Numbers 1 to 20
First Words
Counting from eins to zwanzig in German. Recognizing and saying German number words. Simple counting games.
Learning Material
4 pagesNumbers 1 to 10 in German
Zahlen — Numbers in German!#
Numbers are some of the most useful words in any language. Once you know how to count in German, you can use numbers every day — to count toys, tell your age, or play counting games with friends. Let's get started!
Numbers 1 to 5#
Here are the first five numbers in German:
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| eins | EYNS | one |
| zwei | TSVYE | two |
| drei | DRY | three |
| vier | FEER | four |
| fünf | FUENF | five |
Let's practice! Hold up your fingers as you count: eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf!
Do you notice anything? drei sounds just like the English word "dry"! And vier sounds almost like "fear". These little tricks help you remember.
Numbers 6 to 10#
Here are the next five numbers:
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| sechs | ZEKS | six |
| sieben | ZEE-ben | seven |
| acht | AKHT | eight |
| neun | NOYN | nine |
| zehn | TSAYN | ten |
Now count from one to ten out loud: eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn!
Memory Tricks#
- sechs sounds a little like "socks" — imagine six silly socks!
- sieben sounds like "sea-ben" — imagine seven fish in the sea!
- acht sounds like you are clearing your throat — "acht!"
- neun sounds like "nine" almost — so easy!
- zehn sounds like "tsane" — think of a train going "zehn zehn!"
Counting Song#
Try singing these numbers to the tune of a simple song. Start with your fingers on both hands. Each time you say a number, put up a finger.
Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn!
Well done! You have counted to ten in German. That is a fantastic start — Wunderbar!