eins

Eins is the German cardinal number for one. It denotes a single unit and is used when counting or identifying the first item in a set, as in the sequence eins, zwei, drei. Unlike the indefinite article ein, which accompanies a noun, eins can function as a standalone substantive when the noun is omitted, for example Ich nehme eins.

Beyond simple counting, eins appears in common phrases and expressions. One-to-one is expressed as eins zu eins, and ranges can be described with von eins bis zehn (from one to ten). In some contexts eins also functions as a pronoun referring to a previously mentioned item, meaning “one (of them)” without repeating the noun.

Etymology and cognates: eins derives from the Proto-Germanic stem ainaz, related to the English word one and cognate with equivalents in other West Germanic languages, such as Dutch een and Afrikaans een. The form has been stabilized in German since the Old High German period, with the modern spelling eins reflecting its long-standing role as a numeral used both in counting and in fixed expressions.

See also: numbers in German, German grammar, numeral usage, counting in German.

Note: The term eins is distinct from the indefinite article ein; eins is used when counting or standing in for a noun, while ein precedes a noun to indicate “a” or “an.”