zählen

Zählen is a German verb meaning to count or enumerate, i.e., to determine a total by listing or numbering items. It is used in everyday language and in mathematics to describe the act of counting in a sequence, such as counting from one to ten. The related noun das Zählen denotes the process or act of counting. In addition, the verb appears in idiomatic phrases such as das zählt meaning that something matters, or to count someone as part of a group (zum Beispiel: Wir zählen ihn zu den Experten).

The word is historically linked to the noun Zahl, which means number. Both forms share a common root related to counting and values. The verb counts as a regular German verb and forms its present tense with umlaut in the singular (ich zähle, du zählst, er zählt) and standard endings for other persons (wir zählen, ihr zählt, sie zählen). The past participle is gezählt, used with sein or haben in different tenses depending on construction.

Usage and scope extend from simple arithmetic to social and linguistic contexts. Examples include counting objects, counting people in a room, or discussing importance (das zählt). In mathematics and computer science, terms such as Zähler (counter or meter) and Zähltheorie (counting theory) appear. Adjectives like zählbar (countable) and unzählbar (uncountable) describe the feasibility of counting a set.

See also: Zahl (number), Zählung, Zähler, Zähltheorie.