The number 18 in Italian is diciotto, written as one word. It is pronounced roughly dee-CHOHT-toh, with the stress on the middle syllable and a clear double t. Use it when counting, stating an age, or giving a date or amount.
18 = diciotto (dee-CHOHT-toh)
How to Say Diciotto
Break diciotto into four syllables: di-ci-ot-to. The double tt is held slightly longer than a single t. There is no accent mark in the usual spelling. Practice it after diciassette, “seventeen”, and before diciannove, “nineteen”.
Meaning: My sister is eighteen years old.
Different Ways to Use Diciotto
Counting and Quantities
Diciotto is a cardinal number and does not change for masculine or feminine nouns: diciotto libri (“eighteen books”) and diciotto case (“eighteen houses”).
Talking About Age
Italian expresses age with avere (“to have”), not essere (“to be”): Ho diciotto anni literally means “I have eighteen years.”
Dates and Calendar Use
In a date, diciotto names the eighteenth day of the month, as in il diciotto marzo. Dates are often written numerically, but the spoken number stays the same.
Telling Time
On a 24-hour clock, le diciotto refers to 18:00, or six in the evening. In everyday conversation, many speakers also say le sei di sera.
Numbers Around 18
The Italian numbers around diciotto are sedici (16), diciassette (17), diciotto (18), diciannove (19), and venti (20). Unlike English numbers, these are written as single words.
Pronunciation and Spelling
Diciotto has four syllables, di-ciòt-to, with the stress on the third syllable. The double tt is held slightly longer than a single consonant. The written accent is often omitted in ordinary text, though it marks the open stressed vowel in pronunciation guides.
Example Sentences
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Ho diciotto anni. | I am eighteen years old. |
| Ci sono diciotto studenti. | There are eighteen students. |
| Il treno parte alle diciotto. | The train leaves at six p.m. |
| Abito al numero diciotto. | I live at number eighteen. |
Frequently Asked Questions About 18 in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
Is diciotto one word?
Yes. Write it as one word, without a hyphen.
How do you say 18:00 in Italian?
Say le diciotto or Sono le diciotto for six o’clock in the evening.
Summary: 18 in Italian
18 is diciotto. Write it as one word and hold the double t clearly.
