In Italian, the number 100 is cento. You will see it in prices, ages, measurements, percentages, and larger numbers. The word stays the same with masculine and feminine nouns, and it combines directly with many following number words.
100 (one hundred) in Italian = cento, pronounced approximately CHEN-toh.
How Do You Say 100 in Italian?
The cardinal number 100 is cento. It is used when counting objects or giving an amount: cento euro means “one hundred euros,” and cento persone means “one hundred people.” Unlike English, Italian generally leaves the number word unchanged regardless of the noun’s gender.
Meaning: one hundred
When you see 100 written as a numeral, read it aloud as cento. For 101 and above, combine it with the following number: centouno (101), centodue (102), and centodieci (110), which includes dieci, “ten”.
Using Cento in Different Contexts
Italian uses related forms when you mean an ordinal position, a fraction, or a broad quantity. The context tells you which form to choose.
1. Cento — the cardinal number
cento means “one hundred” as a count or amount. It does not take a plural ending: cento libri (“one hundred books”) and cento case (“one hundred houses”). It can stand before a noun or on its own as an answer to “how many?”
2. Centesimo — one hundredth / hundredth
centesimo is the ordinal “hundredth” or the fraction “one hundredth.” Its ending agrees with the noun: il centesimo giorno (“the hundredth day”) and un centesimo (“one hundredth”). In prices, centesimo can also refer to a cent.
3. Cento per cento — one hundred percent
cento per cento means “one hundred percent.” It is used for a complete amount or full certainty, as in Sono sicuro al cento per cento (“I am one hundred percent sure”).
4. Centinaia — hundreds
centinaia means “hundreds” as an approximate or large quantity. For example, centinaia di persone means “hundreds of people.” Keep the preposition di before the noun in this plural quantity phrase.
100 in Italian: Quick Comparison
Use cento for an exact count, centesimo for a hundredth place or fraction, and centinaia di for an approximate quantity in the hundreds.
| Italian | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| cento | one hundred | Exact number or amount |
| centesimo / centesima | hundredth; one hundredth | Ordinal or fraction, agrees with noun |
| cento per cento | one hundred percent | Full proportion or emphasis |
| centinaia di | hundreds of | Approximate large quantity |
How to Pronounce Cento
Cento is pronounced CHEN-toh, with stress on the first syllable. In Italian, the letter c before e has the “ch” sound heard in English “cheese.” Say both vowels clearly and keep the final o short and pure rather than turning it into an English-style diphthong.
Example Sentences with Cento
These examples show how cento works with money, counting, and percentages. The number remains the same before nouns of either gender.
Meaning: This book costs one hundred euros.
Use: Cento gives the exact price.
Meaning: The city has one hundred churches.
Use: Cento stays unchanged before feminine plural chiese.
Meaning: I am one hundred percent sure.
Use: The adjective sicura is feminine because the speaker is referring to herself.
Frequently Asked Questions About 100 in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you spell 100 in Italian?
It is spelled cento.
Does cento change for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. The number stays cento with both masculine and feminine nouns, as in cento libri and cento case.
How do you say 150?
150 is centocinquanta, written as one word.
What does centesimo mean?
Centesimo means “hundredth” as an ordinal or “one hundredth” as a fraction. Its ending can change to agree with a noun.
How do you say “hundreds of people”?
Say centinaia di persone.
Summary: 100 in Italian
The Italian word for 100 is cento, pronounced CHEN-toh. Use it unchanged for exact amounts, centesimo for “hundredth,” cento per cento for “one hundred percent,” and centinaia di for “hundreds of.”
