The German word for the number two is zwei. You will use it when counting, ordering two items, giving a quantity, or saying a price. For the broader counting sequence, see German numbers 1 to 10. It is a cardinal number, and it normally stays zwei when placed before different nouns.
Two in German is zwei, pronounced approximately “tsvai.”
How to Say Two in German
The standard German word is zwei. Unlike English “two,” German spells out the initial sound with zw. When writing a number in running text, use the word zwei; in lists, prices, and forms, the digit 2 is also common.
Using Zwei in Context
Counting Objects
Place zwei before the plural noun when counting two things: zwei Bücher means “two books,” and zwei Brüder means “two brothers.” The numeral itself does not change to agree with the noun’s gender. The noun usually appears in the plural form.
Ordering Food or Drinks
At a café, Zwei Kaffee, bitte means “Two coffees, please.” You can also ask for two items by saying Ich hätte gern zwei Brötchen (“I’d like two rolls”). The polite word bitte means “please” or “you’re welcome,” depending on context.
Talking About Time
Zwei is used for quantities of time too. Um zwei Uhr means “at two o’clock,” while zwei Tage means “two days.” When telling the time, remember that German can use the 24-hour clock in schedules and announcements, so context tells you whether 2 means morning or afternoon.
Compound Numbers
German combines numbers from 21 to 99 by saying the units first, followed by und (“and”), then the tens. For example, zweiundzwanzig literally follows the order “two and twenty” and means twenty-two. The number is written as one word.
How to Pronounce Zwei
Zwei is one syllable, approximately “tsvai.” The German letter z sounds like “ts” in “cats,” and German w sounds like English “v.” Begin with a crisp “ts,” then say the vowel and final sound smoothly. Listening and repeating can help keep the consonants distinct.
Example Sentences with Zwei
| German | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ich habe zwei Brüder. | I have two brothers. | Counting people |
| Zwei Kaffee, bitte. | Two coffees, please. | Ordering |
| Das kostet zwei Euro. | That costs two euros. | Price |
| Der Film dauert zwei Stunden. | The movie lasts two hours. | Duration |
Numbers Around Zwei
Learn zwei alongside the neighboring numbers: eins (one), zwei (two), and drei (three). A short sequence makes the pronunciation easier to remember and gives you a useful start for counting in German.
Meaning: one, two, three
Frequently Asked Questions About Two in German
Quick answers about spelling, pronunciation, and grammar.
What is the German word for two?
It is zwei.
How do you pronounce zwei?
It sounds roughly like “tsvai.” German z is “ts” and w is “v.”
Does zwei change with masculine or feminine nouns?
Zwei stays the same. The noun that follows is usually plural, as in zwei Bücher (“two books”).
Summary: Two in German
Say zwei for “two” in German. It is pronounced approximately “tsvai,” with a “ts” sound at the beginning and a “v” sound in the middle. Use it for counting, ordering, prices, and time.
