Learning to count is one of the first things most attempt when learning a foreign language. While some memorization may be required, particularly in the first ten numbers, it is far more advantageous to learn the system that determines why each number is said the way it is, which is exactly what this guide aims to do with the Italian numbers.
Counting from 1 to 10 in Italian
The simplest numbers in any language, and the ones that form the basis for all other numbers, are those from one to ten. After learning these, the rest of the numbers will be easy. Here are the numbers one to ten in Italian:
- 1 – uno
- 2 – due
- 3 – tre
- 4 – quattro
- 5 – cinque
- 6 – sei
- 7 – sette
- 8 – otto
- 9 – nove
- 10 – dieci
Counting from 11 to 19 in Italian
The following set of numbers from eleven to nineteen are irregular because they do not follow the same pattern that all numbers after nineteen do. Notice the change in pattern at number seventeen.
- 11 – undici
- 12 – dodici
- 13 – tredici
- 14 – quattordici
- 15 – quindici
- 16 – sedici
- 17 – diciassette
- 18 – diciotto
- 19 – diciannove
Learning to Count to 100 and Beyond in Italian
The numbers from 20 to 29 demonstrate the pattern that is used for all numbers from 20 to 99. Notice that since the final letter of venti is a vowel, if the number that it precedes begins with a vowel, that vowel is dropped. For example, venti and uno become ventuno. Also notice that all numbers ending with three have an accent mark, meaning they are pronounced with stress on the final syllable.
- 20– venti
- 21 – ventuno
- 22 – ventidue
- 23 – ventitrè
- 24 – ventiquattro
- 25 – venticinque
- 26 – ventisei
- 27 – ventisette
- 28– ventotto
- 29 – ventinove
These are the Italian numbers by tens from 30 to 90. They follow the same pattern as the 20s above.
- 30 – trenta
- 40 – quaranta
- 50 – cinquanta
- 60 – sessanta
- 70 – settanta
- 80 – ottanta
- 90 – novanta
The rest of the Italian numbers up to 999 follow the same pattern as before, but with cento, duecento, etc in the beginning. The numbers from 1,000 to 999,999 repeat the pattern with mille. Notice that the plural of mille is mila.
- 100 – cento
- 200 – duecento
- 300 – trecento
- 456 – quattrocentocinquantasei
- 1,000 – mille
- 2,000 – duemila
- 3,000 – tremila
- 6,827 – seimilaottocentoventisette
It should be noted here that years are said exactly the way that the numbers are said. The year 1994, for example, would be said millenovecentonovantaquattro.
Very Large Numbers in Italian
Although seldom used, these are the numbers beyond 1,000. They are shown with the American English translation, along with the number of zeroes that each has. The Italian system of large numbers is different from the American system, so be wary of "false friends," or words that sound like English words, but do not have the same meaning.
- milione – million – 6 zeroes
- miliardo – billion – 9 zeroes
- bilione – trillion – 12 zeroes
- biliardo – quadrillion – 15 zeroes
- trilione – quintillion – 18 zeroes
- triliardo – sextillion – 21 zeroes
- quadrilione – septillion – 24 zeroes
- quadriliarde – octillion – 27 zeroes
- quinquilione – nonillion – 30 zeroes
- quinquiliarde – decillion – 33 zeroes
- sestilione – undecillion – 36 zeroes
- sestiliardo – duodecillion – 39 zeroes
- settilione – tredecillion – 42 zeroes
- settiliardo – quattuordecillion – 45 zeroes
- ottilione – quindecillion – 48 zeroes
- ottiliardo – sexdecillion – 51 zeroes
- nonilione – septendecillion – 54 zeroes
- noniliardo – octodecillion – 57 zeroes
- decilione – novemdecillion – 60 zeroes
- deciliardo – vigintillion – 63 zeroes
Using the Guide to Counting in Italian
While this guide clearly does not provide every Italian number, it does provide the system used to know every number. Following the patterns detailed teaches one to count in Italian, rather than just recite numbers, and brings him one step closer to learning how to speak Italian.
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