Wie Schreibt Man Zahlen In Worten

Willkommen! Planning a trip to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland? Or maybe you're already here, soaking in the culture and enjoying the *wunderbare* landscapes? One thing that might trip you up, especially when dealing with anything involving money or time, is understanding how Germans write out numbers. Unlike English, there are some quirks to German number words that can be confusing at first. But don't worry! This guide will walk you through it, making you feel like a pro in no time!

Grundlagen: The Basics

Let's start with the building blocks. Here are the numbers from zero to twelve:

• 0 - Null
• 1 - Eins
• 2 - Zwei
• 3 - Drei
• 4 - Vier
• 5 - Fünf
• 6 - Sechs
• 7 - Sieben
• 8 - Acht
• 9 - Neun
• 10 - Zehn
• 11 - Elf
• 12 - Zwölf

These are the foundation. Learn them well, and the rest will be much easier!

Numbers 13 to 19: A Simple Pattern

Numbers 13 to 19 follow a straightforward pattern: the digit + "zehn" (ten). However, there are slight variations for 16 and 17 for pronunciation.

• 13 - Dreizehn
• 14 - Vierzehn
• 15 - Fünfzehn
• 16 - Sechzehn (notice the missing 's' from 'sechs')
• 17 - Siebzehn (notice the missing 'en' from 'sieben')
• 18 - Achtzehn
• 19 - Neunzehn

See? Easy peasy! Now, let's move onto the tens.

The Tens: A Little More To It

The tens (20, 30, 40, etc.) are formed by adding "-zig" to the digit's base form. Again, there are a few variations to watch out for:

• 20 - Zwanzig
• 30 - Dreißig
• 40 - Vierzig
• 50 - Fünfzig
• 60 - Sechzig
• 70 - Siebzig
• 80 - Achtzig
• 90 - Neunzig

Notice that 30 is "Dreißig," not "Dreizig," and 60 and 70 also undergo slight changes similar to 16 and 17.

The Big Difference: Numbers 21 and Beyond

Here's where things get interesting, and this is the most common point of confusion for English speakers. In German, you say the ones before the tens, and you connect them with "und" (and). For example:

• 21 - Einundzwanzig (one and twenty)
• 34 - Vierunddreißig (four and thirty)
• 58 - Achtundfünfzig (eight and fifty)
• 99 - Neunundneunzig (nine and ninety)

So, the pattern is: [ones] "und" [tens]. Get used to this, and you'll sound much more fluent.

Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond

Now, let's tackle larger numbers:

• 100 - Hundert
• 1,000 - Tausend
• 1,000,000 - Eine Million

When writing numbers like 235, you simply combine what you've learned so far:

• 235 - Zweihundertfünfunddreißig (two hundred five and thirty)

Here's a breakdown:

• Two hundred: Zweihundert
• Five and thirty: Fünfunddreißig
• Combine them: Zweihundertfünfunddreißig

Let's try a few more examples:

• 1,250 - Eintausendzweihundertfünfzig (one thousand two hundred fifty)
• 5,789 - Fünftausendsiebenhundertneunundachtzig (five thousand seven hundred nine and eighty)
• 12,345 - Zwölftausenddreihundertfünfundvierzig (twelve thousand three hundred five and forty)

Notice that "tausend" and "hundert" are generally written together with the preceding number. Also, for numbers greater than one thousand, you generally don't use commas or periods to separate the thousands. Instead, you write it all as one long word.

Millions and More!

For millions and larger numbers, the pattern remains consistent. Remember that "Million" is feminine, so "one million" is "Eine Million." Here are a few examples:

• 1,500,000 - Eine Million fünfhunderttausend (one million five hundred thousand)
• 2,345,678 - Zwei Millionen dreihundertfünfundvierzigtausendsechshundertachtundsiebzig (two million three hundred forty-five thousand six hundred eight and seventy)

As you can see, the number words can get *very* long! But don't be intimidated; just break it down into smaller parts.

Important Nuances and Special Cases

There are a few more things you should know:

• "Eins" vs. "Ein": When "one" (eins) is followed by a noun, it often becomes "ein." For example, "ein Haus" (one house). However, when writing numbers, "eins" is typically used, especially when it's part of a larger number.
• Capitalization: In German, all nouns are capitalized, including number words when they are used as nouns. However, number words used to describe quantities (e.g., "Ich habe zwei Äpfel" - I have two apples) are not capitalized.
• Formal vs. Informal: While the rules are consistent, you might encounter regional variations, especially in spoken German. However, the written form described here is universally understood.
• Currency: When stating prices, you'll usually hear things like "Zwei Euro fünfzig" (€2.50), meaning "two Euros fifty."

Practice Makes Perfect!

The best way to learn how to write numbers in German is to practice. Try writing out your phone number, your address, or the current date. Look at price tags in stores and try to understand how the numbers are written. Challenge yourself to translate numbers you hear in conversations.

Here are a few numbers to practice with:

• 42
• 187
• 956
• 2,023
• 15,891
• 347,612
• 1,000,001

(Answers: Zweiundvierzig, Einhundertsiebenundachtzig, Neunhundertsechsundfünfzig, Zweitausenddreiundzwanzig, Fünfzehntausendachthunderteinundneunzig, Dreihundertsiebenundvierzigtausendsechshundertzwölf, Eine Million eins)

Final Thoughts

Learning to write numbers in German might seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, it will become second nature. Knowing this skill will greatly enhance your experience in German-speaking countries, whether you're ordering food, shopping for souvenirs, or simply navigating daily life. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)