German Numbers 0 to 12
The German numbers 0–12 are: null (0), eins (1), zwei (2), drei (3), vier (4), fünf (5), sechs (6), sieben (7), acht (8), neun (9), zehn (10), elf (11) and zwölf (12). These are the building blocks for prices, times and phone numbers, and most must simply be memorised.
Numbers 0–12 are the first you need — for prices, the time, your phone number and your address. Eleven (elf) and twelve (zwölf) are irregular; from 13 onward a clear pattern begins.
A small trap: spoken German often uses “zwo” instead of “zwei” on the phone, to avoid confusion with “drei”.
Word list
Tips
- From 13 to 19, you add “-zehn”: dreizehn (13), vierzehn (14) … the number comes before the “ten”.
- From 21 on, German says the ones before the tens: einundzwanzig is literally “one-and-twenty”.
- On the phone, “zwo” is commonly used for 2 so it isn’t confused with “drei”.
FAQ
How do you say the numbers 1 to 10 in German?
eins (1), zwei (2), drei (3), vier (4), fünf (5), sechs (6), sieben (7), acht (8), neun (9), zehn (10). Listen to the audio above for the correct pronunciation.
Why are 11 and 12 irregular in German?
Like English “eleven” and “twelve”, German “elf” and “zwölf” come from older forms and don’t follow the “-zehn” pattern that starts at 13 (dreizehn).
What is “zwo” in German?
“Zwo” is an alternative spoken form of “zwei” (2), used mainly on the phone and in announcements so it isn’t mistaken for “drei” (3).