German Numbers: How to Count From 1 to 100 - Busuu (2024)

The German numbers from 1 to 10 become the building blocks for all larger numbers, so let’s take a moment to make sure we’re pronouncing them right. Since English is a Germanic language, there are lots of cognates and memory tricks you can lean on to help you remember the number names.

0 – Null

First, here’s a bonus number. Null means zero in German, which is very easy to remember from the English words ‘null’ and ‘nil’.

1 – Eins

Eins is not too different from its English equivalent, ‘one’ and rhymes with the English word ‘eye’. Since the German sound ei is used in the German numbers 1, 2, and 3, it makes a nice rhyme: Eins, zwei, drei.

Ein is also the only number in German that needs to be conjugated. Just like we use ‘one’ in English to mean ‘a’ or ‘an’, ein in German functions more as an adjective and changes based on the word it’s modifying. Depending on the gender and case, eins can take the variations ein, eine, einen, eines, einer, or einem.

2 – Zwei

‘Z’ in German makes a ‘ts’ sound, so you can remember that ‘two’ in German also starts with a ‘t’ sound.

3 – Drei

Drei in German sounds a lot like the English ‘dry’, except that it uses a softer, rolled ‘r’ sound.

4 – Vier

Since ‘v’ makes an ‘f’ sound in German, you can remember that this starts with the same sound as four in English. It’s also very close to the English word ‘fear’, with more breath when you pronounce the consonants.

5 – Fünf

Fünf starts with an ‘f’ sound just like the English ‘five’. Remember, the ü sound is pronounced like you’re saying ‘eww’ except with your mouth wider open.

6 – Sechs

Yes, this word sounds very close to a certain word in English — no further memory aid needed. The only difference is that the starting sound is more of a ‘z’ and you should roll the ‘ch’ in the back of your throat.

7 – Sieben

Sieben is close to the English ‘seven’, with a nice long vowel at the start: ZEE-ben.

8 – Acht

The easiest way to remember this number is that is sounds like the prefix oct- as in ‘octopus’ and ‘octogon’, meaning eight. The ‘ch’ sound is hard to master here, similar to a Scottish loch. Roll the sound in the back of your throat like you’re trying to clear something out of there—that’s it!

9 – Neun

While this looks and sounds a lot like the number nine, the middle vowels take a bit of practice. Pronounce neun just like the second syllable of the word ‘annoy’, capped off with another ‘n’ sound.

10 – Zehn

Zehn is pronounced ‘tsehn’ with a starting ‘t’ sound like the English ‘ten’. Make sure to stretch your vowel sound out, similar to the vowel sound in ‘gain’.