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