Learn Numbers & Time with Giulia

Italian Number Patterns

Pronunciation tip: Italian numbers are phonetic—every letter is pronounced. The stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable: quat-TRO, CIN-que, DO-di-ci.

Common beginner mistakes:

• Cinque sounds like CHEEN-kweh, not SINK

• Tre is TREH, one syllable, not TREE

• Double consonants matter: sette (seven) versus sete (thirst)

Giulia's Tip: When I spell names over the phone, I go slowly: S come Sofia, A come Ancona, R come Roma. Take your time with numbers too—accuracy beats speed.

Building Numbers 21-99

Basic pattern: Combine tens plus ones: trenta + due equals trentadue (32), quaranta + cinque equals quarantacinque (45).

Drop the vowel before uno and otto:

• Venti + uno = ventuno, not ventiuno

• Trenta + otto = trentotto, not trentaotto

• Quaranta + uno = quarantuno

Stress with tre: Numbers ending in tre are stressed on the last syllable and often written with an accent: ventitré, trentatré, quarantatré.

Giulia's Pattern Tip: Memorize all tens: venti, trenta, quaranta, cinquanta, sessanta, settanta, ottanta, novanta, cento.

How Italians Tell Time

Current time: Use "sono le" for most hours (sono le due, sono le tre, sono le otto), but "è l'una" for one o'clock and "è mezzogiorno" for noon.

Adding minutes: Add "e" (and) plus the minutes: sono le otto e cinque (8:05), sono le tre e venti (3:20). For half past, use "e mezza" (more common than "e trenta").

Before the hour: Use "meno" (minus): sono le otto meno dieci (7:50), sono le nove meno un quarto (8:45).

Scheduling appointments: Use "alle" (at) plus the hour: alle otto (at 8), all'una (at 1), a mezzogiorno (at noon).

24-hour vs 12-hour: Formal settings often use 24-hour time (le venti equals 8pm). In conversation, specify: le otto di sera (8pm), le otto di mattina (8am).

Giulia's Restaurant Tip: When making reservations, always repeat the time back: "Perfetto, alle otto e mezza—at eight thirty." This confirms everyone understands.

How to Say Dates in Italian

Orthography: In Italian, days and months are written in lowercase (lunedì, marzo) unless they start a sentence.

Date structure: Use "il" plus the number plus the month: il 15 marzo (March 15th), il 20 dicembre (December 20th). The first of the month uses "primo": il primo gennaio (January 1st).

With weekday: Martedì, il 15 marzo (Tuesday, March 15th). The article stays with the date number.

Habits vs specific days:

• Di lunedì = on Mondays (habitually)

• Lunedì or lunedì prossimo = next Monday (specific)

• Il sabato = on Saturdays (general habit)

Giulia's Scheduling Tip: When confirming appointments, say the full date: "Perfetto, martedì 15 marzo alle otto e mezza." Clear communication prevents mistakes.

How to Say Prices in Italian

Note: Euro is invariable (singular and plural both "euro"). In writing, Italy uses a comma for decimals: €15,50.

Whole Euros:

• Cinque euro (5 euros)

• Venti euro (20 euros)

• Cento euro (100 euros)

Euros and Cents:

• €15,50 → Quindici euro e cinquanta (often just "Quindici e cinquanta" in speech)

• €20,20 → Venti euro e venti

• €8,90 → Otto euro e novanta

Restaurant Price Examples: