drei

Drei is the German word for the number three. It is a cardinal numeral used for counting and indicating quantity, as in drei Bücher (three books) or drei Stunden (three hours). It also appears in dates and times, for example Es ist drei Uhr (It is three o'clock).

Etymology: The word derives from Old High German drî and is cognate with Dutch drie, English three, and Swedish tre. It traces back to the Proto-Germanic form *þrīz, itself from the Proto-Indo-European root *tréyes, the source of related numerals in many Indo-European languages.

Usage and grammar: In German, drei is invariable in form and does not change with gender or number; adjectives or determiners used with it are declined, as in drei große Häuser. In compound numbers, drei combines with other numerals: dreizehn (thirteen), vierzehn (fourteen), dreiunddreißig (33), and dreihundert (300). In time expressions, drei Uhr or um drei Uhr is standard.

Cultural and linguistic notes: The word Drei also appears in titles or names in German-speaking contexts and as part of idioms and fixed phrases. As a basic unit of counting, it is one of the first numerals learned in German.