If you are counting from 1 to 20, reading a price, or telling someone your age, the number 18 comes up often. Italian has a specific word for eighteen, and recognizing it also helps you understand the related number 19.
18 in Italian is diciotto (dee-CHOHT-toh).
How Do You Say 18 in Italian?
The Italian word for 18 is diciotto. It is written as one word and used for quantities, prices, ages, and time. For example, diciotto euro means “eighteen euros,” and diciotto anni means “eighteen years.”
When talking about age, Italian uses the verb avere (“to have”). So “I am eighteen years old” is Ho diciotto anni, literally “I have eighteen years.” This is the normal way to give your age.
Italian Numbers from 11 to 20
The teen numbers have distinct forms. Practicing them as a sequence makes diciotto easier to remember:
- undici — 11
- dodici — 12
- tredici — 13
- quattordici — 14
- quindici — 15
- sedici — 16
- diciassette — 17
- diciotto — 18
- diciannove — 19
- venti — 20
The words for 17, 18, and 19 share the beginning dicia-, but each has a different ending. Listen carefully to distinguish diciassette, diciotto, and diciannove.
Example Sentences
- Ho diciotto anni. — I am eighteen years old.
- Il museo chiude alle diciotto. — The museum closes at six p.m. (18:00).
- Ci sono diciotto sedie nella sala. — There are eighteen chairs in the room.
- La lezione dura diciotto minuti. — The lesson lasts eighteen minutes.
- Questa bottiglia costa diciotto euro. — This bottle costs eighteen euros.
Schedules in Italy often use the 24-hour clock. Alle diciotto means “at 18:00,” or 6 p.m. You may also hear verso le diciotto (“around six p.m.”) when the time is approximate.
Using Diciotto with Nouns
Cardinal numbers do not change to match the gender of the noun. Use diciotto ragazzi for “eighteen boys” and diciotto ragazze for “eighteen girls.” The noun becomes plural according to its normal form, but the number stays diciotto.
Before a noun beginning with a vowel, the number is still pronounced and written the same way: diciotto anni. In fast speech, the final vowel may connect smoothly to the next word, but do not remove it when spelling the phrase.
Pronunciation Tips
Diciotto has three syllables: di-ci-OT-to, with the stress on the final syllable. The double “t” is held slightly longer than a single “t.” The “ci” sounds like “chee,” and the final “o” is pronounced clearly.
Try saying “dee-CHOHT-toh” in an even rhythm, giving a little extra length to the “tt.” Listening to the audio and repeating the word can help you hear the doubled consonant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap a question below to see the answer.
Tap a question below to reveal the answer.
What is 18 in Italian?
18 is diciotto.
How do you say “I am 18” in Italian?
Say Ho diciotto anni, literally “I have eighteen years.”
How do you say 6 p.m. in Italian?
On the 24-hour clock, 6 p.m. is 18:00, said le diciotto. For “at 6 p.m.,” say alle diciotto.
Summary: 18 in Italian
The Italian word for 18 is diciotto. It stays the same with masculine and feminine nouns. To give your age, say Ho diciotto anni, and remember that alle diciotto can mean “at 6 p.m.” on the 24-hour clock.
