Numbers (e.g.: um, dois, vinte e quatro, mil, etc.)

Questions about Numbers

Q: Why is it cento e três and NOT cento três?
Portuguese uses e between number components:

• cento e três

• mil trezentos e vinte

👉 Unlike Spanish, e is required.

Q: Why is it dezasseis and NOT dez e seis?
Numbers from 11–19 are usually written as one word:

• dezasseis, dezassete, dezoito

👉 European Portuguese prefers:

• dezasseis (not Brazilian dezesseis)

Q: Why is it 1.436.700,75 and NOT 1,436,700.75?
Portuguese follows the same convention as Spanish:

• periods → thousands

• comma → decimals

• 1.436.700,75

Q: Why is it há mil duzentas mulheres and NOT um mil duzentos mulheres?
Two rules:

• Do NOT use um before mil:

  • mil (not um mil)

• Hundreds agree in gender:

  • duzentas mulheres

  • duzentos homens

🔑 Key differences (EP vs Spanish)

• No dropping of final vowel (uno → un)

• Mandatory e in numbers

• 11–19 often single words

• Same punctuation system (1.000,00)

• Hundreds agree in gender