Numbers: counting to ten in Italian

Rossana
Jun 6
3 min read

Updated: Jul 31

Numbers: counting to ten in Italian

Learning numbers and counting to ten in Italian is fundamental in any language, and Italian is no exception! Whether you're ordering food, asking for prices, or just trying to understand directions, knowing your numbers will be incredibly helpful.

Let's start with the basics: numbers one to ten:

1 - uno 2 - due 3 - tre 4 - quattro 5 - cinque 6 - sei 7 - sette 8 - otto 9 - nove 10 - dieci

Tips for Remembering

Listen and Repeat: Try listening to Italian native speakers say these numbers.

You can find many audio resources online. Repeat after them to get the pronunciation right.

Practice Daily: Incorporate them into your daily routine. Count objects around you in Italian, or try counting your steps.

Flashcards: Write the number on one side and the Italian word on the other. Test yourself regularly.

Sing a Song: Many children's songs teach numbers. They're a fun and effective way to memorize!

Now that you know how to say the numbers from one to ten in Italian, let's put them into action! Understanding how to use them in basic sentences is crucial for everyday conversations.

Here are some common ways you'll use these numbers:

1. Talking about Quantity (How many?)

This is the most common use. You simply place the number before the noun it describes.

Ho due libri. (I have two books.)
Ho tre mele. (I have three apples.)
Ci sono quattro sedie. (There are four chairs.)
Ci sono cinque persone. (There are five people.)
Vorrei sei caffè. (I would like six coffees.)
Abbiamo sette amici. (We have seven friends.)
Ci sono otto tavoli. (There are eight tables.)
Ho nove euro. (I have nine euros.)
Voglio dieci minuti. (I want ten minutes.)

2. Asking about Age

To ask and state someone's age, you use the verb "avere" (to have).

Quanti anni hai? (How old are you? / Literally: How many years do you have?)
Ho venti anni. (I am twenty years old. / Literally: I have twenty years.)
- We'll learn "venti" later, but the structure is the same: "Ho [number] anni."
Mio figlio ha due anni. (My son is two years old.)
Mia figlia ha cinque anni. (My daughter is five years old.)

3. Stating the Time (Hourly)

While time telling can get a bit more complex with minutes, stating the hour is straightforward.

Sono le due. (It's two o'clock.)
È l'una. (It's one o'clock.)
- Note: For "one o'clock," we use "È l'una" because "ora" (hour) is feminine singular.
Sono le tre. (It's three o'clock.)
Sono le otto. (It's eight o'clock.)

4. Simple Counting

You can just list the numbers:

Uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque... (One, two, three, four, five...)

Important Note on Gender (uno/un/una)

Remember that for the number "one" (uno), it changes form depending on the gender and starting letter of the noun it precedes:

un (masculine singular, before most consonants) - un libro (one book)
uno (masculine singular, before "z", "s + consonant", "gn", "ps", "x", "y") - uno studente (one student)
una (feminine singular, before most consonants) - una mela (one apple)
un' (feminine singular, before a vowel) - un'amica (one friend [female])

For numbers two through ten, they generally do not change their form based on the gender of the noun.

Numbers: counting to ten in Italian