Danish numbers are a must-learn if you’re planning to communicate in Danish. You’ll need them for prices, telling time, and everyday interactions. This guide covers the basics: their structure, pronunciation, and how to use them effectively.
(Psst! If you struggle with the Danish numbers, most Danes are happy to switch to English).
- Combining Numbers and Practical Usage: Danish combines units and tens by placing the unit before the ten connected with ‘og’ (and), and these numbers are essential for telling time, shopping, currency, and phone numbers in Denmark.
- Hundreds and Thousands Formation: Numbers over 100 are formed by combining the base number with ‘hundrede’ for hundreds and ‘tusind’ for thousands, following regular patterns and expanding to millions and billions.
- Basic Danish Numbers 0-10: Numbers 0 to 10 are fundamental for pronunciation and daily use, with straightforward spelling and pronunciation, forming the base for understanding larger numbers.
Basic Danish Numbers
Numbers 0-10
Let’s start with the basics: 0 to 10. These numbers are essential for grasping pronunciation and everyday use. They are relatively straightforward, and the numbers from +20 builds on this foundation.
| Number | How It’s Written in Danish | Danish Pronunciation |
| 0 | Nul | [nʌl] |
| 1 | En | [ɛn] |
| 2 | To | [to] |
| 3 | Tre | [tʁɛ] |
| 4 | Fire | [ˈfiːʁə] |
| 5 | Fem | [fɛm] |
| 6 | Seks | [sɛks] |
| 7 | Syv | [syw] |
| 8 | Otte | [ˈoːdə] |
| 9 | Ni | [ni] |
| 10 | Ti | [ti] |
Numbers 11-20
Danish numbers 11-20 include unique terms that break the pattern, like English “eleven” and “twelve.” From 13 onwards, they follow a consistent structure, combining the base number with the suffix “-ten,” similar to “-teen” in English.
- 11: elleve
- 12: tolv
- 13: tretten
- 14: fjorten
- 15: femten
- 16: seksten
- 17: sytten
- 18: atten
- 19: nitten
Tens (20-90
Danish numbers use a base-10 system, but the tens from 50 to 90 follow a base-20 (vigesimal) structure. For example:
- 20: tyve
- 30: tredive
- 40: fyrre
- 50: halvtreds (short for “halvtredje-sinds-tyve,” meaning “two and a half times twenty” or 2.5 × 20 = 50)
- 60: tres (short for “tre-sinds-tyve,” meaning “three times twenty” or 3 × 20 = 60)
- 70: halvfjerds (short for “halvfjerdsindstyve,” meaning “three and a half times twenty” or 3.5 × 20 = 70)
- 80: firs (short for “fire-sinds-tyve,” meaning “four times twenty” or 4 × 20 = 80)
- 90: halvfems (short for “halvfemsindstyve,” meaning “four and a half times twenty” or 4.5 × 20 = 90)
Hundreds and Thousands
Danish numbers for hundreds and thousands build on the same patterns as smaller numbers. Numbers are formed by combining the base number with “hundrede” for hundreds and “tusind” for thousands. For example:
- 100: et hundrede
- 200: to hundrede
- 300: tre hunrede
- 1,000: et tusinde
- 2,000: to tusinde
- 3,000: tre tusinde
Danish numbers over 1000 follow the same decimal structure. Larger numbers contain terms like “million” for million and “milliard” for billion.
Ordinal Danish Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order and are formed by adding specific endings. Examples are:
- 1st: første
- 2nd: anden
- 3rd: tredje
- 4th: fjerde
- 5th: femte
- 6th: sjette
- 7th: syvende
- 8th: ottende
- 9th: niende
- 10th: tiende
Combining Danish Numbers
For numbers between the tens, Danish places the unit before the ten, connected by “og” (and). Fir example:
- 21: enogtyve (one and twenty)
- 37: syvogtredive (seven and thirty)
- 58: otteoghalvtreds (eight and fifty)
Practical Applications of Danish Numbers
- Telling Time: Danish uses the 24-hour clock in formal settings, so 15:00 is “klokken femten.” In casual conversation, the 12-hour format is implied. “Halv” means half an hour before the next hour, so “halv fem” is 4:30.
- Shopping: Prices and quantities usually contain Danish numbers. For example, “to kopper kaffe” means “two cups of coffee.”
- Currency: Prices in Denmark are in kroner (kr.), with commas as decimal points (e.g., 17,50 kr. for 17.50 DKK). Rounded prices are common in everyday transactions.
- Phone Numbers: Danish phone numbers are spoken in pairs. For example, “29725632” is said as “niogtyve tooghalvfjerds seksoghalvtreds toogtredive.”
Final Thoughts on Danish Numbers
Danish numbers might seem complicated at first, but they follow clear patterns once you break them down. Whether you’re counting, telling time, or handling prices, a solid grasp of these numbers will make daily life in Denmark much easier. Practice the basics, listen for pronunciation cues, and you’ll pick it up faster than you think.
More Articles to Explore
- A Free Guide to the Danish Alphabet
- Learning Danish: Powerful Tips and Tricks for Mastering It
- Danish Phrases and Sayings You NEED to Know
FAQ
How are Danish numbers formed when combining units and tens?
Danish combines units and tens by placing the unit before the ten, connected by ‘og’ (and), such as ‘enogtyve’ for twenty-one.
What are the basic Danish numbers from 0 to 10 and how are they pronounced?
The numbers from 0 to 10 are Nul, En, To, Tre, Fire, Fem, Seks, Syv, Otte, Ni, and Ti, each with specific Danish spellings and pronunciation, serving as foundational numbers for pronunciation and daily use.
What is the structure of Danish numbers in the 20s to 90s, and how is the base-20 system used?
Danish uses a base-10 system, but from 50 to 90, it employs a base-20 (vigesimal) structure, with numbers like ‘halvtreds’ for 50, ‘tres’ for 60, and ‘firs’ for 80, often incorporating multiplication of twenty.
How are hundreds and thousands constructed in Danish numbers, and what are some examples?
Numbers over 100 are formed by combining the base number with ‘hundrede’ for hundreds and ‘tusind’ for thousands, such as ‘et hundrede’ for 100 and ‘et tusinde’ for 1,000, following regular patterns.
