Understanding Portuguese Numbers: The Basics
Cardinal Numbers (Números Cardinais)
Cardinal numbers are the numbers you use for counting: one, two, three, and so on. Here’s a quick look at how to say the numbers 1-20 in Portuguese:
- 1 – um (masculine), uma (feminine)
- 2 – dois (masculine), duas (feminine)
- 3 – três
- 4 – quatro
- 5 – cinco
- 6 – seis
- 7 – sete
- 8 – oito
- 9 – nove
- 10 – dez
- 11 – onze
- 12 – doze
- 13 – treze
- 14 – catorze or quatorze
- 15 – quinze
- 16 – dezesseis (Brazil), dezasseis (Portugal)
- 17 – dezessete (Brazil), dezassete (Portugal)
- 18 – dezoito
- 19 – dezenove (Brazil), dezanove (Portugal)
- 20 – vinte
After 20, numbers are formed by combining tens and units, similar to English. For example, 21 is “vinte e um,” 35 is “trinta e cinco,” and so on.
Gender Agreement with Numbers
In Portuguese, “one” and “two” must agree in gender with the noun they describe. For example:
- um carro (one car, masculine)
- uma casa (one house, feminine)
- dois amigos (two friends, masculine)
- duas amigas (two friends, feminine)
Large Numbers
The system for large numbers is straightforward:
- 100 – cem
- 200 – duzentos
- 1,000 – mil
- 10,000 – dez mil
- 100,000 – cem mil
- 1,000,000 – um milhão
Note: In Portuguese, a period is used as a thousands separator, and a comma is used for decimals (e.g., 1.000,50 means 1,000.50 in English).
How to Say Ordinal Numbers in Portuguese
Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are used for dates, floors, and order:
- 1st – primeiro
- 2nd – segundo
- 3rd – terceiro
- 4th – quarto
- 5th – quinto
Ordinal numbers also agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Expressing Dates in Portuguese
Structure for Saying Dates
Portuguese dates typically follow this format: day + de + month + de + year. Here are some examples:
- 1 de janeiro de 2024 (January 1, 2024)
- 15 de maio de 2023 (May 15, 2023)
Unlike English, Portuguese does not use ordinal numbers for the day of the month except for the first (primeiro):
- 1º de julho (primeiro de julho)
- 2 de julho (dois de julho)
Months of the Year
- janeiro – January
- fevereiro – February
- março – March
- abril – April
- maio – May
- junho – June
- julho – July
- agosto – August
- setembro – September
- outubro – October
- novembro – November
- dezembro – December
How to Read Years in Portuguese
Years are read as full numbers, not split as in English. For example:
- 1999 – mil novecentos e noventa e nove
- 2024 – dois mil e vinte e quatro
Tips for Practicing Numbers and Dates
- Practice counting aloud and writing out numbers in full.
- Use Talkpal’s interactive exercises to reinforce your listening and pronunciation skills.
- Read Portuguese calendars, news articles, and event posters to get familiar with how dates appear in real contexts.
- Try saying today’s date every morning to build the habit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t confuse commas and periods in numbers (1.500 is one thousand five hundred, not one point five).
- Remember gender agreement for “um/uma” and “dois/duas.”
- Don’t use ordinal numbers for dates except for the first day of the month.
Conclusion
Learning to say numbers and dates correctly in Portuguese is essential for clear communication and everyday interactions. By understanding the basic rules and practicing regularly with resources like Talkpal’s AI language learning tools, you’ll gain fluency faster and avoid common pitfalls. Keep practicing, and soon, numbers and dates in Portuguese will feel natural!
