3. German language A1 : German Numbers (Zahlen) 0–20

Learning German can seem challenging at first, but some parts are surprisingly logical, and numbers are a perfect example. Whether you’re planning a trip to Germany, starting a language course, or simply brushing up on basic German, mastering the numbers from 0 to 20 is a great first step.

Let’s dive into the German Zahlen (numbers), understand the pronunciation, and discover the patterns that make memorizing them easy!

🔢 German Numbers from 0 to 20

Here’s a handy table with German numbers, their spellings, and pronunciations to help you learn them efficiently:

Number	German	Pronunciation
0	null	NUL
1	eins	EINS
2	zwei	TSVY
3	drei	DRY
4	vier	FEER
5	fünf	FUENF
6	sechs	ZEHKS
7	sieben	ZEE-ben
8	acht	AHKT
9	neun	NOYN
10	zehn	TSEHN
11	elf	ELF
12	zwölf	TSVERLF
13	dreizehn	DRY-tsehn
14	vierzehn	FEER-tsehn
15	fünfzehn	FUENF-tsehn
16	sechzehn	ZEHCH-tsehn
17	siebzehn	ZEEP-tsehn
18	achtzehn	AHKT-tsehn
19	neunzehn	NOYN-tsehn
20	zwanzig	TSVAHN-tsikh

🧠 How to Learn German Numbers Easily

German numbers may look tricky at first, but there’s a logical pattern you can follow.

🔹 Numbers 13 to 19: A Simple Rule

From 13 to 19, the German language combines the single-digit number with the word for 10 (zehn):

13 = drei + zehn = dreizehn
14 = vier + zehn = vierzehn
15 = fünf + zehn = fünfzehn
18 = acht + zehn = achtzehn
19 = neun + zehn = neunzehn

You just stick them together—easy, right?

🔸 Two Small Exceptions to Remember

German loves consistency, but there are two exceptions in the teen numbers:

16 is sechzehn, not sechszehn → the “s” is dropped from sechs.
17 is siebzehn, not siebenzehn → the “-en” is dropped from sieben.

It’s good to memorize these slight irregularities, but they still follow the same “number + zehn” formula!

📝 New Vocabulary for Numbers

Before you go further, here’s some related vocabulary:

die Zahl = the number (singular)
die Zahlen = the numbers (plural)

You’ll see these words often when learning or talking about math, prices, dates, and more in German.

💡 Tips for Memorizing German Numbers

🔁 Repeat out loud: Practice the pronunciation regularly.
🧩 Break it down: Focus on 0–12 first; the rest builds on those.
🗣️ Say them in context: Try using them in sentences like “Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt” (I am 20 years old).
🎵 Use songs or rhymes: Number songs in German are a fun and effective way to internalize them.

💬 Final Thoughts

German numbers from 0 to 20 are more than just vocabulary—they’re a gateway to learning dates, telling time, handling money, and having basic conversations. The system is logical and consistent, and once you spot the pattern, it becomes easy to remember.

So, take the time to memorize 0 to 12 thoroughly, and the numbers up to 20 will come naturally. Before you know it, you’ll be counting like a native German speaker!