Numbers

1. Uno, due, tre

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic counting from one to three

   Grammar Note

   "Uno" is masculine, "una" is feminine. "Due" and "tre" don't change by gender

2. Quattro, cinque

   Four, five

   Usage

   Four and five, for quantities or counting people

   Grammar Note

   Neither quattro nor cinque changes by gender. Same Latin roots as French quatre/cinq

3. Quanto viene in tutto?

   How much does it come to in total?

   Usage

   Ask for the total price when buying multiple items

   Grammar Note

   "Venire" (to come) here means "to amount to." "In tutto" means all together

4. Cento euro

   One hundred euros

   Usage

   Expressing a monetary amount of one hundred euros

   Grammar Note

   "Cento" doesn't change. "Euro" is invariable in Italian (100 euro, not euros)

5. Può ripetere, per favore?

   Could you repeat that, please?

   Usage

   Ask someone to repeat when you didn't catch a number or price

   Grammar Note

   "Può" is the formal third person of potere. Add "più lentamente" for a slower speed

6. Sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci

   Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers six to ten — useful for phone numbers, prices, and quantities

   Grammar Note

   None of these numbers change by gender. Note: "sei" also means "you are" (essere) — context matters

7. Venticinque euro

   Twenty-five euros

   Usage

   Express the amount twenty-five euros

   Grammar Note

   Tens + units in Italian: "venti" + number. Note: "ventuno" (21) drops the final -i before vowels

8. Che ore sono?

   What time is it?

   Usage

   Ask what time it is

   Grammar Note

   "Ore" is feminine plural, so "sono." Answer: "Sono le tre" (it's three o'clock)

9. Può scrivere il prezzo?

   Could you write down the price?

   Usage

   Ask the seller to write the price when you can't hear or understand

   Grammar Note

   "Prezzo" (price) is masculine. "Scrivere" (to write) uses avere as its auxiliary

10. Mille e cinquecento euro

    One thousand five hundred euros

    Usage

    Express a large monetary amount like 1,500 euros

    Grammar Note

    "Mille" (1000) is invariable. "2000" becomes "duemila." "Il Cinquecento" also names the 1500s — the 16th century — in art and literary history (the 1400s, the 15th century, is "il Quattrocento")

11. Ho ventisette anni.

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Answer to "Quanti anni ha?" (How old are you?); swap the numeral for another age

    Grammar Note

    Italian states age with "avere" (to have), not "essere": literally "I have twenty-seven years", unlike the English/German "I am 27" pattern. "Anni" cannot be dropped

12. Quest'anno compio ventotto anni.

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Say that your birthday falls later this year and you will reach the next age

    Grammar Note

    Reaching an age uses "compiere gli anni" (e.g. "compio oggi vent'anni"). "Questo" elides to "quest'" before a vowel, and "venti" + "otto" contracts to "ventotto"

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