Portuguese Cardinal Numbers

Portuguese cardinal numbers are the numbers used for counting and expressing quantity.

Table of Contents

They answer the question:

“How many?”

Examples include:

Cardinal numbers are used in many everyday situations such as:

Learning cardinal numbers is the foundation for understanding Portuguese numbers.

Portuguese Cardinal Numbers 1–20

The first twenty numbers are important to memorize because they are used to form larger numbers.

You can also view the full number chart here:

Portuguese numbers follow a clear pattern.

Examples:

21 = vinte e um
24 = vinte e quatro
37 = trinta e sete
48 = quarenta e oito
59 = cinquenta e nove

The structure is:

ten + e + unit

Examples:

42 = quarenta e dois
67 = sessenta e sete

These combine with the numbers 1–9 to form larger numbers.

Example:

45 = quarenta e cinco

Portuguese hundreds follow a regular pattern.

Examples:

100 = cem
200 = duzentos
300 = trezentos

When additional numbers follow, cento is used instead of cem.

Example:

145 = cento e quarenta e cinco

Examples:

1,000 = mil
2,000 = dois mil
10,000 = dez mil

Portuguese numbers continue to follow predictable patterns as they increase.

Example sentences:

Eu tenho três livros.
(I have three books.)

O preço é cinquenta euros.
(The price is fifty euros.)

Há vinte estudantes na sala.
(There are twenty students in the room.)

You can practice Portuguese numbers using the interactive tools below.

Example: 1234

Further reference: Learn101 Portuguese numbers.