01
zwanzig
twenty
The cardinal number 20; the number between nineteen and twenty-one.
example
Das Buch hat etwas mehr als zwanzig Euro gekostet.
The book cost a little more than twenty euros.
zwanzig
twenty
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Meanings
Usage tips
Forming numbers
The numbers from 21 to 29 are formed according to the pattern 'ones and tens'. You say the ones digit first, then 'und' (and), then 'zwanzig' (twenty).
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwester ist dreiundzwanzig Jahre alt.
My sister is twenty-three years old.
Word structure
The ending '-zig' is used for most tens numbers in German (vierzig, fünfzig, etc.). The first part 'zwan-' is historically related to the number 'zwei' (two).
EXAMPLE
Der Bus mit der Nummer vierzig fährt direkt zum Bahnhof.
The bus with the number forty goes directly to the train station.
Ages
To give an approximate age, the phrases 'Anfang zwanzig' (early twenties), 'Mitte zwanzig' (mid-twenties), or 'Ende zwanzig' (late twenties) are often used.
EXAMPLE
Die meisten Studenten in diesem Kurs sind Mitte zwanzig.
Most of the students in this course are in their mid-twenties.
Compare with
zwanzig vs zwei
two
'zwei' and 'zwanzig' are both numbers, but they mean very different quantities. 'zwei' means the number 2, while 'zwanzig' means the number 20. Learners may confuse them because both begin similarly with 'zwan-' or 'zw-' and can sound similar in fast conversations. The ending is important: 'zwei' is short, while 'zwanzig' is longer and has the ending '-zig'. With prices, times, or quantities, this difference makes a big difference.
zwanzig
Wegen des Wetters warten zwanzig Leute im Eingang.
Because of the weather, twenty people are waiting in the entrance.
zwei
Vor dem Termin habe ich noch zwei Fragen.
Before the appointment, I still have two questions.
In real life
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