Learn Dutch: Numbers 1–20

This lesson introduces the foundation of Dutch counting by covering the numbers from one to twenty. Mastering these basics is essential for navigating daily life in a Dutch-speaking environment, whether you are checking prices at a market, providing a phone number, or discussing the time. English speakers will find many of these terms intuitive because Dutch and English share a common Germanic history. For instance, the number ten is Tien (teen) and eleven is Elf (elf), both of which bear a strong resemblance to their English counterparts.

As you progress through the list, you will notice a helpful pattern in the formation of the numbers thirteen through nineteen. Similar to the English suffix "teen," Dutch simply adds the word for ten, which is -tien, to the base number. You can see this clearly with fourteen, which is Veertien (vair-teen), and seventeen, which is Zeventien (zay-vun-teen). Another important transition occurs at twenty, which is Twintig (twin-tukh). Pay close attention to the pronunciation of the Dutch "ch" in Acht (akht) and the ending of Twintig, as these sounds are distinct features of the language. Familiarizing yourself with these early numbers will provide the building blocks needed for more complex counting and higher numerical values in the future.