Numbers 0–100 in Everyday Contexts

The Building Blocks: Numbers 0-20

Let's begin with the numbers from 0 to 20. The numbers from 0 to 12 have unique names and must be memorized, much like in English. From 13 to 19, a clear pattern emerges.

To hear the correct pronunciation and see the numbers written out, watch the first sections of the following video. It breaks everything down very clearly.

As you saw in the video, the pattern for 13-19 is to add -zehn (ten) to the base number.

• drei (3) + zehn (10) = dreizehn (13)
• vier (4) + zehn (10) = vierzehn (14)

However, notice the two small but important exceptions:

• For 16, sechs drops the 's': sechzehn (not sechszehn).
• For 17, sieben drops the 'en': siebzehn (not siebenzehn).

Memorizing these numbers from 0-20 is the essential first step. Practice saying them aloud a few times before moving on.

The "Backwards" Numbers: 21-100

Now for the part of German numbers that can feel a bit strange at first. You've expressed a preference for having the rule explained before diving into exercises, so let's break down the logic for numbers from 21 to 99.

Where in English we say "twenty-one," in German the order is reversed: "one-and-twenty." This "Unit + and + Ten" structure applies to all numbers up to 99. The word for "and" is und.

Let's look at an example:

• 21 is einundzwanzig (ein + und + zwanzig). Notice that eins drops its 's' here.
• 25 is fünfundzwanzig (fünf + und + zwanzig).
• 67 is siebenundsechzig (sieben + und + sechzig).

All of these are written as a single, long word.

First, you need to know the "tens":

The exceptions you saw earlier for 16 and 17 (sechzehn, siebzehn) apply to 60 and 70 as well (sechzig, siebzig).

Now, let's watch a video that focuses specifically on this 21-100 range to reinforce the concept and practice the pronunciation.

This pattern of saying the smaller number first is the single biggest hurdle for English speakers. The key is practice, practice, practice, until it starts to feel natural.

Putting Numbers to Use (Anwendung)

Knowing the numbers is one thing; using them is the goal. Here are the key phrases you'll need for your A1 exam.

• Age (Alter): To ask someone's age, you say Wie alt sind Sie? (formal) or Wie alt bist du? (informal). You answer with:
  Ich bin ... Jahre alt. (I am ... years old.)
  For example: Ich bin dreiunddreißig Jahre alt.

• Phone Numbers (Telefonnummern): To give your number, you say Meine Telefonnummer ist .... Digits are usually read individually or in pairs. For example, 0176 89 54 23 could be read null eins sieben sechs, acht neun, fünf vier, zwei drei.
  A useful tip: To avoid confusion between zwei (2) and drei (3) over the phone, Germans often say zwo for zwei.

• Prices (Preise): To ask for a price, you say Was kostet das? (What does that cost?). Prices are given in Euros and Cents.
  For example, €25,99 is fünfundzwanzig Euro neunundneunzig.

• Addresses (Adressen): House numbers come after the street name.
  For example, Königsallee 98 would be read as Königsallee achtundneunzig.

To see these numbers used in realistic contexts, we'll watch a few short scenes from the "Nicos Weg" video series by Deutsche Welle.

Your Turn (Du bist dran!)

Let's do a quick practice round. Try to say the answers to these prompts aloud in German.

1. How would you state your own age?
   Ich bin ________________ Jahre alt.

2. Say this phone number: 0162 57 81 94
   (Remember zwo for 2!)

3. Read this price tag: €89,50

Take a moment to formulate the answers before proceeding. This is direct practice for the exam.

Key Takeaways

• Numbers 0-12 are irregular and must be memorized.
• Numbers 13-19 follow the (number) + zehn pattern, with small changes for sechzehn (16) and siebzehn (17).
• The tens (20, 30, ...) end in -zig, with exceptions for dreißig (30), sechzig (60), and siebzig (70).
• The core rule for numbers 21-99 is Unit + und + Ten, like dreiundvierzig for 43.
• Practice is the only way to make this "backwards" system feel automatic.

Great work! You've now covered greetings, introductions, spelling, and numbers—the core components of personal information for your A1 test.

In our next lesson, we will move into Module 2 and take our first major step into German grammar: conjugating regular verbs. This will allow you to start building your own simple sentences.