German numbers from 1 to 1000 explained

To learn numbers in German, as in most languages, you will need to memorise the numbers from 1 to 20. Once you know these, forming all the other numbers will be easier. Everything else is based on logic.

First of all, to form the numbers in German, to create the tens, you just have to add -zig at the end of the units. For example, 4 = vier, 40 = vierzig, 5 = fünf, 50 = fünfzig... Be careful: a little adjustment is needed for 3 = drei which becomes 30 = dreißig and 20 which is zwanzig. The numbers are also formed here with the unit + the ten... But the structure is different: digit (unit) + und + unit + zig.

Look at the following examples and this will make more sense to you:

For 53: the structure becomes drei (3, unit) + und + fünf (5 unit) + zig = dreiundfünfzig
For 26: the structure should follow the following pattern: sechs (6 the unit) + und + zwanzig (20, the tens unit - irregular) = sechsundzwanzig

German native speakers usually don't pronounce the "und" properly when they speak fast. In that case, the "und" will sound a bit like "n".

To write the numbers between 101 and 199, just add hundred (hundret in German) in front of the digits and numbers between 1 and 99.

To write numbers between 200 and 999, add the hundreds digit (from 2 to 9) in front of hundert (hundred in German).

To write numbers between 1,001 and 1,999, add tausend (thousand in German) in front of the digits and numbers between 1 and 999.

As you can see, when it comes to counting in German or any other foreign language, you just need to remember the first 20 digits and a few rules. Then just apply the German counting rules and practice using the numbers as much as possible.