einundzwanzig
/ˈaɪ̯nʊntˌt͡svant͡sɪç/feminine
The German word for twenty-one is einundzwanzig.
einundzwanzig is the cardinal number used for counting or expressing quantities.
Meaning: cardinal number (num)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of ein (one), und (and) and zwanzig (twenty), literally meaning one-and-twenty.
How does it change in a sentence?
In German, the units digit is spoken before the tens digit for numbers between 21 and 99.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaɪ̯nʊntˌtsvantsɪç/
Did you know?
- The structure of einundzwanzig is mirrored in archaic English phrases like 'four and twenty blackbirds', which followed the same units-before-tens logic.
- In Germany, the age of einundzwanzig does not mark a legal transition to adulthood, as that occurs at achtzehn (eighteen).
- The 'ein' in einundzwanzig often loses its final 's' from the nominative 'eins' when it is used within these compound numbers.
Examples in context
- Der Vortrag dauert einundzwanzig Minuten.The lecture lasts twenty-one minutes.
- einundzwanzigDas kostet einundzwanzig Euro.
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are checking the price of a book in a shop.
- HannahWie viel kostet das Buch?How much does the book cost?
- JulianEs kostet einundzwanzig Euro.It costs twenty-one euros.
- HannahDas ist ein guter Preis.That is a good price.
- JulianJa, kauf es doch!Yes, go ahead and buy it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “twenty-one” translations and entries einundzwanzig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
