Understanding Numbers in Italian: Your Comprehensive Guide to All the Numbers

Can you imagine mastering any foreign language without learning numbers? Italian is no exception. Of course, it’s not the first thing to consider, as learners should initially study the alphabet, conjugations, greetings, and some simple phrases useful for communication with locals.

However, learning numbers is essential to reach the desired fluency level and feel confident in Italian. We are here to help you master all the numbers and expressions. Don’t pass by and read below.

Italian cardinal numbers

Italian cardinal numbers are the basic counting numbers, like one, two, three in the English language. They’re used for quantities, prices, ages, and anything that involves counting.

Mastering these numbers will help you navigate daily life situations, such as grocery shopping, telling the time, or giving phone numbers. Understanding Italian cardinal numbers also lays the foundation for learning more complex numerical concepts like ordinal numbers and large figures, making your journey to fluency smoother and more enjoyable.

Start with the basics: Numbers from 0 to 20

Every learner should know how to count in Italian; otherwise, they will be challenged to communicate with native speakers on different topics. Suppose you are visiting Italy and have to give your hotel address. Can you do it without knowing how to pronounce figures properly?

Or maybe you would like to order two cups of coffee in a cozy café in Roma. Of course, the language of gestures is also acceptable in the country, but it’s better to memorize the necessary terms and expressions. 

Let’s see how figures from zero to ten are written and pronounced in Italian at the table below:

Take a moment to review the information from the table above and try to incorporate the Italian numbers into your speech to build fluency.

Many say Italian is among the easiest second languages for English speakers. Even though they are from different groups, they share many similarities. On the other hand, Italian numbers are not so similar to those in English. In any case, once you see the patterns, learning them stands pretty easy.

Let’s pay attention to numbers from eleven to twenty and find out how to pronounce them:

Take time to comprehend everything listed above, as numbers from 1 to 20 are essential to move further and understand bigger figures. But mastering numeri italiani can be fun, especially when you use games or interactive apps like Promova to learn Italian!

Italian numbers from 21 to 100

Learning the first twenty numbers is a good start, but what if you need to name bigger figures? Numbers starting at 21 seem more complicated, but understanding how they are formed and seeing the examples will help you quickly sort everything out.

So, let’s see Italian numbers from twenty-one to one hundred:

Forming numbers in Italian is simple, as you take words like “venti” or “trenta” and add the final figure you need. For instance, thirty-seven will be translated as “trentasette.” The same rule applies for forming numbers in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and so on: just combine the tens with the units. To reinforce your learning, try to write numbers regularly.

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However, consider that there’s one exception when making figures with “uno” or “otto” at the end. The last vowel in the tens part, called the final vowel, must be omitted before adding these endings.

Italians don’t say “ventiotto” or “trentauno.” They use “ventotto” [ventˈɔtːo] (twenty-eight) and “trentuno” [trentˈuno] (thirty-one) instead. Also, when writing numbers like “ventitré” [ventitrˈɛ] (twenty-three) and “trentatré” [trentatrˈɛ] (thirty-three), remember to use the accent on the final "e" in their written form.

When you reach one hundred, the Italian equivalent is the word “cento,” which means “hundred.” The word “cento” is the root number used to construct higher numbers like “duecento” [dwet͡ʃˈɛnto] (two hundred), “trecento” [tret͡ʃˈɛnto] (three hundred), and so on. By combining the root number “cento” with other numbers, you can write and say numbers up to one thousand and beyond.

Italian Ordinal Numbers: How to count in Italian

Italian ordinal numbers, or as the Italians say, "numeri ordinali", are used to show order or position — like first, second, or third in English. They’re essential for speaking about dates, floors, rankings, and sequences. Once you know the basic pattern, forming them becomes easy and logical.

Here's the cool part: Italian makes it pretty straightforward by just slapping specific endings onto number roots. The first ten ordinal numbers have unique forms that you'll just need to memorize:

1. primo [ˈprimo] (first) — Il primo giorno è stato fantastico. (The first day was fantastic.)
2. secondo [seˈkondo] (second) — Ho finito al secondo posto. (I finished in second place.)
3. terzo [ˈtɛrtso] (third) — Lei è arrivata terza nella gara. (She came third in the race.)
4. quarto [ˈkwarto] (fourth) — Ho vissuto nel quarto piano dell'edificio. (I lived on the fourth floor of the building.)
5. quinto [ˈkwinto] (fifth) — Questo è il mio quinto libro preferito. (This is my fifth favorite book.)
6. sesto [ˈsɛsto] (sixth) — Il sesto capitolo del libro è molto interessante. (The sixth chapter of the book is very interesting.)
7. settimo [ˈsɛttimo] (seventh) — Lei ha vinto il settimo premio consecutivo. (She won the seventh consecutive prize.)
8. ottavo [ˈɔtːavo] (eighth) — Il mio compleanno è l'ottavo di maggio. (My birthday is on the eighth of May.)
9. nono [ˈnono] (ninth) — Il nono giorno del mese è una data importante. (The ninth day of the month is an important date.)
10. decimo [ˈdɛtʃimo] (tenth) — Questa è la decima volta che visito Roma. (This is the tenth time I visit Rome.)

See the pattern starting to emerge? For most numbers beyond ten, it's literally just adding "-esimo" to the root of the regular number. So, "quattordicesimo" is "fourteenth" — boom, you're basically a grammar wizard now!

The best way to make these stick? Practice them in real-life scenarios like booking that Italian restaurant reservation or describing when things happened in your day. Honestly, the more you use them, the more they'll feel familiar.

Tips on learning numbers

Italian numbers is an essential part of learning Italian and a key step when tackling a new language. You might have noticed how often you use figures, even if you are far from a math specialist. Paying bills, listing a phone number, and many other daily affairs are impossible without knowing numbers.

A fun fact: the Italian word for zero, "zero," comes from the Arabic "sifr," which also gave us the word "cipher" in English!

Here are several tips to knowing Italian numbers:

1. Don’t try to memorize everything in one day; divide all numbers into several parts and learn them step by step.
2. Listen to podcasts, especially those where numbers are mentioned frequently.
3. Practice numbers in daily life — count your steps, tell the time in Italian, or label household items with numbers.
4. When shopping in Italy, knowing numbers will help you understand prices and quantities, making your experience smoother.
5. Practice numbersls with your personal AI Tutor in a safe space for growth and mistakes.
6. Regularity is the key to success, so try to devote at least 15 minutes daily to learning.

Mastering any language on your own is possible, as you can find plenty of helpful materials online. For instance, dictionaries are the best solution to learning new words’ meanings and replenishing your vocabulary. The best sources include PONS Translations and WordReference. They will become your loyal assistants for mastering Italian and strengthening your knowledge daily.

Learn Italian with Promova faster

Self-learning is accessible to everyone, but mastering the language independently is complicated for a lot of people. For many, attending exciting lessons is a great idea.

The Promova language learning platform offers interactive and immersive methods for learning Italian, such as guided online courses with numerous new words daily and thrilling quizze. They were developed by proficient tutors and are regularly updated to strengthen your skills and dip into language learning.

You can join Promova anytime from any device, so your interactive classes will always be in your pocket. Enjoy the web version or download the Promova app for even more convenience. You can use the free version or join the Premium subscription. Numerous useful topics are available for learners of all levels.

Conclusion

It’s hard to imagine a proficient speaker who can’t pronounce numbers. That’s why it’s essential to learn them early on. Italian numbers 1-100 aren’t as complicated as they seem, and with persistence, you’ll master them. Knowing these numbers will be useful for everyone.

Imagine traveling to Italy — you’ll want to communicate with locals, right? So, it’s best to learn these numbers beforehand. Memorize these numbers and practice using them in your speech.