The number 12 comes up in ages, quantities, prices, and the clock. In Italian, the ordinary cardinal number is dodici.
12 (twelve) in Italian = dodici, pronounced approximately DOH-dee-chee.
How Do You Say 12 (twelve) in Italian?
Italian uses dodici for the number twelve. It is invariable as a cardinal number, so it does not take a masculine or feminine ending.
Meaning: twelve
Place dodici before a plural noun, or use it alone when the context makes the counted item obvious. For clock time, use sono le dodici.
Different Ways to Express 12 (twelve)
Italian keeps the cardinal form simple, but uses different words for an ordinal, a clock time, and common quantities. The calendar has dodici mesi, “twelve months”; see months of the year in Italian.
1. Dodici — the cardinal number
dodici — twelve. This is the standard form for counting. The spelling has no accent mark.
2. Dodicesimo / dodicesima — twelfth
dodicesimo / dodicesima — twelfth. The ordinal ending agrees with the noun: dodicesimo is masculine and dodicesima feminine.
3. Sono le dodici — it is twelve o’clock
sono le dodici — it is twelve. Italian uses the plural verb and article for the hours; at noon, a speaker may also say è mezzogiorno.
4. Dodici anni — twelve years
dodici anni — twelve years. Use the plural noun after dodici. For age, say avere dodici anni, literally “to have twelve years.”
12 (twelve) in Italian: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Italian | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| dodici | twelve | Numbers and quantities |
| dodicesimo / dodicesima | twelfth | Order, dates, and fractions |
| sono le dodici | it is twelve | Telling time |
| dodici anni | twelve years | Age and duration |
How to Pronounce dodici
Say do-di-ci in three clear syllables, with stress on the first. The letters ci before i make a “ch” sound, like English cheese without the long final sound.
Example Sentences Using 12 (twelve)
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I am twelve years old.
Use: Italian expresses age with avere (“to have”).
Meaning: It is twelve o’clock.
Use: Use sono le with the hour; è mezzogiorno is also natural for noon.
Meaning: We have twelve seats.
Use: The number is unchanged before the plural noun.
Frequently Asked Questions About 12 (twelve) in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
Does dodici change with gender?
No. As a cardinal number, dodici stays the same with masculine and feminine nouns.
How do I say twelfth?
Use dodicesimo for a masculine noun and dodicesima for a feminine noun.
How do I say twelve o’clock?
Say sono le dodici. For noon specifically, è mezzogiorno is common.
How do Italians say “I am twelve years old”?
Say ho dodici anni, using the verb avere (“to have”).
How is the ci in dodici pronounced?
The ci is pronounced like “chee,” so the word sounds roughly like DOH-dee-chee.
Summary: 12 (twelve) in Italian
The Italian cardinal number 12 is dodici. Use dodicesimo/a for “twelfth,” sono le dodici for twelve o’clock, and avere dodici anni to state someone’s age.
