In German, the numbers for the tens from 20 to 90 follow a regular pattern and are essential for counting, telling time, shopping, and more. They are:
- 20: zwanzig
- 30: dreißig
- 40: vierzig
- 50: fünfzig
- 60: sechzig
- 70: siebzig
- 80: achtzig
- 90: neunzig
Each number beyond 20 ends with "-zig," which is similar to the English "-ty." Notably, 30 (dreißig) uses a special spelling with "ß," and some roots are slightly modified for ease of pronunciation (e.g., sechs → sech-, sieben → sieb-).
- German tens: 20=zwanzig, 30=dreißig, 40=vierzig, 50=fünfzig, 60=sechzig, 70=siebzig, 80=achtzig, 90=neunzig
- Use "-zig" for most tens; 30 is "dreißig" with a special "ß"
- Minor root changes for 60 (sechzig) and 70 (siebzig)
The correct German tens are: zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig.
Structure & Usage
From 20 on, German numbers use a regular system. Only 10, 11, and 12 have unique forms; after that, you combine roots and endings logically. This makes it easy to extend beyond 90 (e.g., 100 = hundert).
- All tens except 10 start with a number root + "-zig" (or "-ßig" for 30)
- Between 21-99, use a reverse order with "und" for units (e.g., 21 = einundzwanzig)
The pattern is number root + "-zig" for 20-90, with some exceptions.
Patterns & Comparisons
| Ten | German | Root | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | zwanzig | zwanz- | Root changes from zwei |
| 30 | dreißig | drei- | Uses ß instead of 'ss' |
| 40 | vierzig | vier- | Regular |
| 50 | fünfzig | fünf- | Regular |
| 60 | sechzig | sech- | Drops 's' from sechs |
| 70 | siebzig | sieb- | Drops 'en' from sieben |
| 80 | achtzig | acht- | Regular |
| 90 | neunzig | neun- | Regular |
- Root changes: 20 (zwanzig), 60 (sechzig), 70 (siebzig)
- Standard: 40, 50, 80, 90
- Special spelling: 30 (dreißig)
Special cases: 20=zwanzig, 30=dreißig, 60=sechzig, 70=siebzig.
Exercises
- List the German words for the tens 20, 40, 60, and 80.
- Identify the pattern in the German tens and explain how you would guess the word for 100 (hundred) based on it.
- Compare the German tens to English. What similarities and differences do you notice?
zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig
They use number roots plus '-zig' (with some exceptions).
20, 30, 60, and 70 are special: zwanzig, dreißig, sechzig, siebzig.
Conclusion
German tens follow a mostly regular pattern with some unique forms for 20, 30, 60, and 70.
- Tens are: zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig
- Use number root + "-zig," except for special cases
- Knowing this pattern helps you understand and predict numbers in German