German Numbers from 100 to 1000
Learn Correct Spelling and Counting of Numbers in German
Sep 25, 2009
Counting in any new language is difficult as this is the part language learners are most comfortable with in their mother tongue. However, understanding the German number format and the grammatical system numbers follow will make counting and spelling numbers in German much easier.
Multiples of Hundred in German – die Hunderter
Counting from 1 to 100 in German is easy because the word order is the same as in English: cardinal number first plus the suffix -hundert for hundred. For the multiples of hundred, it’s a simple matter of counting from one to ten in German and adding the suffix -hundert. Note that it is ein-hundert, not eins-hundert! Notice that unlike in English, German numbers are spelled as one word.
- einhundert – one hundred
- zweihundert – two hundred
- dreihundert – three hundred
- vierhundert – four hundred
- fünfhundert – five hundred
- sechshundert – six hundred
- siebenhundert – seven hundred
- achthundert – eight hundred
- neunhundert – nine hundred
- eintausend – one thousand
Careful: Don’t confuse German and English spelling of hundert and hundred. The ending is e-r-t in German and r-e-d in English!
Counting in Steps of Ten from 200 to 300
As seen before, German numbers are one long word but the structure is the same as in English: cardinal number + hundert/hundred + multiple of ten.
- zweihundertzehn – two hundred ten
- zweihundertzwanzig – two hundred twenty
- zweihundertdreißig – two hundred thirty
- zweihundertvierzig – two hundred forty
- zweihundertfünfzig – two hundred fifty
- zweihundertsechzig – two hundred sixty
- zweihundertsiebzig – two hundred seventy
- zweihundertachtzig – two hundred eighty
- zweihundertneunzig – two hundred ninety
- dreihundert – three hundred
What would the following numbers be in German: 220, 340, 710, 850 and 170? Compare your answers with the solution at the bottom.
Counting from 340 to 350 in German
Now for the numbers in between. Let’s first count from 340 to 350 and then look for a pattern.
- dreihundertvierzig – three hundred forty
- dreihunderteinundvierzig – three hundred forty-one
- dreihundertzweiundvierzig – three hundred forty-two
- dreihundertdreiundvierzig – three hundred forty-three
- dreihundertvierundvierzig – three hundred forty-four
- dreihundertfünfundvierzig – three hundred forty-five
- dreihundertsechsundvierzig – three hundred forty-six
- dreihundertsiebenundvierzig – three hundred forty-seven
- dreihundertachtundvierzig – three hundred forty-eight
- dreihundertneunundvierzig – three hundred forty-nine
- dreihundertfünfzig– three hundred fifty
The German Number Format
Looks complicated but isn’t. Let’s follow the pattern behind each number: There are the cardinal numbers for the hundreds, the suffix -hundert, the cardinal numbers for the tens, connected with -und plus the multiple of ten. Here’s the full formula:
cardinal number prefix + hundert + cardinal number prefix + -und- + multiple of ten
vier + hundert + sieben + und + sechzig would be 467, for example.
Note that cardinal number + multiple of ten are reversed: Germans speak of vierundachtzig (four and eighty) instead of eighty-four.
As a last exercise, what are the following German numbers in English? Einhunderteins, fünfhundertsechzig, achthundertzweiundzwanzig, dreihundertsechsundvierzig, siebenhundertvierundneunzig. Solutions below.
Numbers, especially those beyond 100, are the most difficult in any language. But once you follow and understand the pattern behind them, spelling any number in German will not be difficult. Don’t worry if it takes longer in the beginning, practice makes perfect!
Make sure to revise basic numbers and pronunciation with the article How to Count in German and numbers from 20 to 200 with How to Spell German Numbers. Also check German vowel and consonant pronunciation.
(Solution to Question 1: zweihundertzwanzig, dreihundertvierzig, siebenhundertzehn, achthundertfünfzig, einhundertsiebzig.)
(Solution to Question 2: 101, 560, 822, 346, 794.)
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