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Lesson 8

Counting to 100 in Dutch

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Welcome back! In our previous lesson, we focused on the essential polite expressions that make daily interactions smoother. Now, we'll shift to another fundamental skill: counting. This lesson will equip you to count from 0 to 100 in Dutch, a skill you'll use constantly, from telling time and stating your age to understanding prices and addresses.

We'll break it down into manageable steps: first, the numbers up to 19, then the tens (20, 30, 40...), and finally, the unique Dutch way of combining them.

1. The Building Blocks: Numbers 0 to 19

The first set of numbers, from 0 to 19, contains several unique words that you'll need to memorize. The video from the "Dutchies to be" channel provides a clear and engaging introduction to these foundational numbers.

NUMBERS in DUTCH // Dutch for BEGINNERS les 6 (NT2 - A1)

This video introduces the basic numbers and explains the patterns and exceptions in a beginner-friendly way.

Watch from the explanation of numbers 0 to 19. Pay close attention to the pronunciation of 0-10 and note the irregular forms for 11 (elf) and 12 (twaalf). Also, notice the slight spelling changes for 13 (dertien) and 14 (veertien).

Let's quickly review what you just saw:

  • 0 to 12: These numbers have unique names that must be memorized:

    • 0: nul
    • 1: één (Note the accent marks to distinguish it from een, the article 'a/an')
    • 2: twee
    • 3: drie
    • 4: vier
    • 5: vijf
    • 6: zes
    • 7: zeven
    • 8: acht
    • 9: negen
    • 10: tien
    • 11: elf
    • 12: twaalf

  • 13 to 19: These numbers follow a more regular pattern. They are formed by taking a base number and adding the suffix -tien (which means "ten").

    • 13: dertien (from drie)
    • 14: veertien (from vier)
    • 15: vijftien
    • 16: zestien
    • 17: zeventien
    • 18: achttien
    • 19: negentien

2. Counting in Tens: 20 to 100

Once you know the numbers up to 19, the next step is learning the tens. These are the milestones on your way to 100.

NUMBERS in DUTCH // Dutch for BEGINNERS les 6 (NT2 - A1)

The same video continues by explaining how to form the tens and the numbers 100 and 1000.

Now, continue watching from the section on tens. The instructor points out an important pronunciation tip: the -ig ending is often pronounced like -ug. She also highlights the irregularities, such as tachtig (80).

Here are the key numbers for the tens:

  • 20: twintig
  • 30: dertig
  • 40: veertig
  • 50: vijftig
  • 60: zestig
  • 70: zeventig
  • 80: tachtig (Note the 't-' prefix)
  • 90: negentig
  • 100: honderd

3. The Dutch System: Combining Units and Tens

Now for the most important part of this lesson. In English, we say "twenty-one." In Dutch, the order is reversed: you say "one-and-twenty" (éénentwintig). This "unit-first" system applies to all numbers between 20 and 99.

This is a fundamental rule in Dutch, and getting used to it early will be very helpful.

NUMBERS in DUTCH // Dutch for BEGINNERS les 6 (NT2 - A1)

The video's final segment clearly demonstrates this "turned around" number system.

Watch the instructor explain this concept from the beginning of the "most difficult part". She uses her phone number as a practical example to show how we first say the unit, then "en" (and), and then the ten.

The rule is simple: [unit] + en + [ten].

Let's look at a few examples to solidify this:

  • 21 is één (1) + en (and) + twintig (20) → éénentwintig
  • 34 is vier (4) + en (and) + dertig (30) → vierendertig
  • 58 is acht (8) + en (and) + vijftig (50) → achtenviijftig
  • 99 is negen (9) + en (and) + negentig (90) → negenennegentig

Notice that these are written as one single word.

4. Practice and Reference

You now have all the components to count to 100. The image below provides a complete chart for you to use as a reference.

This chart shows the Dutch words for all numbers from 1 to 100, which can be used as a handy reference.

To practice your pronunciation and test your understanding, the following resource is incredibly useful. It has audio for every single number.

Civic Integration Online - Count and ABC in Dutch

This interactive webpage allows you to click on any number from 0 to 100 to hear its Dutch pronunciation.

Go through the page and click on various numbers. First, start with the basics you memorized, like 0 to 12. Then, listen to the pronunciation of the tens. Finally, explore the full grid. Try to say a number aloud yourself first, then click on it to check your pronunciation. This is excellent practice for internalizing the "unit-first" rule.

Your Turn:
To put what you've learned into practice, try this small exercise. How old are you? Write the sentence "Ik ben [your age] jaar oud" ("I am [your age] years old"), but write the number out in words. For example: Ik ben tweeëndertig jaar oud. You can write your answer down in a notebook.

Conclusion

Great job! Numbers are a core part of any language, and today you've mastered the system for counting all the way to 100 in Dutch.

Key Takeaways:

  • Memorize 0-19: The numbers 0-12 are unique, while 13-19 follow the -tien pattern.
  • Learn the Tens: Memorize the words for 20, 30, 40, up to 100.
  • Unit-First Rule: For numbers from 21 to 99, always say the unit first, followed by "en," then the ten (e.g., drieënzestig for 63).

This lesson completes our first module on the absolute foundations of Dutch. You can now greet people, introduce yourself, use polite expressions, and count.

In our next lesson, we will begin Module 2: Core Sentence Building Blocks. We'll start with the most basic element of any sentence: the subject pronouns (ik, jij, hij, zij — I, you, he, she).

End of Module,Exit lesson