Portuguese Numbers: For Brazil and Portugal
The Portuguese number system is very regular. From 21 onward, numbers are connected with "e" (and), like in "vinte e um". Tips & rules for learning all numbers from 1 to 100.
How Portuguese Numbers Are Structured
The Portuguese number system is very logically structured. Most numbers follow clear rules, with the key feature being the use of "e" (and).
- 1-10
-
Basic numbers: um/uma, dois/duas, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez
These must be memorized. Um and dois have feminine forms (uma, duas).
- 11-15
-
Irregular forms: onze, doze, treze, catorze, quinze
Like in Spanish, these numbers have their own unique names and must be learned separately.
- 16-19
-
Formed with "dez-": dezasseis, dezassete, dezoito, dezanove
Combination of dez + basic number. In Brazil: dezesseis.
- 20-99
-
Tens + e + ones: vinte e um, trinta e dois, quarenta e três
From 20 onward, the tens and ones are connected with "e" (and).
- 100+
-
Hundred: cem (100), cento e um (101)
Cem stands for exactly 100, cento is used for 101-199.
Portuguese Numbers from 1 to 100
All Portuguese numbers from 1 to 100 in overview. Perfect for systematic learning and quick reference.
Test Your Portuguese Number Skills
Can you match these numbers correctly? How confident are you with Portuguese numbers from 1-100?
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Hundreds, Thousands and Large Numbers
Here are the key numbers and their formation:
- 100
-
cem
Standing alone: cem. In combination: cento e um, cento e dois…
- 200-900
-
duzentos, trezentos, quatrocentos, quinhentos, seiscentos, setecentos, oitocentos, novecentos
The hundreds agree with gender: duzentos (masculine) vs. duzentas (feminine).
- 1,000
-
mil
One thousand
- 1,000,000
-
um milhão
One million
- 1,000,000,000
-
mil milhões
One billion (in Portugal). In Brazil: um bilhão.
- 1,000,000,000,000
-
um bilião
One trillion (in Portugal). In Brazil: um trilhão.
Common Pitfalls When Learning Numbers
Hearing or quickly pronouncing numbers can be challenging. These cases often lead to confusion:
-
Gender agreement (um/uma, dois/duas):
vinte e um anos (21 years) vs. vinte e uma pessoas (21 people). Numbers 1 and 2 as well as the hundreds agree with gender. -
Similar-sounding numbers:
seis (6) and sete (7) or dezasseis (16) and dezassete (17) can easily be confused when speaking quickly. -
"Cem" vs. "cento":
100 = cem (standing alone or before thousand/million)
101-199 = cento e ... -
Brazil vs. Portugal:
Besides minor spelling variations (dezasseis vs. dezesseis), the biggest difference is with large numbers: One billion is mil milhões in Portugal, but um bilhão in Brazil.
Understanding and Using Numbers in Daily Life
In spoken Portuguese, numbers are often pronounced quickly – especially when dealing with:
-
Time expressions:
É uma hora = It's one o'clock
São três horas = It's three o'clock
três e um quarto = quarter past three (3:15)
três e meia = half past three (3:30)
um quarto para as quatro = quarter to four (3:45)
dez para as seis = ten to six (5:50)
nove e vinte e cinco = twenty-five past nine (9:25) -
Money amounts:
sete euros e cinquenta cêntimos = €7.50
vinte e dois euros e trinta cêntimos = €22.30
massa, guita = money (slang)
São dezoito euros. = It's eighteen euros. -
Years:
1500 → mil e quinhentos
1998 → mil novecentos e noventa e oito
2024 → dois mil e vinte e quatro -
Basic math operations:
8 + 4 = 12 → oito mais quatro são doze
10 - 3 = 7 → dez menos três são sete
5 × 5 = 25 → cinco vezes cinco são vinte e cinco
20 ÷ 4 = 5 → vinte dividido por quatro são cinco -
Fractions and decimals:
½ → metade, meio
¼ → um quarto
0.5 → zero vírgula cinco
3.14 → três vírgula catorze
Unique Features of Portuguese Numbers
Portuguese has certain linguistic conventions and unique characteristics when dealing with numbers. Here's an overview of typical features:
-
The conjunction "e" (and):
"e" is used to connect tens and ones (e.g. vinte e um), hundreds and tens (e.g. cento e vinte), and thousands and hundreds (e.g. mil e cem). -
Gender agreement:
The numbers for 1 (um/uma) and 2 (dois/duas) as well as all hundreds from 200 to 900 (duzentos/as, etc.) agree with the gender of the noun. -
Number notation with periods and commas:
Unlike in English, Portuguese uses periods for thousands and commas for decimals (European style):
1.000,50 = mil vírgula cinquenta -
Differences between Brazil and Portugal:
Besides minor spelling variations (dezasseis vs. dezesseis), the biggest difference is with large numbers: One billion is mil milhões in Portugal, but um bilhão in Brazil.
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