Counting in Dutch (indefinite and ordinal numbers)
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Sign up for freeIn this chapter, you will learn about the numbers in Dutch. Numbers are used when doing maths, but also when talking about the date or the time. The numbers are needed in any type of conversation. There are two types of numbers in Dutch: cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers. Both groups can be divided in definite and indefinite numbers.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.Counting in Dutch
- 1.1.Counting to 10
- 1.2.Counting to 20
- 1.3.Counting to 100 (the dozens)
- 1.4.Counting to 1000 (the hundreds)
- 1.5.Counting to 10000 (the thousands)
- 2.Ordinal numbers in Dutch
- 3.Indefinite numbers
- 3.1.Indefinite cardinal numbers
- 3.2.Indefinite ordinal numbers
- 4.Exercises
- 4.1.Translating numbers in Dutch
- 4.2.Select the cardinal numbers in Dutch
- 4.3.Select the ordinal numbers in Dutch
Counting in Dutch
Definite cardinal numbers are used for counting in Dutch. The definite cardinal numbers give an exact amount:
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Rose F. 
Anco P.
David I.
Johannes D.
Marjolein V.
Els S. 
Jan V.
Bart N.
Guido B.
Corentin D.
Counting to 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 0 | Nul |
| 1 | Één |
| 2 | Twee |
| 3 | Drie |
| 4 | Vier |
| 5 | Vijf |
| 6 | Zes |
| 7 | Zeven |
| 8 | Acht |
| 9 | Negen |
| 10 | Tien |
Counting to 20
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 11 | Elf |
| 12 | Twaalf |
| 13 | Dertien |
| 14 | Veertien |
| 15 | Vijftien |
| 16 | Zestien |
| 17 | Zeventien |
| 18 | Achttien |
| 19 | Negentien |
| 20 | Twintig |
Counting to 100 (the dozens)
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 10 | Tien |
| 20 | Twintig |
| 30 | Dertig |
| 40 | Veertig |
| 50 | Vijftig |
| 60 | Zestig |
| 70 | Zeventig |
| Tachtig | |
| 90 | Negentig |
| 100 | Honderd |
All definite numbers from 20 till 99 are formed in a similar way. If you know the numbers 21 and 22, you can also form the numbers 45, 66, 78 and so on.
- 21: eenentwintig
- 34: vierendertig
- 45: vijfenveertig
- 57: zevenenvijftig
- 62: tweeënzestig
- 78: achtenzeventig
- 83: drieëntachtig
- 99: negenennegentig
Counting to 1000 (the hundreds)
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 100 | Honderd |
| 200 | Tweehonderd |
| 300 | Driehonderd |
| 400 | Vierhonderd |
| 500 | Vijfhonderd |
| 600 | Zeshonderd |
| 700 | Zevenhonderd |
| 800 | Achthonderd |
| 900 | Negenhonderd |
| 1000 | Duizend |
Counting to 10000 (the thousands)
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 1000 | Duizend |
| 2000 | Tweeduizend |
| 3000 | Drieduizend |
| 4000 | Vierduizend |
| 5000 | Vijfduizend |
| 6000 | Zesduizend |
| 7000 | Zevenduizend |
| 8000 | Achtduizend |
| 9000 | Negenduizend |
| 10000 | Tienduizend |
Ordinal numbers in Dutch
Ordinal numbers are used to show a ranking. The table below shows you the ordinal numbers of 1 to 10.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| First | Eerste |
| Second | Tweede |
| Third | Derde |
| Fourth | Vierde |
| Fifth | Vijfde |
| Sixth | Zesde |
| Seventh | Zevende |
| Eighth | Achtste |
| Ninth | Negende |
| Tenth | Tiende |
Definite ordinal numbers are always written as one word. A hyphen '-' is used for the right pronunciation of large ordinal numbers.
Indefinite numbers
There are also indefinite cardinal and -ordinal numbers. The indefinite numbers give an amount that is not precise.
Indefinite cardinal numbers
Indefinite ordinal numbers
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!