🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What are German Cardinal Numbers 0–20?

Cardinal numbers (Kardinalzahlen) are the basic counting words in German, used to express quantities, ages, and amounts. Learning 0–20 gives you the foundation for all German number skills.

Short answer

German cardinal numbers from 0 to 20 are: 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), dreizehn (13), vierzehn (14), fünfzehn (15), sechzehn (16), siebzehn (17), achtzehn (18), neunzehn (19), zwanzig (20).

German Cardinal Numbers 0–20

1
0–10
null, eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn
↓
2
11–15
elf, zwölf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn
↓
3
16–20
sechzehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn, zwanzig

Step-by-step worked examples

How do you say 'five' in German?

The number 5 is 'fünf' in German.
Example: Ich habe fünf Äpfel. (I have five apples.)

Write the German word for 13.

13 is 'dreizehn' in German.
It's formed by: drei (3) + zehn (10) = dreizehn.
Example: Das Kind ist dreizehn Jahre alt. (The child is 13 years old.)

What is 20 in German?

The number 20 is 'zwanzig' in German.
Example: Es kostet zwanzig Euro. (It costs twenty euros.)

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.How do you say 7 in German?

Correct answer: A. 7 is 'sieben'. Siebzehn (17) and sechzehn (16) are longer numbers.

Q2.What is the German word for 12?

Correct answer: A. 12 is 'zwölf', which is one of the irregular numbers you must memorize.

Q3.How do you say 19 in German?

Correct answer: A. 19 is 'neunzehn' (neun + zehn = 9 + 10).

Q4.Which is 8 in German?

Correct answer: A. 8 is 'acht'. Achtzehn (18) is 8 + 10.

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Common mistakes

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Confusing 'sechzehn' (16) and 'sechzehn' (16). — Correct: Learn: 6 is 'sechs', 16 is 'sechzehn' (sechs + zehn).

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Forgetting that 'elf' (11) and 'zwölf' (12) don't follow the -zehn pattern. — Correct: 'elf' and 'zwölf' are irregular; memorize them separately from 13–19.

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Saying 'zweizehn' for 12. — Correct: 12 is 'zwölf', not 'zweizehn'. It's an irregular number.

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Confusing 'zwei' (2) with 'zwei-' in compound numbers. — Correct: 'zwei' alone is 2; 'zwei-' appears in 20-29, but 20 is 'zwanzig' (not 'zweizehn').

FAQ

Why are 11 and 12 different from 13–19?

'elf' (11) and 'zwölf' (12) are irregular historical forms. Numbers 13–19 follow the pattern: digit + 'zehn' (e.g., dreizehn = 3 + 10).

What is the German word for 0?

'null' is German for 0, used in counting, phone numbers, and temperatures.

How are German numbers 13–19 formed?

By combining the ones digit + 'zehn' (10): dreizehn (13) = drei (3) + zehn (10), vierzehn (14) = vier (4) + zehn (10), etc.

When do you use cardinal numbers 0–20 in German?

For ages, prices, phone numbers, quantities, addresses, and any situation where you count or specify an amount.