Learn Portuguese Numbers: Easy Guide!

Learn Portuguese Numbers: Easy Guide!

Understanding numbers in a new language is a fundamental step towards achieving fluency. It’s not only about being able to count but also about unlocking the door to local culture, managing daily tasks, and, indeed, having smoother conversations. Whether you’re planning a trip to Portugal or Brazil, doing business with Portuguese-speaking clients, or simply have a passion for language learning, mastering Portuguese numbers is a must. In this simple guide, you’ll learn how to count in Portuguese, understand the nuances, and apply this knowledge to practical situations.

Basic Portuguese Numbers

Let’s start from the beginning. Here are the Portuguese numbers from zero to ten, an excellent starting point for beginners:

• 0 – Zero
• 1 – Um (masculine), Uma (feminine)
• 2 – Dois (m), Duas (f)
• 3 – Três
• 4 – Quatro
• 5 – Cinco
• 6 – Seis
• 7 – Sete
• 8 – Oito
• 9 – Nove
• 10 – Dez

Numbers 11-20 in Portuguese

After mastering the basics, it’s time to move a little further. Numbers eleven through twenty have unique words that you’ll need to memorize:

• 11 – Onze
• 12 – Doze
• 13 – Treze
• 14 – Catorze or Quatorze
• 15 – Quinze
• 16 – Dezesseis
• 17 – Dezessete
• 18 – Dezoito
• 19 – Dezenove
• 20 – Vinte

Tens and Hundreds

Groups of ten, from thirty to one hundred, are simple in Portuguese as they follow a consistent pattern:

• 30 – Trinta
• 40 – Quarenta

When it comes to hundreds, Portuguese numbers also have a clear structure:

• 100 – Cem
• 200 – Duzentos (m), Duzentas (f)

Forming Complex Numbers

Combining these numbers is your next step. For example, 21 in Portuguese is “vinte e um” (masculine) or “vinte e uma” (feminine). For numbers over one hundred, the conjunction “e” (and) is used, such as “cento e um” (101).

Here’s how you’d form numbers like 57 or 342:

• 57 – Cinquenta e sete
• 342 – Trezentos e quarenta e dois (m), Trezentas e quarenta e duas (f)

Counting in Thousands and Beyond

In Portuguese, the word for thousand is “mil” and it does not change. Here’s an example of larger numbers:

• 1,000 – Mil
• 2,000 – Dois mil (m), Duas mil (f)

Using Portuguese Numbers in Everyday Life

With the basics under your belt, you can now apply these numbers to various everyday situations like shopping, telling the time, or giving out your phone number. To give you a better understanding, here are some examples:

• How much does this cost? – Quanto custa isso?
• It’s half past three – São três e meia.
• My phone number is… – Meu número de telefone é…

Practical Tips for Memorizing Numbers

To effectively learn and remember these numbers, practice regularly by counting out loud, listening to Portuguese speakers, or using flashcards. Try labeling items around your home with their Portuguese number prices, or play number-based games in Portuguese to reinforce your skills.

Conclusion

Learning Portuguese numbers might seem daunting at first, but with this guide and regular practice, you’ll be able to grasp the basics and build upon them as you work towards fluency. Stick with it, and soon you’ll count numbers like a native Portuguese speaker!