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A2 numeral #1,500 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

Million

Top 1,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces Million en 30 secondes

Explication Million in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn basic numbers from one to one hundred, and eventually up to a million. The word 'Million' is introduced so you can understand large, impressive numbers, like the population of a country or the price of something extremely expensive. You just need to know that 'eine Million' means 1,000,000. It is a noun, so it is always capitalized. If you want to say two million, you add an '-en' at the end to make it 'zwei Millionen'. It is very simple to use in basic sentences like 'Das kostet eine Million Euro' (That costs one million euros). Practice counting: tausend, zehntausend, hunderttausend, eine Million!

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At the A2 level, you start using 'Million' in more practical, everyday contexts. You will read short texts about cities, and you will see sentences like 'Berlin hat fast vier Millionen Einwohner' (Berlin has almost four million inhabitants). You learn that because 'Million' is a feminine noun, you must use 'eine' for one, not 'ein'. You also learn to use it to exaggerate, such as 'Ich habe eine Million Dinge zu tun' (I have a million things to do). This is the level where you must firmly remember the plural form 'Millionen' when talking about two or more, which is a common mistake for English speakers who are used to saying 'two million' without a plural 's'.

At the B1 level, your interaction with the word 'Million' becomes more sophisticated. You will encounter it frequently in news articles, listening exercises about the economy, and discussions about social issues. You learn the structure 'Millionen von...' (millions of...), which is used for indefinite large quantities, such as 'Millionen von Menschen' (millions of people). You also start seeing compound nouns like 'Millionengewinn' (million-dollar profit) or 'Millionenstadt' (city with over a million inhabitants). Understanding the difference between exact numbers (zwei Millionen Menschen) and indefinite numbers (Millionen von Menschen) is a key grammatical milestone at this intermediate stage.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to handle complex texts where 'Million' is part of detailed statistical or financial reporting. You will easily navigate the 'false friend' trap between the German 'Milliarde' (billion) and the English 'billion', knowing exactly where 'Million' fits in the hierarchy (Tausend, Million, Milliarde). You will use advanced compound words naturally, such as 'millionenschwer' (worth millions) or 'Millionenpublikum' (audience of millions). You can discuss abstract concepts, state budgets, and global demographics fluently, using 'Million' and its derivatives without hesitation, ensuring correct noun capitalization and pluralization automatically in your writing.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'Million' is near-native. You understand subtle stylistic nuances and idiomatic expressions involving the word. You can effortlessly read complex economic analyses, scientific papers, or political commentary where figures in the millions are cited rapidly. You might use phrases like 'ein Projekt in Millionenhöhe' (a project in the millions) or understand colloquialisms and historical references involving hyperinflation where millions and billions were everyday terms. Your command of the grammar surrounding large numbers—including declensions in various cases when used with prepositions or as part of complex noun phrases—is flawless and precise.

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At the C2 level, 'Million' is a fully integrated part of your expansive vocabulary. You can play with the word stylistically, using it in creative writing, rhetorical speeches, or deep academic discourse. You understand every regional variation, historical context, and compound iteration of the word. You can debate macroeconomic policies, critique statistical methodologies involving millions of data points, and use hyperbole with native-like intuition. You recognize the rhythmic and poetic uses of the word in literature and can generate complex, flawless German text that incorporates large numerical values with absolute grammatical and stylistic perfection.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

Million en 30 secondes

Large number
1,000,000
Feminine noun
Capitalized

The German word for million is a noun, capitalized as Million. Understanding how to use large numbers in German is essential for discussing economics, population statistics, and exaggerations in daily life. Unlike English, where million is often treated as an adjective-like number (e.g., two million people), in German, Million is a feminine noun: die Million. When you have more than one, it takes a plural form: die Millionen. This fundamental difference dictates its grammatical behavior across all contexts.

Grammar Rule: Always capitalize Million because it is a noun, not just a numeral.

Das kostet eine Million Euro.

When constructing sentences, you must remember that as a noun, it interacts with other nouns differently. If you say 'one million euros', you say 'eine Million Euro'. The currency often remains singular. If you say 'two million people', you say 'zwei Millionen Menschen'. Notice the plural 'en' on Millionen.

Pluralization: The plural of die Million is die Millionen. Always use the plural form for numbers two and above.

Die Stadt hat drei Millionen Einwohner.

Furthermore, when expressing 'millions of', German uses 'Millionen von'. For example, 'Millionen von Sternen' means millions of stars. This is very similar to English structure and is easy for learners to grasp.

Preposition Usage: Use 'von' + Dative when saying 'millions of [something]' indefinitely.

Es gibt Millionen von Möglichkeiten.

Er hat eine Million Fragen gestellt.

Der Film kostete 50 Millionen Dollar.

Mastering this word opens up the ability to read German news, understand demographic data, and participate in conversations about budgets, lotteries, and large-scale phenomena. The capitalization rule is the most frequent stumbling block for beginners, but once internalized, it becomes second nature.

Using the word Million correctly in German sentences requires attention to its status as a feminine noun. This means it must be preceded by feminine articles or adjectives when singular, such as 'eine', 'jede', or 'die'. When discussing exact figures, the syntax is straightforward but strict. You say 'eine Million' (one million), 'zwei Millionen' (two million), and so forth. Notice that the noun following the million does not need a preposition if it's a direct quantification, such as 'zwei Millionen Menschen' (two million people).

Direct Quantification: Number + Millionen + Noun (no preposition needed for exact numbers).

Wir brauchen eine Million Unterschriften.

However, if you are using it in an indefinite sense, meaning 'millions of', you must use the preposition 'von'. For example, 'Millionen von Zuschauern' (millions of viewers). This distinguishes between an exact count and a hyperbolic or estimated vast quantity.

Indefinite Quantities: Millionen + von + Dative Noun (used for estimates or exaggeration).

Millionen von Tieren wandern jedes Jahr.

In compound words, the singular form is typically used as the root. For instance, 'der Millionär' (the millionaire) or 'der Millionengewinn' (the million-dollar prize). Notice the connecting 'en' in compound nouns formed with Million.

Compound Nouns: Use 'Millionen' as the prefix for compound words related to millions.

Das ist ein Millionenprojekt.

Sie hat ein Millionenpublikum erreicht.

Ich bin keine Million wert.

Practicing these structures will make your German sound much more natural. Remember the gender, the pluralization, and the specific rules for compounding, and you will navigate large numbers with ease.

The word Million is ubiquitous in everyday German life, especially in contexts involving news, economics, and demographics. If you watch the Tagesschau (German daily news), you will frequently hear reports about state budgets, corporate profits, and population statistics, all of which rely heavily on this word. For instance, discussions about the European Union's funding or national debt will constantly feature terms like 'Millionen' and 'Milliarden' (billions).

News Media: Frequently used in journalism to report on finances, casualties, or demographics.

Das Projekt wird rund zehn Millionen Euro kosten.

In casual conversation, it is often used for exaggeration. Just as in English, a German speaker might say they have 'a million things to do' to express being overwhelmed. This figurative use is universally understood and adds color to everyday speech.

Exaggeration: Used metaphorically to mean 'a very large amount' of something.

Ich habe dir das schon eine Million Mal gesagt!

Lotteries are another common place to encounter the word. The dream of winning 'den Millionen-Jackpot' is a frequent topic of lighthearted conversation. Advertisements for the lottery will prominently display the word to attract players.

Lottery and Gaming: Used to describe jackpots and winnings.

Er hat eine Million im Lotto gewonnen.

Über achtzig Millionen Menschen leben in Deutschland.

Das Video hat zwei Millionen Klicks.

Whether you are reading a business report, watching a YouTube video with 'Millionen Klicks', or just chatting with friends, this word is an unavoidable and essential part of the German vocabulary.

English speakers frequently make specific errors when using the word Million in German, primarily because they treat it as an adjective rather than a noun. The most common mistake is failing to pluralize it. In English, we say 'two million', but in German, it must be 'zwei Millionen'. Forgetting the '-en' suffix is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker.

Missing Plural: Incorrect: zwei Million. Correct: zwei Millionen.

Falsch: drei Million. Richtig: drei Millionen.

Another frequent error is the gender. Because it is a feminine noun (die Million), the number one preceding it must be feminine: 'eine'. Saying 'ein Million' is grammatically incorrect. Always remember that it acts as a noun container for the quantity.

Wrong Gender: Incorrect: ein Million. Correct: eine Million.

Ich hätte gern eine Million Euro.

Capitalization is also a persistent issue. In written German, all nouns are capitalized. Writing 'eine million' with a lowercase 'm' is a spelling error. This rule applies regardless of where the word appears in the sentence.

Lowercase Error: Always capitalize the 'M' in Million.

Wir haben eine Million Gründe.

Es kostet fast zwei Millionen.

Sie spendeten Millionen für den guten Zweck.

By avoiding these three common pitfalls—failing to pluralize, using the wrong gender for 'ein', and forgetting to capitalize—you will instantly elevate the accuracy of your written and spoken German when dealing with large figures.

When learning the word Million, it is highly beneficial to learn the surrounding large numbers in German, as they form a logical sequence but contain a massive 'false friend' trap for English speakers. The sequence goes: Tausend (thousand), Million (million), Milliarde (billion), Billion (trillion). Notice the trap? The German 'Billion' is NOT the English 'billion'.

Milliarde vs Billion: German 'Milliarde' = English 'billion' (1,000,000,000). German 'Billion' = English 'trillion' (1,000,000,000,000).

Eine Million ist weniger als eine Milliarde.

This is because German uses the long scale for numbers, whereas modern English uses the short scale. A Million is the same in both (10^6), but after that, they diverge. Understanding this is critical for reading financial news or scientific data in German.

Tausend: Tausend means thousand. Unlike Million, it is usually not capitalized when used as a standard number (e.g., zwei tausend).

Hunderttausend ist ein Zehntel von einer Million.

Other related terms include 'der Millionär' (millionaire) and 'das Millionstel' (the millionth part). These derivatives follow standard German morphology, adding suffixes to the root word to create new meanings.

Fractions: Add '-stel' to create the fraction: das Millionstel.

Er ist ein echter Millionär.

Die Chance steht eins zu einer Million.

Das ist ein Millionengeschäft.

By comparing Million to its numeric neighbors, you build a robust mental framework for dealing with all large quantities in the German language, ensuring you never accidentally promise a trillion when you meant a billion!

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Capitalization of Nouns

Pluralization of Nouns ending in -on

Feminine Articles (eine, die)

Preposition 'von' with Dative for quantities

Numbers and Currency (singular Euro)

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Exemples par niveau

Das ist eine Million.

That is one million.

'eine' is used because Million is feminine.

Ich habe eine Million Euro.

I have one million euros.

Euro remains singular after numbers.

Zwei Millionen ist viel.

Two million is a lot.

Plural form 'Millionen'.

Das Haus kostet eine Million.

The house costs one million.

Basic subject-verb-object structure.

Eine Million Menschen leben hier.

One million people live here.

No preposition needed between Million and Menschen.

Er will eine Million haben.

He wants to have a million.

Modal verb 'will' with infinitive 'haben'.

Wir sind eine Million.

We are one million.

Simple copula sentence.

Zählen bis eine Million.

Counting to one million.

Preposition 'bis' used for limits.

Berlin hat fast vier Millionen Einwohner.

Berlin has almost four million inhabitants.

Plural 'Millionen' used with exact number.

Sie hat im Lotto eine Million gewonnen.

She won a million in the lottery.

Past participle 'gewonnen' at the end.

Ich habe dir das eine Million Mal gesagt!

I have told you that a million times!

Exaggeration using 'eine Million Mal'.

Das Auto kostet eine halbe Million.

The car costs half a million.

Adjective 'halbe' modifying Million.

Es gibt Millionen Sterne am Himmel.

There are millions of stars in the sky.

'Es gibt' + accusative.

Über eine Million Touristen kommen jedes Jahr.

Over a million tourists come every year.

'Über' used to mean 'more than'.

Das Video hat zwei Millionen Klicks.

The video has two million clicks.

Modern internet vocabulary.

Wir brauchen eine Million Euro für das Projekt.

We need one million euros for the project.

'für' + accusative.

Millionen von Menschen protestierten auf den Straßen.

Millions of people protested on the streets.

'Millionen von' + Dative used for indefinite large amounts.

Der Schaden geht in die Millionen.

The damage runs into the millions.

Idiomatic expression 'in die Millionen gehen'.

Das Unternehmen machte einen Millionengewinn.

The company made a million-dollar profit.

Compound noun 'Millionengewinn'.

München ist eine bekannte Millionenstadt in Deutschland.

Munich is a well-known city of millions in Germany.

Compound noun 'Millionenstadt'.

Die Wahrscheinlichkeit ist eins zu einer Million.

The probability is one in a million.

Expression of probability.

Er erbte ein Vermögen von mehreren Millionen.

He inherited a fortune of several millions.

'mehreren' indicating an unspecified plural amount.

Täglich werden Millionen Liter Wasser verbraucht.

Millions of liters of water are consumed daily.

Passive voice 'werden... verbraucht'.

Das Gemälde wurde für 50 Millionen versteigert.

The painting was auctioned for 50 million.

Passive voice in the past 'wurde... versteigert'.

Der Konzern investiert einen dreistelligen Millionenbetrag in neue Technologien.

The corporation is investing a three-digit million amount in new technologies.

Complex compound 'Millionenbetrag' with adjective 'dreistelligen'.

Trotz der Krise konnte ein Millionenpublikum erreicht werden.

Despite the crisis, an audience of millions could be reached.

Passive with modal verb 'konnte... erreicht werden'.

Die Staatsverschuldung stieg um weitere 500 Millionen Euro an.

The national debt rose by a further 500 million euros.

Separable verb 'anstiegen' in the Präteritum.

Es handelt sich um ein millionenschweres Hilfspaket der Regierung.

It concerns a multi-million government relief package.

Adjective 'millionenschwer' used attributively.

Die App wurde bereits zig Millionen Mal heruntergeladen.

The app has already been downloaded tens of millions of times.

Colloquial prefix 'zig' meaning 'tens of'.

Ein Bruchteil eines Millionstels reicht aus, um die Reaktion auszulösen.

A fraction of a millionth is enough to trigger the reaction.

Genitive case with the fraction 'eines Millionstels'.

Die Spendenaktion brachte eine Rekordsumme in Millionenhöhe ein.

The fundraising campaign brought in a record sum in the millions.

Phrase 'in Millionenhöhe'.

Er fühlte sich wie einer unter Millionen, völlig unbedeutend.

He felt like one in a million, completely insignificant.

Metaphorical use expressing insignificance.

Die Diskrepanz zwischen den geschätzten und den tatsächlichen Kosten belief sich auf eine halbe Million.

The discrepancy between the estimated and actual costs amounted to half a million.

Reflexive verb 'sich belaufen auf' for amounts.

Angesichts von Millionen von Flüchtlingen stand Europa vor einer beispiellosen Herausforderung.

In the face of millions of refugees, Europe faced an unprecedented challenge.

Preposition 'Angesichts' + Genitive/Dative.

Der CEO verteidigte seine millionenschwere Abfindung vor den Aktionären.

The CEO defended his multi-million severance package in front of the shareholders.

Advanced vocabulary 'Abfindung' (severance).

Subventionen in zweistelliger Millionenhöhe wurden vom Parlament bewilligt.

Subsidies in the double-digit millions were approved by parliament.

Complex noun phrase 'in zweistelliger Millionenhöhe'.

Die Inflation entwertete das Geld so sehr, dass eine Million Mark praktisch wertlos war.

Inflation devalued the money so much that a million marks was practically worthless.

Historical context, 'entwertete' (devalued).

Es bedarf eines Millionenaufwands, um die historische Bausubstanz zu retten.

It requires an expenditure of millions to save the historical building fabric.

Verb 'bedürfen' + Genitive ('eines Millionenaufwands').

Die Studie stützt sich auf einen Datensatz von mehreren Millionen Einträgen.

The study relies on a dataset of several million entries.

'sich stützen auf' + Accusative.

Der Skandal zog Schadensersatzforderungen in dreistelliger Millionenhöhe nach sich.

The scandal resulted in claims for damages in the hundreds of millions.

Idiom 'etwas nach sich ziehen' (to entail/result in).

Die schiere Omnipräsenz von Millionen-Budgets in der Filmindustrie verfälscht die künstlerische Integrität.

The sheer omnipresence of multi-million budgets in the film industry distorts artistic integrity.

Highly academic vocabulary and abstract concepts.

Ein derartiges Unterfangen würde unweigerlich Ressourcen in astronomischer Millionenhöhe verschlingen.

Such an undertaking would inevitably devour resources in the astronomical millions.

Strong verbs ('verschlingen') and complex adjectives.

Der Fiskus verzeichnete Steuerausfälle, die kumuliert in die hunderte Millionen gingen.

The treasury recorded tax shortfalls that cumulatively ran into the hundreds of millions.

Specialized financial terminology ('Fiskus', 'Steuerausfälle').

Er jonglierte mit Millionenbeträgen, als handelte es sich um bloßes Spielgeld.

He juggled millions as if it were mere play money.

Irrealis comparison 'als handelte es sich um' (Konjunktiv II).

Die demografische Entwicklung prognostiziert einen Rückgang um mehrere Millionen Erwerbspersonen.

Demographic trends forecast a decline of several million people in the labor force.

Scientific/sociological register.

Das Projekt scheiterte nicht an der Konzeption, sondern an der fehlenden Millionenfinanzierung.

The project failed not due to its conception, but due to the lack of million-dollar financing.

'nicht an X, sondern an Y' structure.

Selbst wenn man ihm Millionen böte, würde er seine Prinzipien nicht verraten.

Even if one offered him millions, he would not betray his principles.

Konjunktiv II ('böte' from 'bieten').

Die Metropole, ein Schmelztiegel von Abermillionen Schicksalen, pulsierte unaufhörlich.

The metropolis, a melting pot of countless millions of destinies, pulsated incessantly.

Poetic use of 'Abermillionen' (countless millions).

Collocations courantes

eine Million Euro

zwei Millionen Menschen

Millionen von Dollar

ein Millionenpublikum

in die Millionen gehen

eine halbe Million

knapp eine Million

mehrere Millionen

Millionen scheffeln

einen Millionengewinn machen

Phrases Courantes

eine Million Mal

eins zu einer Million

in die Millionen gehen

wie eine Million Dollar aussehen

Millionen von Menschen

eine halbe Million

knapp eine Million

über eine Million

Millionen scheffeln

ein Millionenpublikum erreichen

Souvent confondu avec

Million vs Milliarde (billion)

Million vs Billion (trillion)

Million vs Tausend (thousand)

Expressions idiomatiques

"wie eine Million Dollar aussehen"

"in die Millionen gehen"

"eins zu einer Million"

"Millionen scheffeln"

"auf einer Million sitzen"

"ein Gesicht unter Millionen"

"Millionen verpulvern"

"ein Millionen-Ding"

"die Millionen-Frage"

"Millionen machen"

Facile à confondre

Million vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

historical shifts

During the hyperinflation of 1923 in the Weimar Republic, 'Million' became a small denomination, quickly replaced by 'Milliarde' and 'Billion' in everyday speech.

regional variations

Understood uniformly across all German-speaking regions (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). In Switzerland, the abbreviation 'Mio.' is also standard, but they use an apostrophe as a thousands separator: 1'000'000.

Erreurs courantes

Saying 'ein Million' instead of 'eine Million'.
Writing 'million' with a lowercase 'm'.
Saying 'zwei Million' instead of 'zwei Millionen'.
Confusing English 'billion' with German 'Billion' (it should be Milliarde).
Using a comma as a thousands separator (1,000,000 instead of 1.000.000).

Astuces

Feminine Article

Always pair the number 1 with the feminine article: 'eine Million'. Never say 'ein Million'.

Capitalization

Always capitalize the 'M' in Million, as it is a noun in German.

Pluralization

Add '-en' for numbers 2 and above: 'zwei Millionen', 'drei Millionen'.

False Friend Alert

Remember that English 'billion' is German 'Milliarde'. Don't use 'Billion' unless you mean trillion!

Thousands Separator

Use a period (.) to separate thousands in numbers: 1.000.000.

Decimals

Use a comma (,) for decimals: 1,5 Millionen means 1.5 million.

Abbreviation

Use 'Mio.' when you want to abbreviate Million in written texts.

No Preposition for Exacts

Say 'zwei Millionen Menschen', not 'zwei Millionen von Menschen'.

Preposition for Indefinites

Say 'Millionen von Menschen' when you mean 'millions of people' generally.

Stress the O

Pronounce it with the stress on the 'o': Mil-li-ON.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a MILL with an ION engine producing a MILLION coins. The machine is a lady (die) and when she makes two, she adds an 'en' (Millionen).

Origine du mot

Borrowed in the 15th century from Italian 'milione', an augmentative of 'mille' (thousand), literally meaning 'a great thousand'.

Contexte culturel

'Mio.' is the standard written abbreviation. Slang terms for a million euros sometimes include 'eine Kiste' (a box) or 'eine Melone' (a melon, playing on the sound).

Being a 'Millionär' in Germany is often viewed with a mix of admiration and skepticism, reflecting a cultural tendency towards modesty regarding personal wealth compared to some other Western cultures.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Was würdest du tun, wenn du eine Million Euro im Lotto gewinnen würdest?"

"Glaubst du, dass man mit einer Million heute noch reich ist?"

"Wie viele Millionen Einwohner hat deine Heimatstadt?"

"Warum wollen so viele Menschen Millionär werden?"

"Hast du schon mal ein Video mit über einer Million Klicks gesehen?"

Sujets d'écriture

Beschreibe deinen perfekten Tag, wenn du eine Million Euro hättest.

Ist eine Million Euro genug, um nie wieder arbeiten zu müssen? Begründe deine Meinung.

Schreibe eine kurze Geschichte über jemanden, der eine Million verliert.

Wie hat sich der Wert von einer Million im letzten Jahrhundert verändert?

Was ist das teuerste Ding, das du für unter eine Million kaufen würdest?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Because 'Million' is a feminine noun in German (die Million). Therefore, it requires the feminine indefinite article 'eine'. You must treat it grammatically like any other feminine noun, such as 'eine Frau' or 'eine Katze'.

Yes, always. In German, all nouns are capitalized. Since 'Million' functions as a noun and not just an adjective-like number, it must start with a capital 'M' in written text.

The plural is 'Millionen'. Whenever you are talking about two or more millions, you must add the '-en' suffix. For example, 'zwei Millionen', 'drei Millionen'.

No! This is a massive false friend. The English 'billion' (1,000,000,000) translates to the German 'Milliarde'. The German 'Billion' is 1,000,000,000,000, which is an English 'trillion'.

The standard abbreviation is 'Mio.'. It is widely used in journalism, finance, and business writing. You might see '10 Mio. Euro' for ten million euros.

If you give an exact number, no: 'zwei Millionen Menschen'. If you use it indefinitely to mean 'millions of', yes, use 'von': 'Millionen von Menschen'.

Usually, no. In German, masculine and neuter units of measurement or currency remain singular after numbers. So it is 'eine Million Euro' or 'zwei Millionen Dollar', not 'Euros' or 'Dollars'.

Germans use a dot (.) or a thin space as a thousands separator, not a comma. So you write 1.000.000 or 1 000 000. A comma is used for decimals (e.g., 1,5 Millionen = 1.5 million).

It is an idiom that translates to 'running into the millions'. It is typically used to describe costs, damages, or losses that are escalating to a very high amount.

Not directly. You cannot say 'ein millionen Mann'. You must form a compound noun, like 'ein Millionenpublikum' (an audience of millions) or use an adjective derived from it, like 'millionenschwer' (worth millions).

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