In English and in German there are cardinal numbers, used for counting, calculating and staring years and age. Ordinal numbers are used to order or rank things, giving the date as well as floors of buildings.Ā
1. Cardinal NumbersĀ
Below are the cardinal numbers in German. Keep in mind that in English we can say āa dogā (ein Hund), and āone dogā (ein Hund), using either the indefinite article āa/anā, or the cardinal number āoneā. In German, the indefinite article āein/eine/einā and the cardinal number used when referring to one of something are the same. However, we need to pay attention to the gender and case of the noun.Ā
Example:
Das ist ein Hund.Ā This is a / one dog.
Das ist eine Katze.Ā This is a / one cat.Ā
(Note: You cannot say: āDas ist eins Hund/ eins Katzeā)
Note: The teens could be translated to āthreetenā, āfourtenā, etc.Ā
Note: The literal translation of these numbers would be āone and twentyā, ātwo and thirtyā, āthree and fortyā, etc.Ā
2. Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers normally add ā-teā to the end of the spelling of the cardinal numbers less than 20, with a few exceptions. Ordinal numbers greater than 19 add ā-steā to the end. Ordinals can precede nouns, which is why the definite articles are often used in combination with ordinal numbers.
Example:
Er hatĀ die ersteĀ PrĆ¼fung bestanden.Ā He has passed the first exam.Ā
When referring to dates, we add āamā (an dem), when referring to centuries or locations we add āimā (in dem).Ā
Example:
Halloween istĀ amĀ einunddreissigstenĀ Oktober. Halloween is on the 31st of October.Ā
Wir lebenĀ imĀ einundzwanzigstenĀ Jahrhundert. We live in the 21st century.Ā
Note: The ending ā-teā or ā-steā doesnāt change, regardless of the gender of the noun, but we still need to use the correct article. For dates, we usually use āderā.Ā
Example:
Das istĀ der ersteĀ Geburtstag meiner Tocher.Ā This is the first birthday of my daughter.Ā
Das istĀ das ersteĀ Auto.Ā This is the first car.Ā
Heute istĀ der dreiundzwanzigsteĀ Oktober.Ā Today is the 23rd of October.Ā