A1 Italian GrammarNumbers 1-100
Learn to count from 1 to 100 in Italian. Master cardinal numbers for shopping, telling time, giving your age, and everyday situations. Italian numbers follow a logical pattern after 20, making them relatively easy to learn once you know the basics.
1Numbers 1-10
The numbers from 1 to 10 are the foundation of Italian counting. These must be memorized as they don't follow a pattern. Note that 'uno' changes form like an article when used before nouns (un libro, una casa).
Numbers 1-10
| Number | Italian | Pronunciation Hint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | uno | OO-noh |
| 2 | due | DOO-eh |
| 3 | tre | treh |
| 4 | quattro | KWAT-troh |
| 5 | cinque | CHEEN-kweh |
| 6 | sei | say |
| 7 | sette | SET-teh |
| 8 | otto | OT-toh |
| 9 | nove | NOH-veh |
| 10 | dieci | dee-EH-chee |
Examples
Ho due fratelli.
I have two brothers.
due = 2
Vorrei tre caffè, per favore.
I would like three coffees, please.
tre = 3
Ci sono cinque persone.
There are five people.
cinque = 5
Il treno parte alle otto.
The train leaves at eight.
otto = 8
2Numbers 11-20
Numbers 11-16 have unique forms that must be memorized. From 17-19, the pattern is dici + unit (diciassette, diciotto, diciannove). Notice that 'tre' gets an accent (tré) in compound numbers and some letters double.
Numbers 11-20
| Number | Italian | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | undici | unique |
| 12 | dodici | unique |
| 13 | tredici | unique |
| 14 | quattordici | unique |
| 15 | quindici | unique |
| 16 | sedici | unique |
| 17 | diciassette | dici + sette |
| 18 | diciotto | dici + otto |
| 19 | diciannove | dici + nove |
| 20 | venti | unique |
Examples
Ho quindici anni.
I am fifteen years old.
quindici = 15
Sono le dodici.
It is twelve o'clock.
dodici = 12
Costa diciotto euro.
It costs eighteen euros.
diciotto = 18
Ci vediamo tra venti minuti.
See you in twenty minutes.
venti = 20
3Numbers 21-100
From 21 onward, Italian numbers follow a predictable pattern: tens + units. Before 'uno' and 'otto', the final vowel of the tens drops (venti → ventuno, not ventiuno). The tens are: trenta (30), quaranta (40), cinquanta (50), sessanta (60), settanta (70), ottanta (80), novanta (90), cento (100).
Tens and Combining
| Tens | Example +1 | Example +8 |
|---|---|---|
| venti (20) | ventuno (21) | ventotto (28) |
| trenta (30) | trentuno (31) | trentotto (38) |
| quaranta (40) | quarantuno (41) | quarantotto (48) |
| cinquanta (50) | cinquantuno (51) | cinquantotto (58) |
| sessanta (60) | sessantuno (61) | sessantotto (68) |
| settanta (70) | settantuno (71) | settantotto (78) |
| ottanta (80) | ottantuno (81) | ottantotto (88) |
| novanta (90) | novantuno (91) | novantotto (98) |
Examples
Mia nonna ha ottantacinque anni.
My grandmother is eighty-five years old.
ottanta + cinque = 85
Costa quarantadue euro.
It costs forty-two euros.
quaranta + due = 42
Abbiamo sessantuno studenti.
We have sixty-one students.
sessant(a) + uno = 61 (vowel drops)
Sono cento chilometri.
It is one hundred kilometers.
cento = 100
4Using Numbers in Context
Numbers are used constantly in Italian: for prices, ages, times, addresses, and quantities. When used before nouns, 'uno' behaves like an indefinite article. For prices, Italians say 'euro' (singular) after numbers or use the plural 'euro' (same form).
Common Number Uses
| Context | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Ho trentadue anni. | I am 32 years old. |
| Price | Costa venticinque euro. | It costs 25 euros. |
| Time | Sono le tre e quindici. | It is 3:15. |
| Phone | Il mio numero è... | My number is... |
Examples
Quanti anni hai? Ho ventiquattro anni.
How old are you? I am twenty-four years old.
Age uses 'avere' (to have)
Il conto è settantacinque euro.
The bill is seventy-five euros.
settanta + cinque = 75
L'autobus numero trentasei.
Bus number thirty-six.
Numbers with transportation
Pagina novantanove.
Page ninety-nine.
novanta + nove = 99