Counting by tens in German is straightforward once you know the words for the base numbers (1–10) and the word zig (used for multiples of ten). This guide covers the tens from 10 to 100, along with examples of how to use them in sentences.
The German Words for 10, 20, 30, …
Here are the German words for counting by tens up to 100. Note that 10, 20, 30, … 60 follow a regular pattern, but 70, 80, and 90 have unique forms and origins. 100 is hundert.
- — zehn
- — zwanzig
- — dreißig
- — vierzig
- — fünfzig
- — sechzig
- — siebzig
- — achtzig
- — neunzig
- — hundert
Tens in German and English
| German Number | English Number |
|---|---|
| zehn | ten |
| zwanzig | twenty |
| dreißig | thirty |
| vierzig | forty |
| fünfzig | fifty |
| sechzig | sixty |
| siebzig | seventy |
| achtzig | eighty |
| neunzig | ninety |
| hundert | hundred |
Pronunciation Tips
- ß in dreißig sounds like ss.
- The “z” in zwanzig sounds like ts.
- The g in zig is pronounced like the g in “go.”
- siebzig drops the “en” from sieben and uses “sieb” + “zig.”
- sechzig shortens sechs to sech before adding “zig.”
- vierzig replaces the r sound with a soft vowel before “zig.”
Usage Examples
Here are some examples of how to use these numbers in simple German sentences.
- Ich bin zehn Jahre alt. (I am ten years old.)
- Wir treffen uns um zwanzig Uhr. (We meet at twenty o’clock.)
- Mein Bruder ist dreißig Jahre alt. (My brother is thirty years old.)
- Die Tasche kostet vierzig Euro. (The bag costs forty euros.)
- Ich habe fünfzig Seiten gelesen. (I have read fifty pages.)
- Mein Vater ist sechzig Jahre alt. (My father is sixty years old.)
- Sie ist siebzig Jahre alt. (She is seventy years old.)
- Das Haus ist achtzig Jahre alt. (The house is eighty years old.)
- Neunzig Prozent sind fertig. (Ninety percent is finished.)
- Das Buch kostet hundert Euro. (The book costs one hundred euros.)
Summary
- Counting by tens in German goes: zehn, zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig, hundert.
- , 80, and 90 have slightly irregular forms (siebzig, achtzig, neunzig).
- Use these numbers to talk about age, time, quantity, and price.
For which base numbers are the final letters dropped or changed before adding -zig?
sieben → sieb, sechs → sech, vier → vier (softened)
In forming tens: sieben drops 'en' to become sieb-; sechs drops 's' to become sech-; vier’s 'r' is softened.
Flashcards (1 of 10)
- English Number: ten
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
