1.1.2: I numeri
- Page ID
- 341901
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Diamo i numeri?
Before we learn how to count in Italian, let’s explore a curious expression you might hear:
Idiomatic Expression: dare i numeri
- Literal meaning: to give or say numbers
- Idiomatic meaning: to act strangely, to say things that don’t make sense, to lose your mind a little
Examples:
"Ma che dici? Stai dando i numeri?"
("What are you saying? Are you going crazy?")
"Oggi il professore dà i numeri: ha confuso tutti i nomi!"
("Today the teacher is giving numbers: he mixed up all the names!")
Where does this expression come from?
The expression likely comes from the traditional Italian lottery, where people would “give numbers” based on dreams or superstitions in hopes of choosing lucky ones. Over time, it took on a figurative meaning—suggesting confusion or irrational behavior.
Now Let’s Really "Dare i numeri"!
Now that we understand the idiom, let’s literally “give some numbers” and learn how they work in Italian. Numbers are key for everyday communication: age, prices, dates, time, and more!
1.3 I numeri (Numbers)
| Italian Number | Italian Word |
|---|---|
| 1 | uno |
| 2 | due |
| 3 | tre |
| 4 | quattro |
| 5 | cinque |
| 6 | sei |
| 7 | sette |
| 8 | otto |
| 9 | nove |
| 10 | dieci |
| 11 | undici |
| 12 | dodici |
| 13 | tredici |
| 14 | quattordici |
| 15 | quindici |
| 16 | sedici |
| 17 | diciassette |
| 18 | diciotto |
| 19 | diciannove |
| 20 | venti |
| 21 | ventuno |
| 22 | ventidue |
| 23 | ventitré (ventitre) |
| 24 | ventiquattro |
| 25 | venticinque |
| 26 | ventisei |
| 27 | ventisette |
| 28 | ventotto |
| 29 | ventinove |
| 30 | trenta |
| 40 | quaranta |
| 50 | cinquanta |
| 60 | sessanta |
| 70 | settanta |
| 80 | ottanta |
| 90 | novanta |
| 100 | cento |
| 1000 | mille |
| 2000 | duemila |
How Italian Numbers Are Built
From 0 to 9: The Basics
Italian numbers from 0 to 9 are called unità (units). These are said as individual words:
-
0 – zero
-
1 – uno
-
2 – due
-
3 – tre
-
4 – quattro
-
5 – cinque
-
6 – sei
-
7 – sette
-
8 – otto
-
9 – nove
From 10 to 16: The Reverse Rule
Starting from 10, numbers combine differently compared to English: the unit comes first, then "ten."
-
11 – undici (1 + 10)
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12 – dodici (2 + 10)
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13 – tredici (3 + 10)
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14 – quattordici (4 + 10)
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15 – quindici (5 + 10)
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16 – sedici (6 + 10)
17: A Special Case
Starting from 17, the pattern shifts: the ten comes first, then the unit.
-
17 – diciassette (10 + 7)
-
18 – diciotto (10 + 8)
-
19 – diciannove (10 + 9)
Cultural Note: 17 is considered unlucky in Italy because XVII, the Roman numeral for 17, can be rearranged to form VIXI ("I have lived"), a phrase associated with death.
From 20 On: Tens + Units
Numbers from 20 onward follow this pattern:
-
21 – ventuno (20 + 1)
-
23 – ventitré (20 + 3)
-
35 – trentacinque (30 + 5)
-
48 – quarantotto (40 + 8)
Spelling Tip:
When "uno" (1) or "otto" (8) follows a tens number, the final vowel of the tens number is dropped: venti + uno → ventuno, trenta + otto → trentotto
Bigger Numbers: Always the Same Logic
Even larger numbers work the same way:
-
123 → centoventitré → 100 + 20 + 3
-
1,667 → milleseicentosessantasette → 1000 + 600 + 60 + 7