Numbers from 0 to 100 – I numeri da 0 a 100

Discover Italian numbers from 0 to 100
You need numbers to count, tell your age, tell the time and much more. But don’t worry, with a few tricks and a little practice, you’ll be able to remember them in no time! In this lesson I will show you how to memorise numbers from 0 to 100, highlight irregular numbers and explain the rules for forming two-digit numbers.

Numbers from 0 to 10: the foundation

We start with the numbers 0 to 10, which you must learn by heart because they are the basis for all other numbers:

0 – zero

1 – uno

2 – due

3 – tre

4 – quattro

5 – cinque

6 – sei

7 – sette

8 – otto

9 – nove

10 – dieci

Numbers 11 to 19: beware of irregulars

Numbers 11 to 19 need to be learned individually, although they show useful patterns: 11–16 end in -dici, while 17–19 begin with dici-. 

You will notice that from number 11 to 16 they end in ‘-dici‘ and from number 17 to 19 they begin with ‘dici-‘. 

There is no fixed rule, so repeat them often to memorise them!

11 – undici

12 – dodici

13 – tredici

14 – quattordici

15 – quindici

16 – sedici

17 – diciassette

18 – diciotto

19 – diciannove

Two-digit numbers with zero: tens

Numbers ending in zero are very easy to learn. Here are the most important tens:

20 – venti

30 – trenta

40 – quaranta

50 – cinquanta

60 – sessanta

70 – settanta

80 – ottanta

90 – novanta

100 – cento

Regular’ two-digit numbers: how to join them

For regular two-digit numbers, you can follow a simple rule: just add the tens (20, 30, 40, etc.) to the numbers 1 to 9, making a kind of ‘addition’:

Example

20 + 5 = 25 → venti+cinque → venticinque

40 + 7 = 47 → quaranta+sette→ quarantasette

60 + 9 = 69 → sessanta+nove → sessantanove

70 + 4 = 74 → settanta+quattro→ settantaquattro

Beware of numbers ending in one and eight

When tre is the final element of a compound number, it takes a written accent: ventitré, trentatré, quarantatré.

When numbers end with ‘uno‘ (1) or ‘otto‘ (8), you have to be careful because these words start with a vowel in Italian. If they are joined by a ten (which ends with a vowel), the final vowel of the ten is removed:

Example

20 + 1 = 21 → ventuno (not *ventiuno)
30 + 8 = 38 → trentotto (not *trentaotto)
60 + 1 = 61 → sessantuno (not *sessantauno)

Practical Exercises

Now that you have learnt the rules, try practising!

• Count up to 30 aloud.
• Write the numbers 45, 58, and 91 in Italian.
• Find examples of numbers ending with ‘uno’ and ‘otto’.

Remember, the key to mastering numbers in Italian is constant practice. Repeat, write and use the numbers in your daily life.

Have fun and if you want, write your answers in the comments!