Would you like to know about the Italian numbers and counting system? Knowing numbers in Italian is very useful in many circumstances, such as wxfhen going to a restaurant, or a shop, or to understand what you need to pay when you buy something.
Furthermore, numbers are used to say the time, cell phone numbers, read a wifi password, and dates. Fortunately, in Italian, it is easy to learn numbers and figure out how to say even the most complex numbers.
This article goes over the basic rules to count from 1 to 100.
What Is The Difference Between Cardinal And Ordinal Numbers?
Two types of numbers in Italian must be known: the cardinal and the ordinal numbers.
Cardinal numbers are those that indicate a precise quantity and correspond to the numbers we use in mathematics. For example:
- Three friends
- Twenty people
- One hundred euros
- Two thousand inhabitants
If the numbers indicate the order in a series, they are called ordinal numerals. For example:
- First row
- Second place
- Fifth class
As we know, the numbers 1,2, and 3 allow us to count quantities. They allow us to answer questions such as:
- How many peaches are there on the table?
- There are two (2) peaches
Cardinal numbers are used to count and establish whole quantities, such as the number of objects, a person’s age, the children in a class, etc.
When we use numbers to establish or indicate an order, we use ordinal numbers.
They allow us to answer questions such as:
- In what order
- What place does it occupy
Italian Numbers And Counting: How To Count From Zero To Twenty
So how do you count from 0 to 10 in Italian? Typically new learners are familiar with this sequence: uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci, undici, dodici, tredici, quattordici, quindici, sedici, diciassette, diciotto, diciannove, venti. The numbers 1 to 20 should be memorized so it becomes easy to figure out how to compose the numbers from 20 to 100.
Here are the Italian cardinal numbers from 1 to 20:
What Are The Italian Ordinal Numbers From 1 to 20?
The ordinal numbers in Italian follow a simple and predictable pattern. Here are the ordinal numbers from 1 to 20:
In general, the numbers in Italian are not very difficult to learn because there are few irregular forms. For example, if you try to count to one hundred (100), you will find that the count almost always proceeds the same way for all tens and hundreds.
The most complex numbers are those from 0 to 19 and must be memorized as they are.
Italian Numbers From 21 To 100
To tell any number from 20 to 29, it is necessary to compose the word using the root “venti” (twenty) and start counting again from one. For example, to say 21, you need to combine the word “venti” (twenty) and “uno” (one):
- 21 – Ventuno (twenty-one)
- 22 – Ventidue (twenty-two)
- 23- Ventitre (twenty-three)
- 24- Ventiquattro (twenty-four)
- 25 – Venticinque (twenty-five)
- 26 – Vetisei (twenty-six)
- 27- Ventisette (twenty-seven)
- 28 – Ventotto (twenty-eight)
- 29 – Ventinove (twenty-nine)
If you want to count to 100, first, you have to learn the following fundamental numbers:
- Trenta – Thirty
- Quaranta – Forty
- Cinquanta -Fifty
- Sessanta – Sixty
- Settanta – seventy
- Ottanta – Eighty
- Novanta – Ninety
- Cento – Hundred
If you want to say the numbers between 30 and 39, you must follow the same pattern above. Use the word “trenta” (thirty) as the root and add “uno” (one), etc.
For example:
- 31 – Trentuno (thirty-one)
- 32- Trentadue (thirty-two)
- 33- Trentatre (thirty-three)
There are some rules to keep in mind:
- Numbers made up of several elements are written together
- The tens lose the final vowel before the numbers “one” and “eight”
- The numbers that contain “three” are written with an acute accent mark
How To Count Italian Numbers And The Gender
How do you count Italian numbers with the gender rule? Since ordinal numbers are real adjectives, the concordance with the noun both of gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) must be respected, preceded by the article or by the preposition.
The numbers used to say the years or the days are masculine. For example:
- Il 1946 è un anno importante – 1946 is an important year
The numbers that are used for buses or trams are male. For example:
- Il 32 è l’autobus per il centro – 32 is the bus to the center.
Millions and billions are male and have the male article. For example:
- I miliardi di stelle – The Billions of Stars
- I milioni di donne – Millions of women
Would you like to know more about the Italian language?
Learn Italian With Ling App
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Users can choose between 60+ options and use the app with any mobile device.
Do you want to learn more about Italian culture? Check out how to Apologize In Italian and Italian birthday phrases.
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