Italian Numbers 1-100: The Complete Guide to Counting in Italian

Italian numbers are among the most phonetically elegant in the Romance language family. Their compound forms follow a consistent elision pattern that, once understood, makes counting in Italian feel almost musical.

Italian is spoken by approximately 68 million native speakers, primarily in Italy, Switzerland, and San Marino, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. Beyond these countries, large Italian-speaking communities exist in Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. Whether you are ordering due espressos at a bar in Rome, counting floors in a Milanese apartment building, or reading prices at a Florentine market, numbers are essential from day one.

"The Italian numeral system is notable for its phonological elegance. The elision rules that govern compound numbers are the same rules that give Italian its characteristic rhythmic flow."

(Martin Maiden & Cecilia Robustelli, A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian, Routledge, 2013)

This guide covers every number from 1 to 100, explains the elision rules that make Italian compounds unique, introduces ordinals, and explores the cultural superstitions around numbers that every visitor to Italy should know.

Numbers 1-10: The Foundation

These ten numbers must be memorized individually. They are the roots from which all other Italian numbers grow.

Numbers 11-20: Special Forms and Emerging Patterns

Numbers 11-16 each have unique forms. At 17, a clear compound pattern emerges: dici- (from dieci) combines with the unit, written as one word.

Notice the shift at 17: the pattern reverses from "unit + dici" (undici, dodici) to "dici + unit" (diciassette, diciotto, diciannove). The double consonants in diciassette and diciannove are important for correct pronunciation, as they mark a slight pause and emphasis that is characteristic of Italian.

Numbers 21-29: The Elision Rule

The twenties introduce Italian's signature feature for compound numbers: vowel elision. When the tens word (venti) meets a unit starting with a vowel, venti drops its final -i.

The elision pattern: venti drops its final -i before uno (ventuno) and otto (ventotto) because both start with vowels. Before consonant-starting units (due, tre, quattro, etc.), the -i remains. This same rule applies to all subsequent tens.

The Tens: 30 to 100

Each multiple of ten has its own form. All follow the same elision rule when combined with units.

The satisfying regularity: from 40 onward, every tens word ends in -anta. Trenta is the only one with -enta, making it the single exception to an otherwise perfect pattern.

Compound Number Examples (30-99)

All compound numbers from 30-99 follow the same elision rule. Here are representative examples across the ranges.

The rule is always the same: drop the final vowel of the tens word before uno and otto. Unlike Spanish (which uses three separate words connected by y) and French (which uses hyphens), Italian writes all compound numbers as a single word. This makes them look long on paper but keeps the rhythm flowing.

Beyond 100: Hundreds and Thousands

Italian hundreds and thousands have a few noteworthy features.

The key irregularity: mille (1,000) has the plural form mila (duemila, tremila, cinquemila). Hundreds are invariable: cento never changes. Italian art history buffs will recognize Trecento (1300s), Quattrocento (1400s), and Cinquecento (1500s) as names for artistic periods, the same number words used for counting.

Ordinal Numbers in Italian

Italian ordinals through 10th each have unique forms. From 11th onward, they follow a regular pattern: drop the final vowel of the cardinal number and add -esimo.

All Italian ordinals agree in gender and number with the noun they modify: la prima volta (the first time, feminine), il secondo piano (the second floor, masculine), le prime pagine (the first pages, feminine plural). Unlike Spanish, Italian uses ordinals freely beyond 10th: il ventesimo secolo (the 20th century), il quindicesimo capitolo (the 15th chapter).

Cultural Significance of Numbers in Italy

Italian number superstitions are deeply woven into daily life, and understanding them is essential for anyone visiting or living in Italy.

Unlucky 17: This is the big one. In Italian culture, 17 is profoundly unlucky, far more so than 13. The superstition traces back to the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged as VIXI, a Latin word meaning "I have lived" (and therefore, "I am now dead"). According to ISTAT surveys on Italian cultural practices, belief in the unluckiness of 17 remains widespread. Alitalia historically had no row 17 on its planes, and some Italian hotels skip from the 16th to the 18th floor.

Friday the 17th: While the English-speaking world fears Friday the 13th, Italians dread venerdì diciassette, Friday the 17th. The combination of the unlucky day (Friday, when Jesus was crucified) and the unlucky number creates a double dose of misfortune.

Lucky 13: In a fascinating inversion, 13 is actually considered lucky in Italy, particularly in the context of Totocalcio (the national football pool). Hitting fare tredici (to score thirteen) means winning the jackpot.

The number 90: In the traditional Neapolitan Smorfia (a system linking dreams to lottery numbers), every number from 1-90 has a symbolic meaning. The number 90 represents la paura (fear), while 1 is l'Italia (Italy). This system, dating back centuries, is still actively used by lottery players throughout southern Italy.

Practice with Real Italian Content

Numbers permeate every aspect of Italian life. From ordering un caffè to reading train schedules at Roma Termini, from bargaining at the Porta Portese market to understanding football scores, you will encounter Italian numbers constantly.

Italian cinema offers fantastic number practice. Restaurant scenes, market haggling, and sports commentary are especially number-rich. Check out our guide to the best movies for learning Italian for recommendations across different genres and regions.

Wordy helps you practice Italian numbers in authentic contexts by watching Italian movies and shows with interactive subtitles. When a number appears in dialogue, tap it to see the written form, pronunciation, and related patterns. Visit our blog for more Italian learning resources, or head to our Italian learning page to start today.