Numbers Above 20

Level 1

Danish numbers from 21 to 99 are formed by saying the units first, then og (and), then the tens. Tens from 50 to 90 use a unique base-20 logic.

How It Works

To form numbers above 20 in Danish, you must follow two specific rules:

1. The 'Backwards' Order
For any number between tens (like 21, 35, 99), you state the single digit first, add og, and then the ten. They are written as one word.

  • 21: enogtyve (one-and-twenty)
  • 35: femogtredive (five-and-thirty)

2. The Vigesimal (Base-20) Tens
While 20, 30, and 40 are straightforward, the higher tens are based on the old 'score' (20) system:

  • 50: halvtreds (short for 2.5 × 20)
  • 60: tres (short for 3 × 20)
  • 70: halvfjerds (short for 3.5 × 20)
  • 80: firs (short for 4 × 20)
  • 90: halvfems (short for 4.5 × 20)

Note that halv- in these numbers means 'halfway to the next whole number'. For example, halvtreds uses the old word for 2.5 (halfway to three).

Examples (5)

  1. Der er toogtyve elever i klassen.

    There are twenty-two students in the class.

    Word by Word: There are two-and-twenty students in the-class.

    Notice how 22 is formed: 'to' (2) + 'og' (and) + 'tyve' (20).

  2. Bogen koster niogtredive kroner.

    The book costs thirty-nine kroner.

    Word by Word: The-book costs nine-and-thirty kroner.

    39 follows the same pattern: 'ni' (9) + 'og' (and) + 'tredive' (30).

  3. Min bedstemor fylder femoghalvfjerds i morgen.

    My grandmother turns seventy-five tomorrow.

    Word by Word: My grandmother fills five-and-seventy tomorrow.

    75 is 'fem' (5) + 'og' (and) + 'halvfjerds' (70).

  4. Han er fireogfirs år gammel.

    He is eighty-four years old.

    Word by Word: He is four-and-eighty years old.

    84 is 'fire' (4) + 'og' (and) + 'firs' (80).

  5. Huset koster to millioner og femoghalvtreds tusind kroner.

    The house costs two million and fifty-five thousand kroner.

    Word by Word: The-house costs two millions and five-and-fifty thousand kroner.

    Even in large numbers, the 55 part remains 'femoghalvtreds'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the English word order (tens before ones).

    tyve-en
    enogtyve

    In Danish, you must always say the units first, followed by 'og' and then the tens.

  • Saying 'halvfems' when you mean 50.

    Different MeaningJeg er halvfems år gammel.
    Jeg er halvtreds år gammel.

    Learners often mix these up because they both start with 'halv-'. Remember that 'treds' relates to 3 (2.5 scores) and 'fems' relates to 5 (4.5 scores).

  • Writing the numbers as separate words.

    fem og fyrre
    femogfyrre

    In Danish, compound numbers are written as a single, continuous word.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Numbers Above 20Level 1

Learn This First

To learn numbers above 20, you must first be familiar with the basic digits 1-10 and how to use the conjunction 'og' to join the ones and tens units.

Words in This Pattern

tyvetredivefyrrefyrretyvetreshalvfjerdsfirshalvfemshundredehundred