Introduction
Numbers are one of the most practical parts of learning Brazilian Portuguese. They appear in prices, phone numbers, addresses, dates, times, and simple conversations. This article teaches how to use Portuguese numbers in real beginner sentences, with clear explanations, everyday vocabulary, and lots of short, useful examples in Brazilian Portuguese.
- Basic Portuguese number words (0–20)
- Forming tens, hundreds and thousands
- Using numbers in real beginner sentences
- Common beginner phrases with numbers
- Beginner tips for learning and using numbers
- Short practice exercises
- Useful vocabulary list for quick reference
- Practice conversation for beginners
- Conclusion
Basic Portuguese number words (0–20)
Start by learning the core words. These are the building blocks for all other numbers and appear constantly in speech and signs.
0 zero
1 um / uma
2 dois / duas
3 três
4 quatro
5 cinco
6 seis
7 sete
8 oito
9 nove
10 dez
11 onze
12 doze
13 treze
14 quatorze
15 quinze
16 dezesseis
17 dezessete
18 dezoito
19 dezenove
20 vinte
Pronunciation and gender basics
Portuguese number words have gender in some cases. Use um for masculine nouns and uma for feminine nouns when saying one. For two, três, and higher numbers, match the gender for 2, 3, etc. with duas and duas for feminine nouns. Pronunciation tips: três sounds like trays, oito sounds like oy-to, and quinze like keen-zee but listen to native audio to perfect vowels.
Forming tens, hundreds and thousands
Once you know 0–20, combining words becomes simple. The tens are vinte (20), trinta (30), quarenta (40), cinquenta (50), sessenta (60), setenta (70), oitenta (80), noventa (90). Hundreds are cem (100 when alone), cento (used for 101–199), duzentos (200), trezentos (300), quatrocentos (400), quinhentos (500), seiscentos (600), setecentos (700), oitocentos (800), novecentos (900). Thousand is mil.
Combine tens and units with e (and) when needed. Examples:
21 vinte e um
35 trinta e cinco
99 noventa e nove
101 cento e um
1.000 mil
Practical tip
Use e only between tens and units or hundreds and following tens/units. Do not use e between thousands and hundreds unless required by style.
Using numbers in real beginner sentences
Below are everyday contexts and short sample sentences you will actually use or encounter. All Portuguese examples are Brazilian and written in simple language.
1. Saying your age
Vocabulary: idade means age.
Qual é a sua idade? — Qual é a sua idade?
Eu tenho vinte e cinco anos. — I am twenty-five years old.
Tenho dezesseis anos. — I am sixteen years old.
2. Talking about prices
Vocabulary: quanto custa? means how much does it cost? reais is the currency (R$ for reais).
Quanto custa? — Quanto custa?
É cinquenta reais. — It is fifty reais.
O suco custa R$5. — The juice costs R$5.
Promoção: dois por um. — Promotion: two for one.
3. Giving phone numbers
Vocabulary: telefone or celular for phone. Portuguese digits are read individually when giving phone numbers.
Meu número é 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0. — Meu número é 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0.
Ligue para mim às oito. — Call me at eight.
4. Dates and days
Vocabulary: hoje (today), amanhã (tomorrow), dia (day), mês (month).
Hoje é dia quinze de junho. — Today is the fifteenth of June.
Meu aniversário é em setembro. — My birthday is in September.
Reunião dia 3. — Meeting on the 3rd.
5. Time and schedules
Vocabulary: horas for hours / o’clock, meia for half (used in time), e for past minutes.
São duas horas. — It is two o’clock.
São três e meia. — It is three thirty.
A aula começa às nove. — The class starts at nine.
6. Quantities and measurements
Vocabulary: muito (a lot), pouco (a little), mais (more), menos (less), litro, quilo.
Eu tenho três irmãos. — I have three siblings.
Comprei um litro de leite. — I bought one liter of milk.
Preciso de duas colheres. — I need two spoons.
7. Simple directions and addresses
Vocabulary: rua (street), número (number), bloco (block), apartamento (apartment).
Mora na Rua das Flores, número vinte. — Lives on Rua das Flores, number twenty.
Meu apartamento é o 12. — My apartment is number 12.
Common beginner phrases with numbers
Here are short phrases learners often need. Practice these aloud and memorize the number positions.
Tem quantos anos? — How old are you?
Tenho vinte anos. — I’m twenty years old.
Quanto custa isso? — How much does this cost?
Custa trinta reais. — It costs thirty reais.
Que horas são? — What time is it?
São oito e quinze. — It’s eight fifteen.
Examples with line breaks for clarity
Quero duas cervejas.
Por favor, duas cervejas.
O ônibus sai às 6:30.
O ônibus sai às seis e meia.
Tem uma promoção: 3 por R$20.
Três por vinte reais.
Beginner tips for learning and using numbers
1. Learn digits first: practice 0–9 until you can say them quickly. Many situations require reading numbers digit by digit.
2. Practice listening: watch short videos or audios where prices, phone numbers, or schedules are read aloud.
3. Repeat real phrases: memorize common sentence structures like Tenho X anos and Custa X reais, then swap numbers.
4. Be careful with gender: use um/uma and dois/duas correctly: um carro, uma casa, dois carros, duas casas.
5. Write numbers in Portuguese when you keep a journal or notes to reinforce spelling and grammar.
Common beginner mistakes
Mixing um and uma: Remember to match the noun gender. Say um livro, not uma livro.
Omitting e between tens and units: Write 21 as vinte e um, not vinte um.
Using cem incorrectly: Use cem for exactly 100 and cento for numbers above 100 like cento e dois.
Reading phone numbers as multi-digit numbers: Read digits individually, not as one large number, when giving phone numbers.
Short practice exercises
Translate these to Portuguese (speak aloud if possible):
I am 30 years old.
The coffee costs R$8.
My apartment number is 45.
The train leaves at 7:15.
Answers:
Tenho trinta anos.
O café custa oito reais.
Meu apartamento é o 45. — Meu apartamento é o quarenta e cinco.
O trem sai às sete e quinze. — O trem sai às sete e quinze.
Useful vocabulary list for quick reference
idade — age
anos — years
quanto custa — how much does it cost
reais — Brazilian currency
telefone / celular — phone
hora / horas — hour / hours
meia — half (when telling time)
dia / mês / ano — day / month / year
número — number
Practice conversation for beginners
Simple dialogue you might hear at a store or kiosk:
Cliente: Quanto custa esta camiseta?
Vendedor: Vinte e cinco reais.
Cliente: Eu pago com cartão. Quanto é o troco?
Vendedor: Não precisa, o total é vinte e cinco.
Conclusion
Portuguese numbers are essential for everyday life in Brazil: shopping, travel, schedules, and simple conversation. Start with digits 0–20, learn tens and hundreds, and practice high-frequency sentences like Tenho X anos and Custa X reais. Use the examples in this article to build confidence and speak numbers naturally in Brazilian Portuguese.
