Could you imagine what life would be like without knowing any numbers? How would you tell your age, your telephone number, or your birthday?! If you’ve ever wanted to learn numbers in Italian then you’re in luck — because we’ve made this lesson just for you and are going to teach you all of them!
Numbers in Italian
Let’s break it down into categories:
One digit numbers
| 0 | zero |
| 1 | uno |
| 2 | due |
| 3 | tre |
| 4 | quattro |
| 5 | cinque |
| 6 | sei |
| 7 | sette |
| 8 | otto |
| 9 | nove |
“Irregular” two digit numbers
| 11 | undici |
| 12 | dodici |
| 13 | tredici |
| 14 | quattordici |
| 15 | quindici |
| 16 | sedici |
| 17 | diciassette |
| 18 | diciotto |
| 19 | diciannove |
Two digit numbers with zero
| 10 | dieci |
| 20 | venti |
| 30 | trenta |
| 40 | quaranta |
| 50 | cinquanta |
| 60 | sessanta |
| 70 | settanta |
| 80 | ottanta |
| 90 | novanta |
In order to form all other numbers, that is “regular” two digit numbers, there’s sort of a rule: you have to join one of the “two digit numbers with zero” with one of the one digit numbers, by making somewhat of an “addition“.
20 + 5 = venticinque (25)
40 + 7 = quarantasette (47)
60 + 9 = sessantanove (69)
70 + 4 = settantaquattro (74)
… and so on.
BE CAREFUL: the numbers ONE (1) and EIGHT (8) start with a vowel. So in order to join them with any of the “two digit numbers with zero” (which all END with a vowel), you must remember NOT to pronounce (nor write) the final vowel of the “two digit number with zero”. Here are some examples:
20 + 1 = ventuno (21)
30 + 8 = trentotto (38)
60 + 1 = sessantuno (61)
See how the vowel gets chopped off where the two numbers join together?
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Three digit numbers with two zeros
| 100 | cento |
| 200 | duecento |
| 300 | trecento |
| 400 | quattrocento |
| 500 | cinquecento |
| 600 | seicento |
| 700 | settecento |
| 800 | ottocento |
| 900 | novecento |
As you can see all three digit numbers with two zeros are formed by joining the one digit number + cento. The only exception is the number one-hundred itself, which is simply cento.
In order to form all other three digit numbers you just do another “addition” like we did before. Here are some examples:
100 + 50 + 4 = centocinquantaquattro (154)
300 + 20 + 5 = trecentoventicinque (325)
700 + 90 + 8 = settecentonovantotto (798)
Finally, here we have the four digit numbers with three zeros. In order to form them, you simply join the one digit number to the word “mila“. The only exception is the number 1000 itself (which is just “mille“). Here’s the list:
| 2000 | duemila |
| 3000 | tremila |
| 4000 | quattromila |
| 5000 | cinquemila |
| 6000 | seimila |
| 7000 | settemila |
| 8000 | ottomila |
| 9000 | novemila |
For all other four digit numbers, the “addition” rule from earlier is still valid:
1000 + 900 + 40 + 5 = millenovecentoquarantacinque (1945)
2000 + 18 = duemiladiciotto (2018)
5000 + 30 + 5 = cinquemilatrentacinque (5035)
1.000.000 = un milione (one million)
2.000.000 = due milioni (two million)
Note that 2 million technically becomes 2 millions (millioni) in Italian! This also holds true for 3 million, 4 million, 5 million, and so on.
…
1.000.000.000 = un miliardo (one billion)
2.000.000.000 = due miliardi (two billion)
…
EXPRESSION OF THE DAY:
DARE I NUMERI = to do or to say silly things
Now you know all the numbers in Italian! Ready for your next lesson? Here’s how to tell time in Italian!
Want the lesson PDF with exercises and solutions?
Join the LearnAmo AcademyLet’s see if you’ve mastered the contents of this class. Have a go at completing the exercises!
Caricamento quiz in corso…
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Tutto facile e chiaro per me! Grazie mille Signora
Grazie mille, devo esercitarmi di più
wow! really amazing.
i wish i knew it since my arrival in Italy
Guys, you’re amazing
You hit it bro
very nice excercise, grazie mille
Grazie a te, Adrian!