Learning to count from one to ten gives you a useful start in German. The sequence is eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn.
1 to 10 in German = eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, pronounced approximately ines, tsvai, dry, feer, fewnf, zeks, zee-ben, akht, noyn, tsehn.
How Do You Say 1 to 10 in German?
German numbers from one through ten are eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn. Remember that the form changes slightly when “one” comes before a noun.
Meaning: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Use eins when counting by itself. Before a noun, German normally uses ein or eine, matching the noun’s gender and case: ein Buch and eine Frau.
Different Ways to Express 1 to 10
These related forms cover counting, the noun “one,” an ordinal, and the time expression for one o’clock.
1. Eins to zehn — counting sequence
eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn — one through ten. This is the sequence to memorize. The ü in fünf and the umlaut in its spelling are important.
2. Ein / eine — one before a noun
ein Buch / eine Katze — one book / one cat. The standalone counting form eins is usually not placed directly before a noun. The form ein or eine agrees with the noun.
3. Erste / erster / erstes — first
der erste Tag — the first day. German ordinal endings change to agree with the noun and its grammatical case.
4. Um eins — at one o’clock
um eins — at one o’clock. The time expression uses eins. For 1:00, the hour itself is also commonly said as ein Uhr.
1 to 10 in German: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| German | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn | one through ten | Counting aloud |
| ein Buch / eine Katze | one book / one cat | Quantities with nouns |
| der erste Tag | the first day | Order and dates |
| um eins | at one o’clock | Telling time |
How to Pronounce eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn
German spelling is fairly regular, but some sounds may be new. In zwei, initial z sounds like “ts”; in vier, v sounds like English f; and fünf contains the rounded front vowel ü. In acht, ch is a throaty sound.
Example Sentences Using 1 to 10
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: One, two, three!
Use: A familiar way to start counting or begin an activity.
Meaning: I have one book.
Use: Use ein before the neuter noun Buch.
Meaning: The train leaves at one.
Use: Um eins names the time of day.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 to 10 in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say one to ten in German?
Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn.
Why does eins become ein before a noun?
Eins is the standalone counting form. Before a noun, ein/eine acts as an article and agrees with that noun.
How do you pronounce zwei?
The German letter z sounds like “ts,” so zwei begins with that sound.
Does fünf need the two dots?
Yes, standard spelling uses ü: fünf. The umlaut also signals a different vowel sound.
How do I say first?
The base ordinal is erste, but its ending changes with the noun and case, as in der erste Tag.
Summary: 1 to 10 in German
Memorize the sequence eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn. Use ein/eine before a noun, erste for first, and um eins for at one o’clock.
