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cardinal
(counting) and 
ordinal
(place or order) numbers, and number formation is similar in that 
the first twelve numbers are unique. Above twelve, numbers are formed by combination. For example, 
13 is 
dreizehn
and 14 is 
vierzehn
. Higher numbers will be the subject of later lessons.
Note in the table how ordinals are formed from the cardinals in German by adding 
te
. 'Ten' becomes 
'tenth' in English; 
zehn
become 
zehnte
in German. As in English, there are several nonconforming 
variants: 
erste
, 
dritte
, and 
siebte
.
cardinal numbers
ordinal numbers
one 
eins 
1st erste 
two
zwei
2nd zweite
three
drei
3rd
dritte
four
vier
4th
vierte
five
fünf
5th
fünfte
six
sechs
6th
sechste
seven
sieben
7th
siebte
eight
acht
8th
achte
nine
neun
9th
neunte
ten
zehn
10th zehnte
eleven
elf
11th elfte
twelve
zwölf
12th zwölfte

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Aussprache
Learning the German words for the numbers provides an excellent opportunity to practice German 
pronunciations. Following are some helpful hints for English speakers attempting to count in German. 
A "dental sound" is made by moving the tongue into the back of the upper teeth—almost as if the word 
started with a 't'. A "gutteral sound" comes from deep in the throat. Also, remember, in words of more 
than one syllable, the emphasis is on the first syllable. final consonants are cut off quickly in German, 
not drawn out as in many English words. English speakers might call this being curt or brusque with 
each word. 
eins
say '
eyen
-zah' but drop the 'ah'; 'z' is between an 's' and 'z'
zwei
sounds like 'zveye'; the 'w' is between a 'v' and a 'w' 
drei
sounds like "dry", but with dental 'd' and roll the 'r'
vier
sound is between "fear" and 'fee-yahr'
fünf
say 'foon-fah' without the 'ah'; very slight 'r' after the 'ü'
sechs
sounds like "sex", but with a more dental leading 's'
sieben
sounds like "
see
Ben" (use dental 's') 
acht
sounds like 'ahkt'; the 'ch' is gutteral
neun
sounds like "loin" with an 'n'
zehn
sounds like the name, "Zane", but the 'z' is more dental
elf
sounds pretty much like "elf" (the German 'e' is a little higher)
zwölf
sounds like 'zwolf', but the 'o' is closer to