Join a ten and a unit with e
Vinte e um = 21.
Quarenta e dois = 42.
Cinquenta e oito = 58.
Noventa e nove = 99.
Keep the ten intact, then add e (“and”) and the unit.
Brazilian Portuguese · A practical learning resource
Brazilian Portuguese numbers: 0 to 100
Read the number, recognise its parts, and use it in a short exchange. A written practice set you can repeat or print.
Start with the building blocks.
Use this reference in two passes. First, read a number and cover the Portuguese. Then cover the digits and work back from the word. These are written exercises; hearing a Brazilian Portuguese speaker is a separate part of pronunciation and listening practice.
- 0
- zero
- 1
- um
- 2
- dois
- 3
- três
- 4
- quatro
- 5
- cinco
- 6
- seis
- 7
- sete
- 8
- oito
- 9
- nove
- 10
- dez
- 11
- onze
- 12
- doze
- 13
- treze
- 14
- quatorze / catorze
- 15
- quinze
- 16
- dezesseis
- 17
- dezessete
- 18
- dezoito
- 19
- dezenove
- 20
- vinte
- 30
- trinta
- 40
- quarenta
- 50
- cinquenta
- 60
- sessenta
- 70
- setenta
- 80
- oitenta
- 90
- noventa
- 100
- cem
Practise the whole number
Look at 16 and 60 together: dezesseis and sessenta. Learn each complete word rather than guessing from its first letters.
These exercises use the standalone forms um and dois. With feminine nouns you will also encounter uma and duas, for example duas águas.
Match twelve written numbers.
Choose the matching digits, then check all your answers. Without JavaScript, cover each explanation and write your choice on paper. The print version includes the full practice set and answer explanations.
1. Which digits match “zero”?
Answer: 0
Zero means 0. Ten is dez and one hundred is cem.
2. Which digits match “três”?
Answer: 3
The accent in três belongs to the spelling of the number three.
3. Which digits match “sete”?
Answer: 7
Sete is 7. Seventeen is dezessete.
4. Which digits match “dez”?
Answer: 10
Dez is 10. Doze is 12.
5. Which digits match “quatorze”?
Answer: 14
Quatorze and catorze are both used for 14.
6. Which digits match “dezesseis”?
Answer: 16
Dezesseis is 16. Sessenta is 60.
7. Which digits match “vinte”?
Answer: 20
Vinte is 20. Its compound numbers use e before the unit.
8. Which digits match “vinte e um”?
Answer: 21
Vinte e um combines vinte, e and um: 20 + 1.
9. Which digits match “quarenta e dois”?
Answer: 42
Quarenta is 40; dois adds 2. The result is 42.
10. Which digits match “cinquenta e oito”?
Answer: 58
Cinquenta is 50; oito adds 8. The result is 58.
11. Which digits match “noventa e nove”?
Answer: 99
Noventa is 90; nove adds 9. Dezenove is 19.
12. Which digits match “cem”?
Answer: 100
Cem is exactly 100. Do not confuse it with dez, which is 10.
Use a number in a price exchange.
These are invented amounts for language practice. They are not estimates of prices in Brazil. Brazilian currency notation uses a comma before the centavos: R$ 12,50 means twelve reais and fifty centavos.
Practice amount: R$ 12,50
— Quanto custa?
— Doze reais e cinquenta centavos.
— Pode escrever, por favor?
How much does it cost? Twelve reais and fifty centavos. Can you write it down, please?
Practice amount: R$ 25,00
Try writing this amount in Portuguese before reading the model.
Vinte e cinco reais.
Twenty-five reais. In this example there are no centavos to add.
For a partner exercise, write five amounts under R$ 100 on paper. Ask the price, say the amount, and ask for repetition once. Swap roles. If practising alone, say each written number before checking the reference.
Put the numbers into a conversation
Use the beginner phrase reference on Barbara Sharon’s website to connect numbers with greetings, questions and requests for clarification.
Read Barbara’s beginner phrase guide