Learning how to count in Italian is an essential part of learning to speak the language. Numbers are so commonly used in conversation, that without them, you may find it difficult to communicate effectively. Whether you are asking the time so that you can make your flight on schedule or you are shopping and requesting the price of an item, numbers will be present in many aspects of your trip to Italy or other countries where Italian is a common language.
How To Count In Italian
In this video, we will hear how to pronounce the basic numbers in Italian. The speaker in this video shows the correct translation for the numbers and speaks them so that you can hear how the word should sound. Improperly pronouncing a word can alter its meaning and may lead to a misunderstanding.
Step 1: Learning Italian Pronunciation
Before you can learn to count, you'll need to learn how to pronounce words and letters in Italian. In each language, the alphabet may not be the same as the English alphabet. There may be letters that are used in America, but not in other languages. Alternatively there may be letters that are only used for that specific language. For example, the letters J,K,W,X and Y and not used in the Italian alphabet. Instead, there are other sounds that are unique to this language. They are not considered to be letters, but are sounds that are made when two letters are placed together. An example of this would be ch and ce which make a sound similar to the k sound in the word kit. Also when gi or ge are used, they make the g sound that we hear in the word giant. http://www.languagelearninglibrary.org/italian/alphabet.htm
Step 2: Counting In Italian From 1-10
Learning how to count in Italian is an essential part of being able to speak the language. Numbers are used in many different phrases and conversations. To count from 1-10 in Italian, use the following list.http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/language/counts01.htm
- uno (m), una (f) (OO-noh, OO-nah)
- due (DOO-eh)
- tré (treh)
- quattro (KWAHT-troh)
- cinque (CHEEN-kweh)
- sei (say)
- sette (SEHT-teh)
- otto (OHT-toh)
- nove (NOH-veh)
- dieci (DYEH-chee)
Step 3: Counting In Italian From 10-100
For numbers greater than 10, you will be simply adding the appropriate prefix or suffix to the word. Counting from 11-16, you will be adding the term dici to the end of the original number. For example , 11 is said as "one plus ten" or undici, 12 is said as two plus ten or dodici and so on. Until the number 17 where the order is switched. The number 17 is said as "ten plus seven" or diciassette, 18 is said as "ten plus eight" or diciotto. http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/language/counts01.htm
This method is also used in higher numbers and remains constant through 100. When speaking a number such as 24, 36, 47 and so on, you will be essentially saying twenty plus four, thirty plus six and forty plus seven. Listed are the Italian terms for the numbers associated with multiples of ten.http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/language/counts02.htm
20 venti (VEHN-tee)
30 trenta (TREHN-tah)
40 quaranta (kwahr-AHN-tah)
50 cinquanta (cheen-KWAHN-tah)
60 sessanta (sehs-SAHN-tah)
70 settanta (seht-TAHN-tah)
80 ottanta (oht-TAHN-tah)
90 novanta (noh-VAHN-tah)
100 cento (CHEHN-toh)
Here are a few examples of how the multiples of ten are combined with the primary numbers to form a larger number
74 settantaquattro
36 trentasei
51 cinquantuno
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References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
To say 1000 in Italian use the word mille ( MEEL-leh)
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Fact:
The Italian term for 1 million is un milione (oon mee-LYOH-neh)
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Fact:
Quanti is the Italian term for "how many"
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Fact:
When combining numbers to create those from 20 to 99, drop the last letter in the multiple of ten when using a (1) uno or (8) otto
