drei
three
The cardinal number that follows the number 2 and comes before the number 4; the numeral 3.
EXAMPLE
Das Auto hat drei Jahre Garantie.
The car has a three-year warranty.
drei
three
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
nicht bis drei zählen können
to be unable to count to three
An idiom describing someone as being considered very stupid or simple-minded.
EXAMPLE
Er ist so begriffsstutzig, der kann ja nicht mal bis drei zählen.
He's so slow on the uptake, he can't even count to three.
aller guten Dinge sind drei
third time's the charm
A proverb expressing that a third attempt often leads to success, or that something is complete or especially good in a group of three.
EXAMPLE
Nach zwei Fehlschlägen hat es endlich geklappt – aller guten Dinge sind drei.
After two failures, it finally worked—third time's the charm.
Usage tips
Word structure
The number 'drei' (three) is the basis for many compound words. If you see 'drei-' at the beginning of a word, it almost always refers to the number.
EXAMPLE
Ein Kind mit einem Dreirad fuhr vorbei.
A child on a tricycle rode by.
Use as a noun
The number 'drei' (three) can also be used as a noun, for example to refer to a school grade or a house number. Then it is capitalized: 'die Drei' (the three).
EXAMPLE
Sie wohnt in der Hausnummer Drei.
She lives at house number three.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'nicht bis drei zählen können' (to be unable to count to three) is used to express that someone is perceived as very stupid or slow-thinking. It is never meant literally.
EXAMPLE
Frag ihn nicht nach dem Weg, der kann doch nicht bis drei zählen.
Don't ask him for directions; he can't even count to three.
Proverb
'Aller guten Dinge sind drei' (third time's the charm) is a well-known proverb. It is often used to encourage yourself or others when the first two attempts were unsuccessful.
EXAMPLE
Mein erster Kuchen war verbrannt, der zweite zu trocken. Aber aller guten Dinge sind drei!
My first cake was burned, the second was too dry. But third time's the charm!
Compare with
drei vs dritt
third
Drei states the number of people or things and can accompany a noun. Dritt refers here to a group of three people and is used in the fixed expression zu dritt. Use drei when counting, but zu dritt when three people are acting together.
drei
Drei Kollegen arbeiten heute gemeinsam an dem Projekt.
Three colleagues are working on the project together today.
dritt
Wir arbeiten heute zu dritt an dem Projekt.
The three of us are working on the project together today.
In real life
Loading video examples...