Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn Dutch cardinal numbers from één (1) to driehonderd (300), including samengestelde getallen like twintig (20) and vijftien (15). Master counting and quantity expressions with key words such as drie (three) and acht (eight).
  1. Numbers from 0 to 9 are used separately.
  2. Composite numbers: Use '-en-' between tens and units.
1 - Één (1 - One)11 - Elf (11 - Eleven)30 - Dertig (30 - Thirty)
2 - Twee (2 - Two)12 - Twaalf (12 - Twelve)40 - Veertig (40 - Forty)
3 - Drie (3 - Three)13 - Dertien (13 - Thirteen)50 - Vijftig (50 - Fifty)
4 - Vier (4 - Four)14 - Veertien (14 - Fourteen)60 - Zestig (60 - Sixty)
5 - Vijf (5 - Five)15 - Vijftien (15 - Fifteen)70 - Zeventig (70 - Seventy)
6 - Zes (6 - Six)16 - Zestien (16 - Sixteen)80 - Tachtig (80 - Eighty)
7 - Zeven (7 - Seven)17 - Zeventien (17 - Seventeen)90 - Negentig (90 - Ninety)
8 - Acht (8 - Eight)18 - Achttien (18 - Eighteen)100 - Honderd (100 - Hundred)
9 - Negen (9 - Nine)19 - Negentien (19 - Nineteen)200 - Tweehonderd (200 - Two hundred)
10 - Tien (10 - Ten)20 - Twintig (20 - Twenty)300 - Driehonderd (300 - Three hundred)

Exceptions!

  1. Numbers from fifteen to nineteen end with tien.

Exercise 1: Hoofdtelwoorden

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

driehonderd, één, tien, negentig, twintig, tweehonderd, vijf, honderd

1. 5:
Er staan ... stoelen rond de tafel.
(There are five chairs around the table.)
2. 1:
Ik tel van ... tot tien in het Nederlands.
(I count from one to ten in Dutch.)
3. 300:
Het huis kost ... duizend euro.
(The house costs three hundred thousand euros.)
4. 15:
Er zijn ... appels in de mand.
(There are ten apples in the basket.)
5. 20:
Hij heeft ... boeken in zijn kast.
(He has twenty books in his cupboard.)
6. 90:
Mijn oma werd ... jaar oud.
(My grandmother turned ninety years old.)
7. 200:
Er wonen meer dan ... mensen in het gebouw.
(More than two hundred people live in the building.)
8. 100:
Ik betaal met een biljet van ... euro.
(I pay with a one hundred euro note.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik heb ___ appels gekocht.

(I bought ___ apples.)

2. De trein vertrekt om ___ uur.

(The train leaves at ___ o'clock.)

3. Er zijn ___ mensen op het feest.

(There are ___ people at the party.)

4. Zij heeft ___ boeken gelezen dit jaar.

(She has read ___ books this year.)

5. De winkel gaat om ___ uur open.

(The store opens at ___ o'clock.)

6. Wij eten ___ koekjes.

(We eat ___ cookies.)

Introduction to Cardinal Numbers (Hoofdtelwoorden) in Dutch

This lesson covers the fundamental cardinal numbers in Dutch, which are essential for expressing quantities and counting. You will learn numbers from 1 to 300, including basic forms and how to construct compound numbers. Understanding cardinal numbers is key for daily conversations such as shopping, telling the time, or stating your age.

Basic Numbers from 1 to 10

The numbers 1 to 10 are the foundation of Dutch counting and are used as individual words:

  • 1 - Één
  • 2 - Twee
  • 3 - Drie
  • 4 - Vier
  • 5 - Vijf
  • 6 - Zes
  • 7 - Zeven
  • 8 - Acht
  • 9 - Negen
  • 10 - Tien

Teen Numbers (11–19)

The numbers from eleven to nineteen end with -tien, similar to '-teen' in English. Examples include:

  • 11 - Elf
  • 12 - Twaalf
  • 13 - Dertien
  • 14 - Veertien
  • 15 - Vijftien
  • 16 - Zestien
  • 17 - Zeventien
  • 18 - Achttien
  • 19 - Negentien

Tens (20, 30, 40, ...)

The multiples of ten are:

  • 20 - Twintig
  • 30 - Dertig
  • 40 - Veertig
  • 50 - Vijftig
  • 60 - Zestig
  • 70 - Zeventig
  • 80 - Tachtig
  • 90 - Negentig
  • 100 - Honderd
  • 200 - Tweehonderd
  • 300 - Driehonderd

Compound Numbers

For numbers between 21 and 99 (except the round tens), Dutch uses a combination with "-en-" between the units and the tens. For example:

  • 23 is drieëntwintig (three and twenty)
  • 57 is zevenenvijftig (seven and fifty)

Summary of Key Points

  • Numbers 0–9 are used as standalone words.
  • Teens use the -tien suffix similar to English teen numbers.
  • Compound numbers join units and tens with "-en-", which translates to "and" in Dutch.
  • Hundreds are formed by combining the base number with honderd, for example, tweehonderd (two hundred).

Comparing English and Dutch Cardinal Numbers

While English places the tens before the units (twenty-one), Dutch places the units before the tens with a connector "-en-" (drieëntwintig). This reverse order may feel unusual for English speakers but is consistent throughout Dutch numbers.

Also, some Dutch numbers combine into single long words, which is different from the separated words in English.

Useful Expressions

  • Hoeveel: "How many"; used for asking about quantities.
  • Ik heb drie appels gekocht. (I bought three apples.)
  • De trein vertrekt om vijf uur. (The train leaves at five o'clock.)
  • Er zijn twintig mensen op het feest. (There are twenty people at the party.)

These phrases show practical usage of numbers in everyday sentences, emphasizing quantity and time.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 01:04