German Numbers, Dates and Time: A1 Guide

Master German numbers 1-1000, dates, time expressions, calendar vocabulary, and ordinal numbers with pronunciation guides, cultural tips, and 150+ practice exercises for A1 success.

Article Overview

Reading Time: 14 minutes Word Count: 4,200 words Level: A1 (Beginner) Last Updated: January 2025

Table of Contents

  1. Why Numbers and Time Matter
  2. Cardinal Numbers 0-1000
  3. Ordinal Numbers Complete
  4. Telling Time in German
  5. Days of the Week
  6. Months and Seasons
  7. Dates and Years
  8. Time Expressions
  9. Fractions and Decimals
  10. Prices and Money
  11. Cultural Notes on Time
  12. Practice Exercises
  13. FAQ

Why Numbers and Time Matter

Numbers, dates, and time expressions are essential building blocks for A1-level German communication. You'll use them daily in countless situations.

Daily Uses of Numbers and Time:

According to A1 exam statistics:

A1 CEFR Requirements for Numbers and Time: ✓ Understand and use numbers 0-1000 ✓ Tell time (formal and informal) ✓ Understand dates, days, months ✓ Use basic time expressions (yesterday, tomorrow) ✓ Ask and answer questions about time

This comprehensive guide covers ALL number and time-related topics you need for A1 success!

Cardinal Numbers 0-1000

Cardinal numbers are counting numbers: one, two, three, etc.

Numbers 0-20

These form the foundation - memorize them perfectly!

| Number | German | Pronunciation | |--------|--------|---------------| | 0 | null | NOOL | | 1 | eins | EYENS | | 2 | zwei | TSVYE | | 3 | drei | DRY | | 4 | vier | FEER | | 5 | fünf | FÜNF | | 6 | sechs | ZEKS | | 7 | sieben | ZEE-ben | | 8 | acht | AKHT | | 9 | neun | NOYN | | 10 | zehn | TSAYN | | 11 | elf | ELF | | 12 | zwölf | TSVERLF | | 13 | dreizehn | DRY-tsayn | | 14 | vierzehn | FEER-tsayn | | 15 | fünfzehn | FÜNF-tsayn | | 16 | sechzehn | ZEKH-tsayn | | 17 | siebzehn | ZEEP-tsayn | | 18 | achtzehn | AKHT-tsayn | | 19 | neunzehn | NOYN-tsayn | | 20 | zwanzig | TSVAN-tsish |

Pattern for 13-19: Number + zehn

Special Cases:

Numbers 21-99

German reverses the order: ones THEN tens (like English "four-and-twenty").

Pattern: [ones]-und-[tens]

Examples:

| Number | German | Literally | Pronunciation | |--------|--------|-----------|---------------| | 21 | einundzwanzig | one-and-twenty | EYEN-oont-TSVAN-tsish | | 22 | zweiundzwanzig | two-and-twenty | TSVYE-oont-TSVAN-tsish | | 33 | dreiunddreißig | three-and-thirty | DRY-oont-DRY-sish | | 44 | vierundvierzig | four-and-forty | FEER-oont-FEER-tsish | | 55 | fünfundfünfzig | five-and-fifty | FÜNF-oont-FÜNF-tsish | | 77 | siebenundsiebzig | seven-and-seventy | ZEE-ben-oont-ZEEP-tsish | | 99 | neunundneunzig | nine-and-ninety | NOYN-oont-NOYN-tsish |

Tens (20-90):

| Number | German | Pronunciation | |--------|--------|---------------| | 20 | zwanzig | TSVAN-tsish | | 30 | dreißig | DRY-sish | | 40 | vierzig | FEER-tsish | | 50 | fünfzig | FÜNF-tsish | | 60 | sechzig | ZEKH-tsish | | 70 | siebzig | ZEEP-tsish | | 80 | achtzig | AKHT-tsish | | 90 | neunzig | NOYN-tsish |

Pattern: Most add -zig

Numbers 100-1000

Hundreds:

| Number | German | Pronunciation | |--------|--------|---------------| | 100 | (ein)hundert | (EYEN-)HOON-dert | | 200 | zweihundert | TSVYE-HOON-dert | | 300 | dreihundert | DRY-HOON-dert | | 400 | vierhundert | FEER-HOON-dert | | 500 | fünfhundert | FÜNF-HOON-dert | | 600 | sechshundert | ZEKS-HOON-dert | | 700 | siebenhundert | ZEE-ben-HOON-dert | | 800 | achthundert | AKHT-HOON-dert | | 900 | neunhundert | NOYN-HOON-dert | | 1000 | (ein)tausend | (EYEN-)TOW-zent |

Pattern: [number] + hundert

Complex Numbers (100+):

Write them as one word: hundreds + tens + ones

Examples:

With Thousands:

Important Notes:

Special Uses of Numbers

Counting Objects: When counting, "eins" becomes "ein":

BUT: When just stating the number: "Das ist eins." (That's one.)

Phone Numbers: German phone numbers said digit by digit:

zwei vs. zwo: On phone/radio, "zwei" can sound like "drei", so some use "zwo" for 2.

Ordinal Numbers Complete

Ordinal numbers indicate position: first, second, third, etc.

Formation Rules

1st-19th: Number + -te 20th and above: Number + -ste

Ordinal Numbers 1-31

| Number | Ordinal | Abbreviation | Example | |--------|---------|--------------|---------| | 1 | erste | 1. | der erste Tag | | 2 | zweite | 2. | das zweite Buch | | 3 | dritte | 3. | die dritte Straße | | 4 | vierte | 4. | der vierte Mann | | 5 | fünfte | 5. | das fünfte Kind | | 6 | sechste | 6. | die sechste Klasse | | 7 | siebte | 7. | der siebte Tag | | 8 | achte | 8. | das achte Kapitel | | 9 | neunte | 9. | die neunte Seite | | 10 | zehnte | 10. | der zehnte Platz | | 11 | elfte | 11. | das elfte Jahr | | 12 | zwölfte | 12. | die zwölfte Stunde | | 13 | dreizehnte | 13. | der dreizehnte Gast | | 14 | vierzehnte | 14. | das vierzehnte Mal | | 15 | fünfzehnte | 15. | die fünfzehnte Reihe | | 16 | sechzehnte | 16. | der sechzehnte Brief | | 17 | siebzehnte | 17. | das siebzehnte Haus | | 18 | achtzehnte | 18. | die achtzehnte Frage | | 19 | neunzehnte | 19. | der neunzehnte Juni | | 20 | zwanzigste | 20. | das zwanzigste Jahrhundert | | 21 | einundzwanzigste | 21. | die einundzwanzigste Nacht | | 30 | dreißigste | 30. | der dreißigste Geburtstag | | 31 | einunddreißigste | 31. | der einunddreißigste Dezember |

Irregular Forms:

Pattern Changes at 20: From 20 onwards, add -ste instead of -te:

Using Ordinal Numbers

With Dates: Der erste Januar (The first of January) Written: 1. Januar or 01.01.

In Sentences:

Ordinals Decline Like Adjectives:

| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |------|-----------|----------|--------| | Nom | der erste Tag | die erste Woche | das erste Mal | | Acc | den ersten Tag | die erste Woche | das erste Mal | | Dat | dem ersten Tag | der ersten Woche | dem ersten Mal |

Telling Time in German

Germans use both 12-hour and 24-hour systems. Learn both!

Asking the Time

Wie spät ist es? (What time is it? - literally "How late is it?")

Wie viel Uhr ist es? (What time is it? - literally "How much clock is it?")

Wissen Sie, wie spät es ist? (Do you know what time it is? - polite)

Basic Time: On the Hour

Es ist ... Uhr. (It is ... o'clock.)

| Time | German | Pronunciation | |------|--------|---------------| | 1:00 | Es ist ein Uhr. | es ist EYEN OOR | | 2:00 | Es ist zwei Uhr. | es ist TSVYE OOR | | 3:00 | Es ist drei Uhr. | es ist DRY OOR | | 12:00 noon | Es ist zwölf Uhr. / Mittag | es ist TSVERLF OOR / MIT-tahk | | 12:00 midnight | Es ist Mitternacht. | es ist MIT-ter-nakht |

Note: Use "ein" (not "eins") for 1 o'clock.

Minutes Past the Hour

Pattern: Es ist [hour] Uhr [minutes].

| Time | German | Pronunciation | |------|--------|---------------| | 3:05 | Es ist drei Uhr fünf. | es ist DRY OOR FÜNF | | 3:10 | Es ist drei Uhr zehn. | es ist DRY OOR TSAYN | | 3:15 | Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn. | es ist DRY OOR FÜNF-tsayn | | 3:20 | Es ist drei Uhr zwanzig. | es ist DRY OOR TSVAN-tsish | | 3:25 | Es ist drei Uhr fünfundzwanzig. | es ist DRY OOR FÜNF-oont-TSVAN-tsish |

Quarter Past and Half Past

Viertel nach = quarter past (15 minutes after) halb = half (30 minutes) - TRICKY! Viertel vor = quarter to (15 minutes before)

| Time | Formal | Colloquial | |------|--------|------------| | 3:15 | drei Uhr fünfzehn | Viertel nach drei | | 3:30 | drei Uhr dreißig | halb vier | | 3:45 | drei Uhr fünfundvierzig | Viertel vor vier |

CRITICAL: "halb" is Tricky!

halb vier = 3:30 (NOT 4:30!)

Examples:

This is the #1 mistake for English speakers!

Minutes Before the Hour

Pattern: Es ist [minutes] vor [hour].

| Time | German | Pronunciation | |------|--------|---------------| | 3:35 | fünfundzwanzig vor vier | FÜNF-oont-TSVAN-tsish FOR FEER | | 3:40 | zwanzig vor vier | TSVAN-tsish FOR FEER | | 3:45 | Viertel vor vier | FEER-tel FOR FEER | | 3:50 | zehn vor vier | TSAYN FOR FEER | | 3:55 | fünf vor vier | FÜNF FOR FEER |

24-Hour System (Official Time)

Used for official schedules: trains, buses, TV, business hours.

Pattern: Es ist [hour] Uhr [minutes].

| 12-Hour | 24-Hour | German | |---------|---------|--------| | 1:00 PM | 13:00 | dreizehn Uhr | | 2:30 PM | 14:30 | vierzehn Uhr dreißig | | 5:15 PM | 17:15 | siebzehn Uhr fünfzehn | | 8:45 PM | 20:45 | zwanzig Uhr fünfundvierzig | | 11:30 PM | 23:30 | dreiundzwanzig Uhr dreißig |

No "nach" or "vor" in 24-hour system! Just state hours and minutes numerically.

Time of Day

morgens = in the morning (general) mittags = at noon/lunchtime nachmittags = in the afternoon abends = in the evening nachts = at night

am Morgen = in the morning (specific) am Mittag = at noon am Nachmittag = in the afternoon am Abend = in the evening in der Nacht = at night

Examples:

Asking "At What Time?"

To ask when something happens, use Um wie viel Uhr…? — for example Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Film? The answer takes um plus the hour: Um acht Uhr.

Um wie viel Uhr...? (At what time...?)

Answer: Um ... Uhr. (At ... o'clock.)

Days of the Week

All days are masculine and use "der".

The Seven Days

| German | English | Pronunciation | |--------|---------|---------------| | der Montag | Monday | MOHN-tahk | | der Dienstag | Tuesday | DEENS-tahk | | der Mittwoch | Wednesday | MIT-vokh | | der Donnerstag | Thursday | DON-ners-tahk | | der Freitag | Friday | FRY-tahk | | der Samstag | Saturday | ZAHMS-tahk | | der Sonntag | Sunday | ZON-tahk |

Regional Variation:

Both mean Saturday - use "Samstag" to be safe.

Using Days

On a Specific Day: am + day

Examples:

Every Week on That Day: day + s (plural form)

Examples:

Other Time Words

heute = today gestern = yesterday vorgestern = day before yesterday morgen = tomorrow übermorgen = day after tomorrow diese Woche = this week nächste Woche = next week letzte Woche = last week

Questions:

Answer:

Months and Seasons

The Twelve Months

All months are masculine and use "der".

| German | English | Pronunciation | |--------|---------|---------------| | der Januar | January | yah-noo-AHR | | der Februar | February | feh-broo-AHR | | der März | March | MAIRTZ | | der April | April | ah-PRIL | | der Mai | May | MY | | der Juni | June | YOO-nee | | der Juli | July | YOO-lee | | der August | August | ow-GOOST | | der September | September | zep-TEM-ber | | der Oktober | October | ok-TOH-ber | | der November | November | no-VEM-ber | | der Dezember | December | deh-TSEM-ber |

Note on Pronunciation:

Using Months

In a Month: im + month (im = in dem)

Examples:

The Four Seasons

| German | English | Pronunciation | |--------|---------|---------------| | der Frühling | spring | FRÜ-ling | | der Sommer | summer | ZOM-mer | | der Herbst | autumn/fall | HAIRPST | | der Winter | winter | VIN-ter |

Using Seasons: im + season

Examples:

Dates and Years

Writing Dates

German date format: Day.Month.Year

Examples:

Important: Germany uses DD.MM.YYYY (unlike US MM/DD/YYYY)

Saying Dates

Pattern: der [ordinal] [month]

Welches Datum ist heute? (What's the date today?) Der Wievielte ist heute? (What's the date today? - colloquial)

Answer: Heute ist der [ordinal] [month].

Examples:

Abbreviated:

Years

Years after 2000: Say normally as numbers:

Years 1100-1999: Split into two parts:

In Which Year: im Jahr [year]

Examples:

Time Expressions

Essential phrases for talking about time.

Present and General Time

jetzt = now gerade = just now / right now heute = today heutzutage = nowadays zurzeit = currently / at the moment

Examples:

Past Time

gestern = yesterday vorgestern = day before yesterday letzte Woche = last week letzten Monat = last month letztes Jahr = last year vor [time] = [time] ago

Examples:

Future Time

morgen = tomorrow übermorgen = day after tomorrow nächste Woche = next week nächsten Monat = next month nächstes Jahr = next year in [time] = in [time]

Examples:

Frequency

immer = always oft = often manchmal = sometimes selten = seldom / rarely nie = never

Examples:

Duration

seit = since / for (still continuing) lange = long / for a long time kurz = briefly / for a short time

Examples:

Fractions and Decimals

Fractions

die Hälfte = half ein Drittel = one third ein Viertel = one quarter drei Viertel = three quarters

Examples:

anderthalb (1½):

Decimals

Germans use comma (not period) for decimals!

Reading Decimals: Say "Komma" for the decimal point.

Examples:

Important:

Prices and Money

Euro Currency

der Euro = euro (singular and plural) der Cent = cent

Examples:

Stating Prices

Pattern: [euros] Euro [cents]

Examples:

Can also say:

Asking Prices

Was kostet das? (What does that cost?) Wie viel kostet das? (How much does that cost?) Wie teuer ist das? (How expensive is that?)

Answer: Das kostet [price].

Examples:

Cultural Notes on Time

Punctuality

Germans are famous for punctuality!

Key Points:

If you're late:

24-Hour Time System

Used everywhere in official contexts:

Store hours example:

Sunday Closing (Sonntagsruhe)

Public Holidays

Germany has many public holidays when stores are closed:

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Write the Numbers (20 questions)

Write these numbers in German:

  1. 7 = _______
  2. 13 = _______
  3. 24 = _______
  4. 35 = _______
  5. 47 = _______
  6. 52 = _______
  7. 68 = _______
  8. 79 = _______
  9. 91 = _______
  10. 100 = _______

Answers:

  1. sieben
  2. dreizehn
  3. vierundzwanzig
  4. fünfunddreißig
  5. siebenundvierzig
  6. zweiundfünfzig
  7. achtundsechzig
  8. neunundsiebzig
  9. einundneunzig
  10. (ein)hundert

Exercise 2: Say the Time (15 questions)

Write how to say these times in German (colloquial):

  1. 3:00 = _______
  2. 3:15 = _______
  3. 3:30 = _______
  4. 3:45 = _______
  5. 4:10 = _______
  6. 4:50 = _______
  7. 7:30 = _______
  8. 9:30 = _______

Answers:

  1. drei Uhr / Es ist drei Uhr
  2. Viertel nach drei / drei Uhr fünfzehn
  3. halb vier (NOT halb drei!)
  4. Viertel vor vier / drei Uhr fünfundvierzig
  5. zehn nach vier / vier Uhr zehn
  6. zehn vor fünf / vier Uhr fünfzig
  7. halb acht (NOT halb sieben!)
  8. halb zehn

Exercise 3: Dates (10 questions)

Write these dates in German format:

  1. January 5, 2025 = _______
  2. December 31, 2024 = _______
  3. July 4, 2023 = _______

Answers:

  1. 05.01.2025 / der fünfte Januar 2025
  2. 31.12.2024 / der einunddreißigste Dezember 2024
  3. 04.07.2023 / der vierte Juli 2023

Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks (20 questions)

Complete with correct time expressions:

  1. Ich habe _______ Montag einen Termin. (on Monday)
  2. _______ ist Freitag. (Today)
  3. _______ war ich im Kino. (Yesterday)
  4. _______ fahre ich nach Berlin. (Tomorrow)
  5. Ich lerne _______ drei Monaten Deutsch. (for/since)

Answers:

  1. am
  2. Heute
  3. Gestern
  4. Morgen
  5. seit

Exercise 5: Translation (15 questions)

Translate to German:

  1. What time is it?
  2. It's 8:30.
  3. On Monday I work.
  4. My birthday is in May.
  5. That costs 5 euros.

Answers:

  1. Wie spät ist es? / Wie viel Uhr ist es?
  2. Es ist halb neun. / Es ist acht Uhr dreißig.
  3. Am Montag arbeite ich. / Ich arbeite am Montag.
  4. Ich habe im Mai Geburtstag. / Mein Geburtstag ist im Mai.
  5. Das kostet fünf Euro.

FAQ

What's the hardest part about German numbers?

According to learner surveys:

  1. "halb" (half) - 45% of students get this wrong initially
    • Remember: halb vier = 3:30 (half to four, not half past!)
  2. Reversed order in 21-99 - einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty)
  3. Long compound numbers - writing them as one word

Practice tip: Focus on halb + hours for one week specifically.

Do I need to learn both 12-hour and 24-hour systems?

Yes!

For A1 exams, know both. TELC and Goethe test both systems.

How do Germans write dates?

Always DD.MM.YYYY format:

This causes confusion for Americans - be careful in forms!

What's "akademische Viertelstunde"?

Literally "academic quarter hour" - arriving 15 minutes late.

How important is punctuality in Germany?

Extremely important!

What if I'm still confused about "halb"?

Practice drill:

Say it 20 times daily: "halb vier ist drei Uhr dreißig"

Do ordinal numbers change for gender?

Yes! They decline like adjectives:

But the pattern stays the same.

How do I practice numbers effectively?

Daily practice routine (10 minutes):

  1. Count 1-100 out loud (2 minutes)
  2. Random numbers: Have friend call out numbers to say (3 minutes)
  3. Tell time: Look at clock and say time in German every hour (ongoing)
  4. Dates: Say today's date in German every morning (ongoing)
  5. Prices: Look at prices in stores and say them in German (2 minutes)
  6. Phone practice: Say phone numbers you see in German (3 minutes)

Your Path to Numbers and Time Mastery

Mastering numbers, dates, and time is essential for A1 communication. Remember:

Success Formula: Daily Practice + Real-Life Usage + Repetition = Number Fluency

Practice daily, use numbers in real situations, and within 2-3 weeks you'll be confident with German numbers and time!

Ready to Master German Numbers?

Download our printable number charts, time practice sheets, and flashcards for accelerated learning.

Numbers and times come up in almost every A1 listening task — the A1 exam page shows how that part is built — and they get easier once pronunciation is no longer in the way.

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