Measure Words After Numbers

Level 2

After a number, say zwee Liter, véier Kilo, fënnef Euro and dräi Joer, not an -en plural. But say zwou Stonnen, dräi Deeg and zwou Fläschen.

How It Works

When you count units of measure, many of them do not change after a number. The word you need comes straight after the number, with no word for "of": zwee Liter Mëllech (two litres of milk). See quantity + noun.

Units that keep their short form.

  • Measures: zwee Liter, véier Kilo, zwee Meter, 20 Gramm, zwanzeg Grad
  • Money: fënnef Euro, honnert Euro
  • Years: dräi Joer, zéng Joer

These words do have a longer plural, such as Literen, Kiloen and Joren. You hear it when there is no number, for a large amount that nobody counts: Literen a Literen Esseg (litres and litres of vinegar), hien ass scho bei Joren (he is getting on in years).

Units that take a plural. Feminine units and most other time words use their normal plural after a number:

  • zwou Stonnen (two hours), fënnef Minutten (five minutes)
  • zwou Tase Kaffi (two cups of coffee), zwou Fläsche Wäin (two bottles of wine)
  • dräi Deeg (three days), zwou Wochen (two weeks), zwee Méint (two months)

Remember that feminine nouns take zwou for two: zwou Stonnen. See zwee and zwou. A plural that ends in -en also follows the n-rule: dräi Stonne laang.

Auer and Stonn. Auer tells the time on the clock, and it never changes: ëm dräi Auer (at three o'clock). For how long something lasts, use Stonn: dräi Stonnen (three hours). See telling the time.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech drénken all Dag zwee Liter Waasser.

    I drink two litres of water every day.

    Liter stays the same after zwee.

  2. Ech brauch nach véier Kilo Gromperen.

    I still need four kilos of potatoes.

    Kilo keeps its short form, and the food follows directly.

  3. Dat Buch kascht zwanzeg Euro.

    That book costs twenty euros.

    Euro does not change after a number.

  4. Mäi Brudder wunnt zanter dräi Joer zu Lëtzebuerg.

    My brother has lived in Luxembourg for three years.

    Joer is the same after dräi.

  5. De Film dauert zwou Stonnen.

    The film lasts two hours.

    Stonn is feminine, so it takes the plural and zwou.

  6. An der Dier vum Frigo stinn zwou Fläsche Wäin.

    There are two bottles of wine in the fridge door.

    Fläsch takes the plural Fläschen, which becomes Fläsche before W.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -en to a measure after a number.

    Ech hu véier Kiloen Äppel kaaft.
    Ech hu véier Kilo Äppel kaaft.

    After a number, Kilo keeps its short form. The -en plural Kiloen is for large amounts with no number, as in Kiloen a Kiloen.

  • Leaving a feminine unit in the singular.

    De Film dauert zwou Stonn.
    De Film dauert zwou Stonnen.

    Stonn is feminine, and feminine units take their plural after a number: zwou Stonnen.

  • Using Auer for a length of time.

    Ech hunn dräi Auer gewaart.
    Ech hunn dräi Stonne gewaart.

    Auer gives the time on the clock, as in ëm dräi Auer. For how long something lasts, use Stonnen.

How It Connects

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

Measure Words After NumbersLevel 2

Learn This First

Before Measure Words After Numbers, learn Amounts Without Of, Two: Zwee and Zwou and Plurals With -en.

Words in This Pattern

LiterKiloMeterGrammJoer