Counting in Italian is a fundamental skill for anyone wanting to communicate effectively in the language. Whether you’re ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, or simply engaging in everyday conversation, knowing how to count is essential.
The Italian number system is based on the decimal system, just like the English number system. This means that the numbers 0-9 are the basic building blocks for all other numbers. To count from 10 to 99, you simply combine the numbers 0-9 with the appropriate tens digit. For example, the number 23 is “ventitr” in Italian, which means “two tens and three.” To count from 100 to 999, you combine the numbers 0-9 with the appropriate hundreds digit. For example, the number 456 is “quattrocentocinquantasei” in Italian, which means “four hundreds, five tens, and six.”