How Do You Say One in German? - Master Eins and Ein
How do you say “one” in German? The word can be translated as either eins or ein, depending on the context.
2,500 most common German words with IPA pronunciation & bilingual example sentences
Difference between Eins and Ein in German
The word eins is used for counting sequentially: eins, zwei, drei. It does not have any endings but cannot be placed before a noun. For instance:
- Eins, zwei, drei (one, two, three)
- Eins und drei macht vier (One plus three equals four)
- Es ist eins (It is one o'clock)
- Absatz eins (Paragraph 1) or Nummer eins (Number one)
- Eins muss ich dir sagen (I must tell you one thing)
- Sie waren eins mit dem Universum (They were in tune with the universe)
The word ein, on the other hand, functions like an indefinite article and is used when counting items or referring to singular nouns without specifying them. For example:
- Ich habe einen Hund (I have a dog)
- Note that ein changes its form based on gender and case.
Pronunciation Guide for Eins and Ein in German
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Browse all 4 volumes →To ensure clarity in pronunciation, remember that both words are pronounced as [aɪ̯n] or [aɪ̯ns]. The difference lies in their usage context rather than sound. Here’s a quick audio guide:
Example Sentences Using Eins and Ein
- Eins, zwei, drei (one, two, three)
- Eins und drei macht vier (One plus three equals four)
- Es ist eins (It is one o'clock)
- Absatz eins (Paragraph 1) or Nummer eins (Number one)
- Eins muss ich dir sagen (I must tell you one thing)
- Sie waren eins mit dem Universum (They were in tune with the universe)
- Ich habe einen Hund (I have a dog)
Comparison of Eins and Ein with Other Languages
In English, “one” is used both for counting and as an indefinite article. However, in German, these functions are separated into eins (counting) and ein (indefinite article). This distinction is similar to how other languages like French differentiate between un (counting) and une/un (indefinite article).
Common Mistakes When Using Eins and Ein in German
- Misusing eins before nouns instead of using the correct form of ein.
- Forgetting that ein changes based on gender and case.
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