Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to count and pronounce German numbers from 20 to 99. This lesson covers the unique German pattern of placing the unit before the ten with ‘und’ in between, includes examples such as 'einundzwanzig' (21) and 'vierundsechzig' (64), and explains important rules like using 'ein' instead of 'eins' in compound numbers.
  1. Tens and units are connected by "und", for example: "einundzwanzig", "zweiunddreißig".
  2. The unit digit comes before the tens digit: e.g. „vierundsechzig“ (64).
Nummer (number)Beispiel (Example)
20 : Zwanzig (20 : Twenty)25: Fünfundzwanzig (25: twenty-five)
30 : Dreißig (30 : Thirty)34: Vierunddreißig (thirty-four)
40 : Vierzig (40 : Forty)46: Sechsundvierzig (forty-six)
50 : Fünfzig (50 : Fifty)53: Dreiundfünfzig (fifty-three)
60 : Sechzig (60 : Sixty)61: Einundsechzig (Sixty-one)
70 : Siebzig (70 : Seventy)77: Siebenundsiebzig (Seventy-seven)
80 : Achtzig (80 : Eighty)86: Sechsundachtzig (eighty-six)
90 : Neunzig (90 : Ninety)99: Neunundneunzig (Ninety-nine)

Exceptions!

  1. For numbers starting with "eins", it is "ein": e.g. "einunddreißig" instead of "einsunddreißig"

Exercise 1: Die Zahlen von 20 bis 99

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

vierundvierzig, dreiundachtzig, zweiundsechzig, fünfundfünfzig, vierunddreißig, zweiundsiebzig, siebenundzwanzig, zwanzig

1. 44:
: ...
(Forty-four)
2. 34:
: ...
(Thirty-four)
3. 62:
: ...
(Sixty-two)
4. 83:
: ...
(Eighty-three)
5. 27:
: ...
(Twenty-seven)
6. 20:
: ...
(Twenty)
7. 55:
: ...
(Fifty-five)
8. 72:
: ...
(Seventy-two)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ich habe _____ Euro auf meinem Konto.

(I have _____ euros in my account.)

2. Wir haben _____ Euro für das Projekt.

(We have _____ euros for the project.)

3. Der Preis beträgt _____ Euro.

(The price is _____ euros.)

4. Das Gebäude hat _____ Fenster.

(The building has _____ windows.)

5. Ich brauche _____ Stühle für die Konferenz.

(I need _____ chairs for the conference.)

6. Wir erwarten _____ Kunden im nächsten Jahr.

(We expect _____ customers next year.)

Learn German Numbers from 20 to 99

This lesson introduces you to the German numbers between 20 and 99, an essential step after mastering the basics of counting from 0 to 19. You'll learn how the tens (Zehner) and units (Einer) work together to form these numbers, which is key to fluency in everyday conversations involving quantities, prices, dates, and more.

Understanding the Structure

In German, numbers between 21 and 99 are composed by placing the unit number before the tens number and connecting them with „und“ (which means “and”). For example, einundzwanzig (21) literally translates to “one and twenty,” and vierundsechzig (64) translates to “four and sixty.” This order is different from English and many other languages.

Examples and Highlights

  • 20 – Zwanzig
  • 25 – Fünfundzwanzig (“five and twenty”)
  • 30 – Dreißig
  • 34 – Vierunddreißig (“four and thirty”)
  • 60 – Sechzig
  • 61 – Einundsechzig (“one and sixty”)
  • 90 – Neunzig
  • 99 – Neunundneunzig (“nine and ninety”)

Note that when the unit is one, you use ein instead of eins, as in einunddreißig (31), not einsunddreißig. This is a vital detail for correct pronunciation and spelling.

Key Differences from English

Unlike English, where numbers go from the largest to the smallest unit (“twenty-one”), German numbers invert this order (einundzwanzig – “one and twenty”). This structure can seem unusual at first but is very systematic. Learning to recognize and practice this pattern is crucial for building confidence in speaking and understanding German numbers.

Useful Phrases and Words

  • Zehner – tens
  • Einer – units
  • und – and (used to connect units and tens)
  • ein – one (used instead of “eins” when combined with tens)

By mastering these numbers, you'll expand your German vocabulary significantly and be well-prepared for more complex numerical concepts.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Monday, 14/07/2025 23:06