🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

How do German Cardinal Numbers 20–100 Work?

German numbers 20–100 follow a predictable pattern: tens (zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig…) combined with ones digits. Learning this structure lets you say any number up to 100.

Short answer

German numbers 20–100 are built from tens (zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig, hundert) and ones. Mixed numbers use 'und' (and): fünfundvierzig (45) = fünf (5) + und + vierzig (40).

German Tens (20–100)

Tens

•20 = zwanzig
•30 = dreißig
•40 = vierzig
•50 = fünfzig
•60 = sechzig

Tens

•70 = siebzig
•80 = achtzig
•90 = neunzig
•100 = hundert
•Example: 47 = siebenundvierzig

Step-by-step worked examples

How do you say 35 in German?

35 = 30 + 5 = dreißig + fünf.
In German: fünfunddreißig (note 'und' between fünf and dreißig).
Example: Das Buch kostet fünfunddreißig Euro.

Write 67 in German.

67 = 60 + 7 = sechzig + sieben.
In German: siebenundsechzig.
Example: Meine Großmutter ist siebenundsechzig Jahre alt.

How is 100 written in German?

100 is 'hundert' in German.
Example: Das Geschenk kostet hundert Euro.

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.How do you say 73 in German?

Correct answer: A. 73 = 70 + 3 = siebzig + drei = dreiundsiebzig (drei + und + siebzig).

Q2.What is 40 in German?

Correct answer: B. 40 is 'vierzig' (vier + zig). Note the spelling: not 'viertzig'.

Q3.How do you write 88 in German?

Correct answer: A. 88 = 80 + 8 = achtzig + acht = achtundachtzig.

Q4.What pattern do German numbers 21–99 follow?

Correct answer: B. German inverts English order: ones come first in speech/writing, then 'und', then tens. Example: 25 = fünfundzwanzig (5 and 20).

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Common mistakes

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Saying 'zwanzig-fünf' instead of 'fünf-und-zwanzig'. — Correct: German puts ones FIRST, then 'und', then tens: fünfundzwanzig (25), not zwanzigfünf.

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Forgetting 'und' (and) between ones and tens. — Correct: Always include 'und': fünfundzwanzig (25), neunundneunzig (99).

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Pronouncing dreißig like 'dreissig' (with 'ss'). — Correct: 30 is spelled 'dreißig' with a German ß (sharp S), pronounced like 'dreissig' but written ß not ss.

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Confusing the tens: mixing 'sechzig' (60) and 'siebzig' (70). — Correct: 60 is 'sechzig' (sechs + zig); 70 is 'siebzig' (sieben + zig). Drop the 'en' in sieben.

FAQ

How are German numbers 21–99 structured?

Ones digit + 'und' + tens place. Example: 47 = siebenundvierzig (sieben + und + vierzig). This is opposite to English.

What is the German word for 60?

'Sechzig' is German for 60. Note: sechzig (not 'sechszig')—the 's' from 'sechs' merges with the 'z'.

Is there 'und' between tens and ones in German numbers?

Yes, always. 25 is 'fünfundzwanzig' (5-and-20), not 'fünfzwanzig'. The 'und' is mandatory.

How do round tens (20, 30, 40) differ from 11–19?

Tens use a '-zig' ending (zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, etc.). Numbers 11–19 don't follow this pattern; they're irregular (elf, zwölf, dreizehn–neunzehn).