Numbers, Time, and Dates
A1Count, tell the time, and book appointments — including the famous 'halb drei' trap.
Numbers: say them backwards
From 13 to 99, German says the units FIRST: 21 = einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty), 47 = siebenundvierzig. It looks odd on paper but feels natural fast — and it's the same logic English used in 'four and twenty blackbirds'. Watch the two spelling quirks: 16 is sechzehn, 17 is siebzehn (not 'siebenzehn').
| Number | German | Number | German |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | null | 11 | elf |
| 1 | eins | 12 | zwölf |
| 2 | zwei | 13 | dreizehn |
| 3 | drei | 20 | zwanzig |
| 4 | vier | 30 | dreißig |
| 5 | fünf | 40 | vierzig |
| 6 | sechs | 50 | fünfzig |
| 7 | sieben | 60 | sechzig |
| 8 | acht | 70 | siebzig |
| 9 | neun | 100 | (ein)hundert |
| 10 | zehn | 1000 | (ein)tausend |
Beispiele — examples in context
Meine Telefonnummer ist 0176 32 45 78 90.
My phone number is 0176 32 45 78 90.
Das kostet dreiundachtzig Euro.
That costs 83 euros.
Telling time: official vs. human
Schedules, doctors, and train stations use the 24-hour clock: 14:30 = 'vierzehn Uhr dreißig'. Everyday conversation is more charming — and more dangerous: 'halb drei' means HALF BEFORE three, i.e. 2:30! German counts toward the next hour. Get this wrong and you'll be an hour early to everything, which is very German but probably not your plan.
| Clock | Official | Colloquial |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | neun Uhr | neun |
| 9:15 | neun Uhr fünfzehn | Viertel nach neun |
| 9:30 | neun Uhr dreißig | halb zehn (!) |
| 9:45 | neun Uhr fünfundvierzig | Viertel vor zehn |
| 12:00 | zwölf Uhr | Mittag |
Beispiele — examples in context
Der Zug fährt um halb sieben ab.
The train leaves at 6:30.
Wann ist der Termin? — Um vierzehn Uhr.
When is the appointment? — At 2 pm.
Days, months, and the magic prepositions
Days: Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag (or Sonnabend in the north), Sonntag. Months behave like English: Januar, Februar, März … The prepositions are small but mighty: 'am' for days ('am Montag'), 'im' for months ('im Mai'), 'um' for clock times ('um 8 Uhr'). Every date you'll ever make uses one of these three.
| Preposition | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| um | clock time | um 15 Uhr |
| am | day / day+time | am Montag, am Montagmorgen |
| im | month / season | im August, im Winter |
Beispiele — examples in context
Treffen wir uns am Freitag um halb acht im Café?
Shall we meet on Friday at 7:30 at the café?
Mein Geburtstag ist im April, am vierzehnten.
My birthday is in April, on the 14th.