Introduction
Counting is an essential part of everyday life, whether you're shopping, telling time, or organizing tasks. Learning how to count in Portuguese will help you communicate effectively in various situations.
Numbers in Portuguese
Basic Numbers
Here are the most important numbers in Portuguese, from zero to ten:
| Number | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| 0 | zero |
| 1 | um |
| 2 | dois |
| 3 | três |
| 4 | quatro |
| 5 | cinco |
| 6 | seis |
| 7 | sete |
| 8 | oito |
| 9 | nove |
| 10 | dez |
Numbers 11-20
These numbers have unique names that you’ll need to memorize:
| Number | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| 11 | onze |
| 12 | doze |
| 13 | treze |
| 14 | quatorze |
| 15 | quinze |
| 16 | dezesseis |
| 17 | dezessete |
| 18 | dezoito |
| 19 | dezenove |
| 20 | vinte |
Tens: 30-100
Once you know the multiples of ten, counting becomes much easier:
| Number | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| 30 | trinta |
| 40 | quarenta |
| 50 | cinquenta |
| 60 | sessenta |
| 70 | setenta |
| 80 | oitenta |
| 90 | noventa |
| 100 | cem |
Compound Numbers
In Portuguese, numbers between the tens (like 21, 22, 35, etc.) are formed by combining the tens with the units, using "e" (meaning "and") to connect them.
- 21: vinte e um
- 22: vinte e dois
- 33: trinta e três
- 44: quarenta e quatro
- 55: cinquenta e cinco
- 66: sessenta e seis
- 77: setenta e sete
- 88: oitenta e oito
- 99: noventa e nove
Practical Examples
Shopping
- Eu quero três maçãs.
- I want three apples.
- Isso custa vinte e cinco reais.
- This costs twenty-five reais.
Time
- São nove horas.
- It's nine o'clock.
- A reunião é às dezesseis horas.
- The meeting is at sixteen (4 PM).
Summary
By mastering these numbers, you'll be able to handle common situations in Portuguese-speaking environments, from making purchases to telling the time. Remember that practice is key, so use these numbers in real-life contexts whenever possible.