Numbers and counting

Introduction to Numbers and Counting in Dutch

This lesson introduces fundamental Dutch numbers and counting skills suitable for beginners at level A1. You will explore basic cardinal numbers and essential numerical expressions used in everyday contexts such as shopping, giving phone numbers, and dividing items. This foundation will help you understand and use numbers in practical scenarios.

Key Vocabulary: Numbers and Arithmetic Terms

Dutch numbers to learn include common quantities and multiples such as drie (three), vijftig (fifty), honderd (one hundred), tien (ten), negentig (ninety), and twintig (twenty).

Important arithmetic verbs you will encounter include:

• optellen – to add
• delen – to divide
• aftrekken – to subtract
• vermenigvuldigen – to multiply

Using Numbers in Everyday Situations

At the Supermarket

Practice phrases like:
Hoeveel kost het brood? (How much does the bread cost?)
Het brood kost drie euro twintig. (The bread costs three euros twenty.)

Sharing Phone Numbers

Learn how to clearly say phone numbers, e.g.,
Mijn nummer is nul zes, vijfentwintig, zestig, drieënveertig, tachtig. (My number is zero six, twenty-five, sixty, forty-three, eighty.)

Buying Tickets

Use numbers to buy tickets, as in:
Wij willen drie tickets. (We want three tickets.)
Drie tickets kosten vijftien euro. (Three tickets cost fifteen euros.)

Verb Conjugations Related to Counting and Learning

Key verbs appear frequently in present tense (onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd):

• tellen (to count): ik tel, jij telt, hij telt, wij tellen
• leren (to learn): ik leer, jij leert, hij leert, wij leren
• studeren (to study): ik studeer, jij studeert, hij studeert, wij studeren

Short Story to Practice Counting Verbs

Try this mini narrative: Elke ochtend tel ik hardop de cijfers van één tot tien. Mijn collega's tellen ook graag mee. We leren samen nieuwe woorden en getallen op het werk. Vandaag studeren we hoe je makkelijk optelt en aftrekt. Jij telt altijd netjes de getallen en ik leer zo snel mogelijk. This story integrates verbs and numbers to reinforce learning.

Comparing Dutch and English Number Usage

Unlike English, Dutch sometimes combines numbers in a way that might seem reversed (e.g., vijfentwintig for twenty-five, literally "five-and-twenty"). This is a typical pattern in Dutch that requires practice to recognize and say fluently. Also, Dutch uses some compound words for numbers which differ from English separations.

Useful phrases include:

• Kun je tot twintig tellen in het Nederlands? – Can you count to twenty in Dutch?
• Hoeveel appels koop je, vijf of tien? – How many apples do you buy, five or ten?
• We delen de taart in acht stukken. – We share the pie into eight pieces.

Understanding these patterns helps you communicate numbers naturally in Dutch conversations.