Danish to German Number Converter

Converting Danish Numbers to German Numbers

The Danish and German languages, though distinct, share similarities in their number systems due to their common Germanic roots. In this article, we will explore the nuances of translating numbers from Danish to German, providing detailed examples to facilitate understanding.

Basics of Counting

Both Danish and German use a base-10 numbering system, which means numbers are constructed using the digits 0 through 9. Here are the basic numbers in both languages:

• Danish:

  • 0 - nul
  • 1 - én
  • 2 - to
  • 3 - tre
  • 4 - fire
  • 5 - fem
  • 6 - seks
  • 7 - syv
  • 8 - otte
  • 9 - ni
  • 10 - ti

• German:

  • 0 - null
  • 1 - eins
  • 2 - zwei
  • 3 - drei
  • 4 - vier
  • 5 - fünf
  • 6 - sechs
  • 7 - sieben
  • 8 - acht
  • 9 - neun
  • 10 - zehn

Teens and Beyond

The numbers from eleven to nineteen are particularly distinctive in both languages, especially in pronunciation and structure.

• Danish Teen Numbers:

  • 11 - elleve
  • 12 - tolv
  • 13 - tretten
  • 14 - fjorten
  • 15 - femten
  • 16 - seksten
  • 17 - sytten
  • 18 - atten
  • 19 - nitten

• German Teen Numbers:

  • 11 - elf
  • 12 - zwölf
  • 13 - dreizehn
  • 14 - vierzehn
  • 15 - fünfzehn
  • 16 - sechzehn
  • 17 - siebzehn
  • 18 - achtzehn
  • 19 - neunzehn

Tens

When moving into the tens (20, 30, etc.), both languages create numbers by combining the base digits with modifiers:

• Danish Tens:

  • 20 - tyve
  • 30 - tredive
  • 40 - fyrre
  • 50 - halvtreds
  • 60 - tres
  • 70 - halvfjerds
  • 80 - firs
  • 90 - halvfems

• German Tens:

  • 20 - zwanzig
  • 30 - dreißig
  • 40 - vierzig
  • 50 - fünfzig
  • 60 - sechzig
  • 70 - siebzig
  • 80 - achtzig
  • 90 - neunzig

Combining Numbers

In Danish, numbers are generally formed by combining the tens and ones, similar to German, but the structure differs slightly.

For instance:

• Danish: 21 - enogtyve (1 and 20)
• German: 21 - einundzwanzig (1 and 20)

This pattern continues for other numbers:

• 22:
  • Danish - toogtyve (2 and 20)
  • German - zweiundzwanzig (2 and 20)
• 35:
  • Danish - femogtredive (5 and 30)
  • German - fünf und dreißig (5 and 30)

Hundreds and Thousands

For larger numbers, the prefix used to signify hundreds (hundreder) and thousands (tusinde) also mirrors each other with some structural variations.

• Danish:

  • 100 - et hundrede
  • 1,000 - et tusinde

• German:

  • 100 - einhundert
  • 1,000 - eintausend

Examples

Here are some complete numeric translations from Danish to German:

Danish	German
22	zweiundzwanzig
45	fünfundvierzig
99	neunundneunzig
157	einhundertsiebenundfünfzig
1,234	eintausendzweihundertvierunddreißig

FAQs

Important Considerations

1. Number Order: In Danish, the unit digit is voiced before the tens (e.g., enogtyve), whereas in German, it follows (e.g., einundzwanzig).

2. Pronunciation Differences: While numbers may look similar when written, the pronunciation can significantly differ, impacting comprehension.

3. Compound Numbers: Danish often uses "og" (and) in compound numbers, while German uses "und."

4. Formal vs. Informal: Be aware of any contextual deviations in casual versus formal settings, especially in oral communication.

5. Cultural Context: Understanding the cultural significance or usage of certain numbers in each language can enhance comprehension, such as how certain numbers may hold different meanings or pertain to specific traditions.

By familiarizing yourself with these distinctions and patterns, you can confidently convert numbers from Danish to German, enhancing your linguistic skills in both languages.