Numerals

Italian Numerals

Cardinal Numbers

  • Cardinal numbers indicate quantity and are the most commonly used type of number in Italian.
  • Italian cardinal numbers from 1 to 10 are: uno (1), due (2), tre (3), quattro (4), cinque (5), sei (6), sette (7), otto (8), nove (9), dieci (10).
  • The cardinal numbers from 11 to 20 show more irregularities: undici (11), dodici (12), tredici (13), quattordici (14), quindici (15), sedici (16), diciassette (17), diciotto (18), diciannove (19), venti (20).
  • The numbers from 21 to 99 follow a pattern: venti + uno (21), trenta + due (32), quaranta + tre (43) etc. Note that if the second element starts with a vowel, the final vowel of the first element is dropped: e.g., ventuno (21), trentuno (31).
  • ‘Cento’ means 100. Multiples of 100 are straightforward: duecento (200), trecento (300), etc. up to novecento (900).
  • ‘Mille’ means 1,000. For multiples of 1,000 we use ‘mila’: duemila (2,000), tremila (3,000), etc.
  • ‘Milione’ means 1 million, ‘miliardo’ means 1 billion. Note that these are singular in Italian so we use ‘i’ for the plural: due milioni (2 million), tre miliardi (3 billion).

Ordinal Numbers

  • Ordinal Numbers indicate order or sequence.
  • In Italian, ordinal numbers from first to tenth are: primo (1st), secondo (2nd), terzo (3rd), quarto (4th), quinto (5th), sesto (6th), settimo (7th), ottavo (8th), nono (9th), decimo (10th).
  • From 11th upwards, the ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix ‘-esimo’ to the cardinal number: undicesimo (11th), dodicesimo (12th), etc.

Use of Numerals in Specific Contexts

  • When telling time, cardinal numbers are used except for the first hour, where we use ‘prima’ instead of ‘uno’.
  • Ordinal numbers are used for centuries, ‘il secolo ventesimo’ is the 20th century.
  • ‘Età’ (‘age’) is usually indicated with cardinal numbers: ‘ho venti anni’ (‘I am 20 years old’).
  • In dates, the day is expressed with ordinal numbers: ‘il primo maggio’ (the 1st of May), but cardinal numbers are used for the second day onwards: ‘il due maggio’ (the 2nd of May).

Always refer back to vocabulary notes and mnemonic aids to remember the forms and usage of these numerals, and practise using them in context.