünf (5), sechs (6), sieben (7), acht (8), neun (9), zehn (10), elf (11), zwölf (12). Notice that elf and zwölf are irregular, just like 'eleven' and 'twelve' in English. A helpful tip: zwei can sometimes be confused with drei on the phone, so Germans often say zwo instead of zwei to avoid miscommunication. You might hear this at pharmacies, on the phone, or when someone spells out a number for you.

From 13 to 19, German numbers follow a pattern similar to English 'teens': dreizehn (13), vierzehn (14), fünfzehn (15), sechzehn (16), siebzehn (17), achtzehn (18), neunzehn (19). The pattern is: single digit + zehn (ten). Note two small changes: sechzehn drops the 's' from sechs, and siebzehn drops the 'en' from sieben. Then comes zwanzig (20). Practice counting from null to zwanzig several times until it becomes automatic. This is the absolute minimum you need, and you should be able to recall these instantly because prices, times, and dates will use them constantly.

Pronunciation tips: The German 'z' is pronounced like 'ts' in English (so zehn sounds like 'tsane'). The 'w' in zwei and zwanzig is pronounced like an English 'v'. The 'v' in vier is pronounced like an English 'f'. And the 'ch' sound in acht has no direct English equivalent — it is a soft scraping sound made in the back of the throat. Don't worry about perfection; Germans will understand you even with an accent. The important thing is to keep practicing and using the numbers in real situations whenever you can.

Real-life practice: When you go shopping, try to read the prices in German in your head. When you see a bus number, say it in German. When you check the time on your phone, convert it mentally to German. These micro-exercises throughout the day are the fastest way to internalize the numbers. Immersion means using every opportunity, no matter how small, to practice what you have learned.