How to Count in Italian
Learning numbers and counting in Italian isn’t complicated. In fact, the Italians follow many of the same patterns that we do in English. There are a few differences, but it’s when it comes to numbers and counting in Italian, it’s really just a question of memorizing.
In Italian, as in English, there is a unique number from 0 – 16. After that they add the next number to the tens, making one word. So, 17, is the word for 10 followed by the word for 7 and so on.
| uno | 1 |
| due | 2 |
| tre | 3 |
| quattro | 4 |
| cinque | 5 |
| sei | 6 |
| sette | 7 |
| otto | 8 |
| nove | 9 |
| dieci | 10 |
| undici | 11 |
| dodici | 12 |
| tredici | 13 |
| quattordici | 14 |
| quindici | 15 |
| sedici | 16 |
| diciassette | 17 |
| diciotto | 18 |
| diciannove | 19 |
For the numbers in the twenties, thirties, forties, and so on, just add the number to the tens, with the exception of when you add a 1 or an 8. For these two numbers, drop the final “–i.” For example, venti (20), ventuno (21), ventidue (22), venticinque (25), ventotto (28). See? It’s not ventiuno or ventiotto.
| venti | 20 |
| ventuno | 21 |
| ventidue | 22 |
| trenta | 30 |
| trentuno | 31 |
| quaranta | 40 |
| quarantuno | 41 |
| cinquanta | 50 |
| sessanta | 60 |
| settanta | 70 |
| ottanta | 80 |
| novanta | 90 |
When you add the tre, the -e takes an accent: ventitrè.
Larger numbers in Italian follow the same formula.
| 100 | cento |
| 101 | centuno |
| 102 | centodue |
| 150 | centocinquanta |
| 1,000 | mille |
| 2,000 | duemila |
In Italian, large numbers are said in the same order that we use for English. For example, 1916 would be 1916 (millenovecentosedici) (literally: one thousand, nine hundred, and sixteen).
The following phrases can help you when talking about numbers.
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Quanti anni hai? (How old are you?)
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Ho ventitrè anni. (I’m 23 years old.)
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Quanto viene? (How much does it come to?)
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Sei euro sessanta. (6 euros and 60 cents.)
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Quanto è per una camerasingola? (How much is it for a single room?)
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Centoventi euro. (120 Euros)
