Cardinal Numbers

Introduction

Cardinal numbers are the basic numbers. We use them to indicate how much of something there is.

Writing the Cardinal Numbers

1	eins	11	elf	21	einundzwanzig	31	einunddreißig
2	zwei	12	zwölf	22	zweiundzwanzig	40	vierzig
3	drei	13	dreizehn	23	dreiundzwanzig	50	fünfzig
4	vier	14	vierzehn	24	vierundzwanzig	60	sechzig
5	fünf	15	fünfzehn	25	fünfundzwanzig	70	siebzig
6	sechs	16	sechzehn	26	sechsundzwanzig	80	achtzig
7	sieben	17	siebzehn	27	siebenundzwanzig	90	neunzig
8	acht	18	achtzehn	28	achtundzwanzig	100	einhundert
9	neun	19	neunzehn	29	neunundzwanzig	1000	eintausend
10	zehn	20	zwanzig	30	dreißig	1.000.000	eine Million

Double Digits

We say and write the single digits before the double digits, and connect them together with und.

Example:: 35 – fünfunddreißig; 43 – dreiundvierzig; 89 – neunundachtzig

Hundreds and Thousands

Hundreds/thousands can be connected to the single and double digits either with or without the word und. Between thousands and hundreds, however, we do not use und.

Example:: 309 – dreihundert(und)neun; 598 – fünfhundert(und)achtundneunzig; 7024 – siebentausend(und)vierundzwanzig; 9815 – neuntausendachthundert(und)fünfzehn

At the beginning of a word, we can shorten einhundert/eintausend to hundert/tausend.

Example:: 147 – (ein)hundert(und)siebenundvierzig; 1147 – (ein)tausendeinhundert(und)siebenundvierzig

Numbers over 10000 are often written with a point or space in German (not a comma!) to make them easier to read.

Example:: 57.458.302
57 458 302

When writing them out in words, the numbers up to 999,999 are written as a single word.

Example:: 999.999 – neunhundertneunundneunzigtausendneunhundertneunundneunzig

The years up to 1999 are said and written as hundreds. Starting with 2000, however, we use normal cardinal numbers.

Example:: 1999 – neunzehnhundertneunundneunzig; 2011 – zweitausend(und)elf

Millions

Starting with the number 2,000,000, we use the plural. Note that Million is always written as a separate word.

Example:: 1.500.000 – eine Million fünfhunderttausend; 2.000.000 – zwei Millionen; 47.850.203 – siebenundvierzig Millionen achthundertfünfzigtausendzweihundert(und)drei