Italian Numbers: How to Count from 0 – 1,000+ in Italian
In this article, you will learn how to write, pronounce and understand Italian numbers, as well as:
- How to count from 0 – 1,000 + in Italian
- What to remember when learning Italian numbers
- Which mistakes to avoid when learning Italian
Learning how to count and say specific numbers is a key part of any foreign language. Not only does it come in handy when quantifying something, but it is also needed when we refer to dates, times, saying how old we are, reading recipes, etc.
Although learning a new language is challenging, learning how to count in Italian really is not too difficult.
Sure, there are certain numbers that you need to remember. But most of the numbers in Italian between 1 – 100 are part of a simple pattern, just like most Latin languages, including Spanish and Portuguese.
So, let’s hit the play button and discover how to count from 0 – 1,000+ in Italian.
Italian Numbers 1 – 100
Let’s look at the Italian numbers 1 to 100. Take a good look at these, and try to memorize as much as you can. Then, keep reading to find the best ways to remember them.
How to Count from 1 – 10 in Italian
1 – uno
2 – due
3 – tre
4 – quattro
5 – cinque
6 –sei
7 – sette
8 – otto
9 – nove
10 – dieci
How to Count from 11 – 100 in Italian
If you are new to learning languages then this may all seem a little overwhelming. But don't be too worried. If you look carefully and watch the video, you will see that most of these Italian numbers are part of a really simple pattern.
Firstly, you need to remember:
11 – undici
12 – dodici
These are nice and simple. Think about it, it's a bit like saying 'ten-one' (so, eleven) and 'ten-two' (so, twelve). You pronounce these numbers ‘un-dichie’ and ‘doh-dichie.’
There are some exceptions to this rule, but the 'c' in Italian is pronounced like 'ch' in English.
Teenage numbers in Italian
After 11 (undici) and 12 (dodici), there are a few more that you will need to remember.
13 – tredici
14 – quattordici
15 – quindici
Remember, the Italian pronunciation of the ultimate 'c' is a 'ch' sound.
Then, we have:
16 – sedici
17 – diciassete (note the extra 'a' in the number seventeen).
18 – diciotto
19 – diciannove
By now, you should have learned the word for 10 in Italian – dieci, as well as 6 – 9.
If you look carefully, you will see that 17 – 19 are simply 10 + the relevant number.
It looks just like this:
17 –ten and 7 (diciassete)
18 – ten and 8 (diciotto)
19 – ten and 9 (diciannove) - don't forget the 'an' before 'nove' here.
The next number, 20 in Italian is:
20 – venti
Multiples of 10 in Italian
Once you have learned how to count to twenty in Italian, we recommend learning the multiples of 10 (the tens) up to 100.
So:
20 – venti
30 – trenta
40 – quaranta
50 – cinquanta
60 – sessanta
70 – settanta
80 – ottanta
90 – novanta
100 – cento
How to Remember Italian Numbers with a Pattern
We really do recommend that you focus on and learn these numbers first before you continue.
Then, once you have learned the above in its entirety, the rest of the numbers between the multiples of 10 (dieci) are easy to memorize thanks to a really simple formula.
Remember what we learned for numbers 17 – 19.
You can take the word for 10 (dieci), take away the 'e' then add the digit.
“dici + (digit).”
For example:
“dieci + otto” = dieciotto, which contracts to diciotto.
Think about it – it’s just like English. Eight + ten = Sixteen. In Italian, it's the other way around.
Italian Numbers Above Twenty
For numbers above twenty in the Italian language, simply take the multiples of ten (venti, trenta, quaranta, cinquanta, sessanta, settanta, ottanta, novanta) and the smaller number (uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci). Then, make them into one word.
NOTE: There are some exceptions in which you remove the last 'a' of the larger number.
For example:
45 = “forty five” = quarantacinque.
56 = “fifty six” = cinquantasei.
98 = “ninety eight” =novantotto (note the last 'a' is gone).
72 = “seventy two” =settantadue.
A quick tip: As you may have noticed already, sixty and seventy in Italian are very similar! – sessanta – 60 and settanta – 70.
Make sure you remember which one is which early on to avoid confusion later!
Furthermore, when counting in Italian remember that numbers get contracted into a single word, instead of broken down into separate words like in English or German (but unlike French).
So, instead of “thirty two”, it would be “trentadue”.
There are two important numbers we have not covered:
zero = zero - easy to remember!)
100 = cento - note the link with English words that resemble this like:
“century”
“centipede”
“percent”
So, by taking the simple steps mentioned above, you’ll have the numbers 1-100 memorized in no time!
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-vLdY11oBk
Italian for “One”: Un, Uno, or Una?
If you have knowledge of Italian or you have been learning a new language while then you may have noticed that Italian doesn’t distinguish between “one” and “.” in the same way that English does.
“Una casa” can mean “a house” or “one house”.
It’s important to note that the word una changes to match the gender of the noun it describes.
Before a feminine noun, it stays as una (so with this vowel on the end).
Before a masculine noun, you drop the vowel 'a' and just use un.
The examples below should be useful for you.
Un letto – a bed/one bed. Drop the “a” from “una” because 'letto' is a masculine noun.
Una casa – a house/one house. Change “uno” to “una” because it’s followed by a feminine noun.
Ne ho una – “I have one”.
“Ci sono dubbi?” “Sì, ce n'è uno.” – “Any doubts?” “Yes, there is one”.
In this case, you use uno because you’re referring to a dubbio (doubt), which is a masculine word.
Italian for 100: Counting from 100 to 199 in Italian
In order to master large numbers, you only need to learn one simple rule or pattern, just as we've seen already.
For numbers from 100 to 109, except 104 and 105, use cento.
101 = centouno
102 = centodue
103 = centotré
104 = centroquattro (note the extra 'r')
105 = centroquince (note the extra 'r')
106 = centosei
Etc.
Say these two out loud or you may forget this rule.
Then, it's the same for 200-999 and beyond.
Counting from 200 to 999 in Italian
Just as we have learned the multiples of 10 in the first section of this text, we must now learn the multiples of 100.
You will see below that this is really straightforward.
200 = duecento
300 = trecento
400 = quattrocento
500 = cinquecento
600 = seicento
700 = settecento
800 = ottocento
900 = novecento
In order to say or spell the Italian numbers between 200 and 999, all you need to do is follow the same patterns as for 100 (cento):
201 = duecentouno
202 = duecentodos
220 = duecentoventi
221 = duecentoventiuno
Etc.
Italian Numbers From 1 Thousand to 1 Million
From this point, as you’ve learned every Italian number up until one thousand, there are only two new words that you will need to learn.
These are mille (1,000) and un milione (1,000,000).
The numbers below provide some examples of this. When writing numbers to make sentences, notice that sometimes we are making three words instead of contracting them into two.
1,000 = mille
1,001 = mille e uno
1,500 = mille e cinquecento
1,787 = millesettecentottantasette
2,001 = dos mil uno
30,000 = treinta mil
43,000 = cuarenta y tres mil
100,000 = cien mil
583,383 = cinquecentottantatremilasettecentottantasette
1,000,000 = un milione
4,000,000 = quattro milioni
7,493,000 = sette milioni quattrocentonovantatremila
9,651,933 = nove milioni e seicentocinquantunomilanovecentotrentatre
(Yikes! Try saying that in this beautiful foreign language after a drink or two!)
Summarizing Italian Numbers: How to Count When You Learn Italian
So, there we have it. We have taken you through a full list of Italian numbers from 0-1,000+.
We hope you have found this post useful. Italian is a beautiful language and you can't help but smile when you hear it. Students that learn it never regret doing so.
Even if it's just for a trip to a new country (such as Italy) or for the sake of learning a few new phrases, why not learn a new language today and broaden your horizons?
Focusing on numbers is a great place to start.
