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Introduction
Counting in European Portuguese can be a bit challenging for beginners, but with the right guidance, it becomes much easier. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of accurately counting in European Portuguese. Whether you are planning to visit Portugal or simply want to expand your language skills, this guide will help you master the art of counting in European Portuguese.
Step 1: Learn the Numbers 1-10
The first step in counting in European Portuguese is to familiarize yourself with the numbers from 1 to 10. Here are the numbers and their pronunciations:
1 – um (oom)
2 – dois (doys)
3 – três (tresh)
4 – quatro (kwah-troh)
5 – cinco (seen-koh)
6 – seis (saysh)
7 – sete (seh-teh)
8 – oito (oy-toh)
9 – nove (noh-veh)
10 – dez (dehs)
Step 2: Master the Tens
Once you have a good grasp of the numbers 1 to 10, it’s time to move on to the tens. In European Portuguese, the tens are formed by adding the word “dez” (ten) after the respective number. Here are the tens from 20 to 90:
20 – vinte (veen-teh)
30 – trinta (treent-ah)
40 – quarenta (kwah-ren-tah)
50 – cinquenta (seen-kwen-tah)
60 – sessenta (seh-sen-tah)
70 – setenta (seh-ten-tah)
80 – oitenta (oy-ten-tah)
90 – noventa (noh-ven-tah)
Step 3: Combine the Numbers
To count beyond 10, you simply combine the numbers you have learned. For example, to say 11, you would say “onze” (onz) which is a combination of “um” (one) and “dez” (ten). Here are a few examples:
11 – onze (onz)
12 – doze (doz)
13 – treze (trez)
14 – catorze (ka-torz)
15 – quinze (keenz)
16 – dezasseis (dez-ah-saysh)
17 – dezassete (dez-ah-seh-teh)
18 – dezoito (dez-oyt)
19 – dezanove (dez-ah-noh-veh)
Step 4: Counting Beyond 100
To count beyond 100 in European Portuguese, you need to know the word for “hundred,” which is “cem” (sehm). Here are a few examples:
100 – cem (sehm)
200 – duzentos (do-zen-tos)
300 – trezentos (tre-zen-tos)
400 – quatrocentos (kwah-tro-zen-tos)
500 – quinhentos (keen-ten-tos)
600 – seiscentos (saysh-zen-tos)
700 – setecentos (seh-teh-zen-tos)
800 – oitocentos (oy-toh-zen-tos)
900 – novecentos (noh-veh-zen-tos)
1000 – mil (meel)
Conclusion
Counting in European Portuguese may seem daunting at first, but with practice and the right guidance, you can become proficient in no time. By following this step-by-step guide, you have learned how to accurately count in European Portuguese from 1 to 1000. Remember to practice regularly and immerse yourself in the language to further enhance your counting skills.
