The Italian language is enchanting with its melody, and even the numbers sound especially beautiful in it: uno, due, tre… Mastering them is easy if you know a few interesting methods. Let's share effective life hacks and learn numbers in Italian together with WomanEL.
Content Why you should learn numbers in ItalianNumbers from 1 to 10 in ItalianLearning to count through associationsLearning numbers through music and moviesTalk to yourself and count everything around youNumbers in the lives of Italians
Why you should learn numbers in Italian
Even if you're just starting out in Italian, numbers are useful everywhere: in the store, at a restaurant, when booking a hotel, or just to understand prices. Plus, they're a great way to practice your pronunciation and get a feel for the rhythm of the language.
As the Italian writer Umberto Eco said: “Language is an infinite world in which every word has its own story.” And numbers are the first bricks from which the construction of your linguistic world begins.
Let's learn numbers in Italian. Source: freepik.com
Numbers 1 to 10 in Italian
Here's what the first ten numbers look like in Italian:
- 1 – uno (uno)
- 2 – due (due)
- 3 – tre (three)
- 4 – quattro
- 5 – cinque (five)
- 6 – sei (sei)
- 7 – sette (sette)
- 8 – otto (otto)
- 9 – nove (new)
- 10 – dieci (ten)
It will be easier to remember them if you repeat them out loud and find associations. For example, “otto” is similar to the English “octo” (eight), and “tre” resembles a triangle.
Learning to count through associations
Associative thinking helps to consolidate new words in memory. For example:
- Uno (1) resembles the word “unique” – the first and only.
- Due (2) is consonant with the English “duo” – a duet, that is, two.
- Tre (3) is easy to remember because of the triangle – three sides.
- Cinque (5) sounds like “cinque” – imagine five fingers on a hand.
If a number is associated with some familiar thing or word, it will be much easier to remember it.
Learning numbers through music and movies
Music is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn a language. Italian songs often contain numbers, so listen carefully! For example, the song “Per un'ora d'amore” by Matia Bazar has lines about time: hours and minutes.
And numbers often appear in films. In the comedy “Tre uomini e una gamba” (“Three Men and One Leg”), you can already see the number three in the title. Choose a film that has numbers and try to catch them by ear!
Talk to yourself and count everything around you.
To learn numbers faster, it is worth using them in everyday life. Count everything: steps, products in the basket, cutlery on the table. For example, “due mele” (two apples), “quattro sedie” (four chairs).
If you do this regularly, numbers will become part of your speech. You will no longer have to think about translating them.
Numbers in the lives of Italians
Italians love to play with numbers in expressions and sayings. For example, the phrase “fare quattro chiacchiere” means “to talk,” although it literally translates as “to make four small talk.” And the expression “essere al settimo cielo” (to be on seventh heaven) sounds the same as its Ukrainian counterpart.
So, learning Italian numbers can be easy and enjoyable. Use associations, listen to music, watch movies, count everything around you – and very soon these words will become natural for you. As the Italians say: “Piano piano si va lontano” – “Slowly but surely we move forward.”
Previously, we talked about numbers and numerals in Polish: a useful guide for beginners.