Learn Italian cardinal numbers with a focus on the tens (10, 20, 30, etc.). This lesson explains how to form numbers from 21 to 99 by combining tens and units, highlighting the rule of dropping the final vowel of the tens before 'uno' and 'otto'. Includes examples and useful notes to understand Italian number formation naturally and correctly.
- Numbers from 21 to 99 are formed with decina + numero.
- Remove the final vowel of the ten with uno and otto.
Decine (10, 20, ...)
| Numero | Esempio |
|---|---|
| 10: Dieci (Ten) | 16: Sedici (Sixteen) |
| 20: Venti (Twenty) | 21: Ventuno (Twenty-one) |
| 30: Trenta (Thirty) | 35: Trentacinque (Thirty-five) |
| 40: Quaranta (Forty) | 48: Quarantotto (Forty-eight) |
| 50: Cinquanta (Fifty) | 59: Cinquantanove (Fifty-nine) |
| 60: Sessanta (Sixty) | 63: Sessantatre (Sixty-three) |
| 70: Settanta (Seventy) | 77: Settantasetta (Seventy-seven) |
| 80: Ottanta (Eighty) | 82: Ottantadue (eighty-two) |
| 90: Novanta (Ninety) | 96: Novantasei (Ninety-six) |
Exceptions!
- "Una dozzina" means 12. Example: "Una dozzina di uova" (A dozen eggs).
Exercise 1: Numeri cardinali: le decine
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
novanta, quarantasetta, ottanta, sessanta, venti, ottantanove, cinquanta, ventuno
1.
20:
...
(Twenty)
2.
80:
...
(Eighty)
3.
90:
...
(Ninety)
4.
60:
...
(Sixty)
5.
50:
...
(Fifty)
6.
21:
...
(Twenty-one)
7.
89:
...
(Eighty-nine)
8.
47:
...
(Forty-seven)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ho comprato ___ arance al mercato.
(I bought ___ oranges at the market.)2. La riunione inizierà ___ minuti dopo le due.
(The meeting will start ___ minutes past two.)3. I biglietti costano ___ euro ciascuno.
(The tickets cost ___ euros each.)4. Abbiamo ordinato ___ pizze per la festa.
(We ordered ___ pizzas for the party.)5. La città ha ___ abitanti.
(The city has ___ inhabitants.)6. Ha guadagnato ___ euro l'anno scorso.
(He earned ___ euros last year.)
