How to Count in Portuguese: A Simple Beginner’s Guide

Understanding the Basics: Portuguese Numbers 1 to 10

Counting in Portuguese starts with the numbers from one to ten, which form the building blocks for higher numbers. Here are the numbers 1 to 10 in Portuguese along with their pronunciations:

• 1 – um (oom)
• 2 – dois (doysh)
• 3 – três (traysh)
• 4 – quatro (kwah-troh)
• 5 – cinco (seen-koh)
• 6 – seis (saysh)
• 7 – sete (seh-chee)
• 8 – oito (oy-toh)
• 9 – nove (noh-vee)
• 10 – dez (days)

Understanding these basic numbers is crucial because they are used as components in larger numbers and everyday conversation.

Counting from 11 to 20: The Teens in Portuguese

Numbers 11 to 20 in Portuguese have unique names that often don’t directly translate from the base numbers, making this group important to memorize carefully:

• 11 – onze (on-zee)
• 12 – doze (doe-zee)
• 13 – treze (treh-zee)
• 14 – quatorze (kah-tohr-zee) / catorze (kah-tohr-zee) *
• 15 – quinze (keen-zee)
• 16 – dezesseis (deh-zeh-says) [Brazil] / dezasseis (deh-zah-says) [Portugal]
• 17 – dezessete (deh-zeh-seh-chee) [Brazil] / dezassete (deh-zah-seh-chee) [Portugal]
• 18 – dezoito (deh-zoy-toh)
• 19 – dezenove (deh-zeh-noh-vee)
• 20 – vinte (veen-chee)

*Note: “Quatorze” and “catorze” are interchangeable, with “quatorze” being more common in Portugal and “catorze” in Brazil.

Forming Numbers 21 to 99: Combining Tens and Units

After 20, Portuguese numbers are formed by combining the tens and units with the conjunction “e” (and). This pattern is consistent from 21 to 99, making it predictable once learned.

• 21 – vinte e um (veen-chee ee oom)
• 32 – trinta e dois (treen-tah ee doysh)
• 45 – quarenta e cinco (kwah-ren-tah ee seen-koh)
• 58 – cinquenta e oito (seen-kwen-tah ee oy-toh)
• 67 – sessenta e sete (seh-sen-tah ee seh-chee)
• 79 – setenta e nove (seh-ten-tah ee noh-vee)
• 83 – oitenta e três (oy-ten-tah ee traysh)
• 99 – noventa e nove (noh-ven-tah ee noh-vee)

This structure simplifies learning “how to count in Portuguese” beyond 20 and helps learners quickly create any number between 21 and 99.

The Hundreds and Thousands: Expanding Your Number Range

Portuguese numbers continue to build logically in the hundreds and thousands, with a few exceptions to note:

Hundreds

• 100 – cem (before nouns), cento (used for numbers 101-199)
• 200 – duzentos (doo-zen-tohs)
• 300 – trezentos (treh-zen-tohs)
• 400 – quatrocentos (kwah-troh-sen-tohs)
• 500 – quinhentos (keen-yen-tohs)
• 600 – seiscentos (says-sen-tohs)
• 700 – setecentos (seh-teh-sen-tohs)
• 800 – oitocentos (oy-toh-sen-tohs)
• 900 – novecentos (noh-veh-sen-tohs)

Example:

• 101 – cento e um
• 235 – duzentos e trinta e cinco

Thousands

• 1,000 – mil (meel)
• 2,000 – dois mil
• 10,000 – dez mil
• 100,000 – cem mil
• 1,000,000 – um milhão (oo mee-lyown)

Remember that thousands are not pluralized when used with numbers (e.g., “dois mil” not “dois mils”).

Tips for Mastering How to Count in Portuguese

Mastering Portuguese numbers can be challenging, but using the right strategies can speed up your progress:

• Practice with Flashcards: Create flashcards for numbers 1-100 and quiz yourself daily to build recall speed.
• Use Talkpal’s Interactive Exercises: Engaging with native speakers or AI tutors on Talkpal helps reinforce pronunciation and usage.
• Incorporate Numbers into Daily Life: Practice counting objects around you, such as fruits, steps, or time, using Portuguese numbers.
• Listen to Portuguese Media: Songs, podcasts, and videos often include numbers, providing context and natural repetition.
• Write Numbers in Portuguese: Writing out numbers and their words helps reinforce memory and spelling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Counting in Portuguese

To become fluent in counting, be aware of these common pitfalls:

• Confusing “cem” and “cento”: Use “cem” only for exactly 100, and “cento” for numbers above 100.
• Omitting the Conjunction “e”: Portuguese uses “e” (and) to join tens and units; skipping it leads to incorrect numbers.
• Pluralizing “mil”: “Mil” is invariable and should not be pluralized.
• Mispronouncing Nasal Sounds: Pay attention to nasal vowels like in “um” and “cem” to avoid misunderstandings.

Using Numbers in Everyday Portuguese Conversations

Once you know how to count in Portuguese, you can use numbers in various practical situations:

• Shopping: Asking prices and quantities, e.g., “Quanto custa?” (How much does it cost?) and “Eu quero dois.” (I want two.)
• Telling Time: Expressing hours and minutes, e.g., “São três horas.” (It is three o’clock.)
• Giving Phone Numbers: Communicating digits clearly and accurately.
• Discussing Dates and Ages: Talking about birthdays, anniversaries, and age.
• Counting Items: Inventory, ordering food, or describing quantities.

How Talkpal Enhances Your Learning Experience

Talkpal is an excellent platform for anyone wanting to learn how to count in Portuguese effectively. It offers:

• Interactive Conversations: Practice counting in real-life contexts with virtual tutors.
• Personalized Feedback: Receive corrections on pronunciation and grammar instantly.
• Engaging Lessons: Use gamified exercises focused on numbers and counting skills.
• Flexible Learning: Study at your own pace, anytime and anywhere.

By integrating Talkpal into your study routine, you gain access to tools that make mastering Portuguese numbers faster and more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Learning how to count in Portuguese is a foundational skill that opens the door to fluency and everyday communication. From mastering the basics of numbers 1 to 10, understanding the teens, and building up to hundreds and thousands, each step is essential. Using resources like Talkpal can significantly enhance your learning experience by providing interactive and contextual practice. With consistent effort and the right strategies, counting in Portuguese will become second nature, enabling you to confidently navigate conversations, travel, and cultural experiences in Portuguese-speaking countries.