How to Say Numbers 1-10 in German and Count Everyday Objects
Learn German numbers one through ten, pronounce them accurately, and use them to count fingers, coins, and other objects in simple sentences.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Counting is one of the first practical skills in any language, and German numbers one to ten appear constantly in prices, phone numbers, addresses, and everyday conversation. In this lesson you will learn the ten basic number words, hear how they are pronounced, and practice putting them directly in front of nouns to count real objects. German numbers do not change form when you count different things, so once you know these ten words you can already count almost anything.
By the end, you can…
- say the numbers one through ten in German.
- count everyday objects such as fingers, coins, or books using German number words.
- ask and answer a simple question about how many of something there is.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
eins, zwei, drei
one, two, three
eyns, tsvai, drai
The basic counting sequence. Say it rhythmically when counting objects one by one.
vier, fünf, sechs
four, five, six
feer, fuenf, zeks
The ü in fünf is made with rounded lips; English speakers can start with 'fuenf' and round the lips more.
sieben, acht, neun, zehn
seven, eight, nine, ten
ZEE-ben, akht, noyn, tsayn
sieben has two syllables with stress on the first; acht has the same throaty ch as in 'Bach'.
Wie viele Finger sind das?
How many fingers are these?
vee FEE-luh FING-er zint das
A simple question for counting. Replace Finger with another plural noun to ask about other objects.
Das sind fünf Finger.
That is five fingers. / Those are five fingers.
das zint fuenf FING-er
Use das sind with a plural number; German uses the plural verb sind even for 'that is'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To count objects in German, put the number word directly before the noun, just as in English: zwei Bücher (two books), drei Äpfel (three apples), vier Stifte (four pens). The number itself never changes for gender or case at this level: ein Buch, eine Lampe, ein Auto all use the same numbers. For 'one' before a noun, German uses the article forms ein/eine rather than the counting word eins: ein Buch (one book), eine Lampe (one lamp). The standalone counting form is eins.
When to use it
Use these numbers when counting aloud, giving prices, or saying how many things you have. In shops and everyday speech, numbers often appear before a noun: Ich habe zwei Brötchen (I have two rolls). When you simply count a row of objects, you can say each number alone: eins, zwei, drei. To ask about a quantity, use Wie viele ...? (How many ...?) followed by a plural noun: Wie viele Stühle sind das? (How many chairs are those?). The answer can be Das sind sechs Stühle.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie viele Finger sind das?
How many fingers are these?vee FEE-luh FING-er zint dasDas sind fünf Finger.
That is five fingers.das zint fuenf FING-erUnd wie viele Stifte sind das?
And how many pens are these?unt vee FEE-luh SHTIF-tuh zint dasEins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben. Das sind sieben Stifte.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. That is seven pens.eyns, tsvai, drai, feer, fuenf, zeks, ZEE-ben. das zint ZEE-ben SHTIF-tuhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, prices and phone numbers are usually read digit by digit, so the numbers one to ten appear constantly in daily life. In Austria and parts of southern Germany you may hear the greeting Servus, but numbers themselves are standard across regions. When counting on your fingers, many German speakers start with the thumb rather than the index finger, which can surprise learners from some other cultures.
One thing to watch for
Using eins before a noun, as in eins Buch for 'one book'.
Try this instead: Before a noun, German uses the article ein or eine, not the counting word eins: ein Buch (one book), eine Lampe (one lamp). Use eins only when counting aloud or when the number stands alone, for example: Wie viele Bücher? Eins.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'three apples' in German?
Show a sample answer
drei Äpfel
The number drei comes directly before the plural noun Äpfel. The number does not change form for the noun's gender or plural.
2Someone holds up eight fingers and asks Wie viele Finger sind das? What is a correct answer?
Show a sample answer
Das sind acht Finger.
Das sind plus the number and plural noun answers the question. You could also simply say Acht, which is correct in casual counting.
3What is the difference between eins and ein/eine?
Show a sample answer
eins is the counting word 'one'; ein/eine is used before a noun, as in ein Buch or eine Lampe.
Use eins when counting or when the number stands alone. Use ein before masculine or neuter nouns and eine before feminine nouns. Both express 'one' but in different grammatical positions.
Learn the ten number words as a rhythm, then practice putting them before nouns: zwei Bücher, fünf Finger, zehn Minuten. Remember that eins becomes ein or eine before a noun.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr