a / one
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a / an
Indefinite article that accompanies a masculine noun in the singular nominative or a neuter noun in the singular nominative or accusative. Before a feminine noun, its form in the nominative and accusative is 'eine' (a/an).
Ein Mann kauft ein Auto.
A man is buying a car.
one
Cardinal number for the digit 1 when it refers to a masculine or neuter noun and is stressed. With a feminine noun, its form in the nominative and accusative is 'eine' (one).
Ich möchte bitte nur ein Brötchen, nicht zwei.
I would like just one bread roll, please, not two.
The endings of 'ein' (a/one) are the pattern for a whole group of words, which also includes 'kein' (no/not any) and the possessive articles (mein, dein, sein, etc.). If you learn the declension of 'ein', you can also use all these other words correctly.
Das ist ein Hund, das ist mein Hund, und das ist kein Hund.
That is a dog, that is my dog, and that is not a dog.
When 'ein' (one) stands alone without a noun, it gets an ending. For masculine nouns it becomes 'einer', for neuter nouns usually 'eins', and for feminine nouns 'eine'.
Ist hier ein Arzt? – Ja, ich bin einer.
Is there a doctor here? – Yes, I am one.
In two important cases, 'ein' (a/an) has no ending: before a masculine noun in the nominative and before a neuter noun in the nominative and accusative.
Ein Mann steht vor der Tür.
A man is standing at the door.
Whether 'ein' means an indefinite article or the number word '1' depends on the stress. As a number word, it is strongly stressed to indicate a quantity.
Ich hätte gern ein Brötchen.
I would like a bread roll.
Before a feminine noun in the singular, the form in the nominative and the accusative is 'eine' (a/an). You do not need to change the article between these two cases. The same ending '-e' is also found here in 'keine' (no/not any) and the possessive articles (meine, deine, seine).
Eine Frau wartet an der Haltestelle.
A woman is waiting at the stop.
one
Ein and eins both refer to the number 1. Ein comes before a masculine or neuter noun, while eins is used independently when counting or doing arithmetic. Before a noun, use ein; when the number stands alone, use eins.
Auf dem Tisch liegt ein Buch.
There is a book on the table.
Bitte zähle langsam: eins, zwei, drei.
Please count slowly: one, two, three.
