Italian Language for Beginners: Your Easy-to-Follow and Hassle-Free Prime Guide to Learn Italian and Get You Ready to Travel to Italy by Florence Colombo

Author:Florence Colombo [Colombo, Florence]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8: Numbers

Italian, just like any other language, uses number to communicate. The number structure in Italian is similar to English since it is based on units, tends, hundreds and thousands. Since the number structure in Italian is similar to English, it is just a matter of learning the appropriate words in Italian.

Let’s get started with the numbers running from 0 to 10.

• 0 – zero (zero)

• 1 – uno (one)

• 2 – due (two)

• 3 – tre (three)

• 4 – quattro (four)

• 5 – cinque (five)

• 6 – sei (six)

• 7 – sette (seven)

• 8 – otto (eight)

• 9 – nove (nine)

• 10 – dieci (ten)

On the whole, Italian numbers are not that much different from their English counterparts. Now, let’s take a look at their pronunciation:

• 0 – zero /zeh-roh/

• 1 – uno /oo-noh/

• 2 – due /doo-eh/

• 3 – tre /treh/

• 4 – quattro /kwah-troh/

• 5 – cinque /cheen-kweh/

• 6 – sei /sey/

• 7 – sette /seh-the/

• 8 – otto /oh-toh/

• 9 – nove /noh-veh/

• 10 – dieci /dee-eh-chee/

It is a good idea to take some time to go over the pronunciation of the first ten digits before moving on to the next batch. That way, you will be able to both recognize and utilize digits when travelling. This is especially important if you need to give your phone or passport number.

For instance, let’s assume you are asked for your phone number. You might hear this question:

• Qual è il tuo numero di telefono? (What is your phone number?

You can reply like this:

• il mio numero di telefono è cinque, cinque, cinque, due, sette, tre, nove (555-2739).

It is always best to go digit by digit as this makes it easier both on you and your listener as you dictate your number. By the same token, if you are jotting a number down, you will be able to catch it easily. Of course, if your interlocutor is speaking too fast, you can always say:

• Per favore parla lentamente (please speak slowly)

This phrase is always helpful when you are having trouble understanding what others are saying especially if you are jotting a phone number down.

Let’s move on and take a look at the digits from 11 to 20.

• 11 – undici (eleven)

• 12 – dodici (twelve)

• 13 – tredici (thirteen)

• 14 – quattordici (fourteen)

• 15 – quindici (fifteen)

• 16 – sedici (sixteen)

• 17 – diciasette (seventeen)

• 18 – diciotto (eighteen)

• 19 – diciannove (nineteen)

• 20 – venti (twenty)

As you can see, the numbers from 11 to 20 are somewhat different from those in English. In essence, these numbers mean “one-ten” or “two-ten” and so on. Please keep in mind that the ending for these numbers is pronounced “chee”, as in, “undici” /oon-dee-chee/. So, let’s have a look at their full pronunciation.

• 11 – undici /oon-dee/chee/

• 12 – dodici /doh-dee-chee/

• 13 – tredici /treh-dee-chee/

• 14 – quattordici /kwah-tohr-dee-chee/

• 15 – quindici /kween-dee-chee/

• 16 – sedici /seh-dee-chee/

• 17 – diciasette /dee-chee-ah-seh-the/

• 18 – diciotto /dee-chee-oh-toh/

• 19 – diciannove /dee-chee-ah-noh-veh/

• 20 – venti /vehn-tee/

Please notice that these numbers have multiple syllables.

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