cento
/ˈt͡ʃɛn.to/
The phrase for one hundred in Italian is cento.
cento refers to the number that follows ninety-nine. When used as a noun to mean 'a hundred' (for example, 'a hundred of them'), cento is used, though it does not typically take a plural form like the English word 'hundreds'. For that concept, one would use centinaia.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ordinal number for one hundred is centesimo.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃɛn.to/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Italian speakers use the phrase cento di questi giorni to wish someone many more birthdays or anniversaries of the same kind.
- The word cento shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cent', which is used in many currencies and measurements.
- The expression cento per cento is used to mean 'totally' or 'absolutely' in conversation, rather than just '100 percent'.
Examples in context
- Il totale è cento.The total is one hundred.This sentence is useful for stating a total.Tatoeba #7905069 by Guybrush88, translation #241306 by CK
- Contò fino a cento.He counted to one hundred.This sentence is useful for describing the act of counting.Tatoeba #4731408 by Guybrush88, translation #3195514 by nava
- Ho pagato Tom cento dollari.I paid Tom one hundred dollars.This sentence is useful for describing a payment of a specific amount.Tatoeba #1307049 by maldidenti, translation #1027531 by CK
- Nella lista degli invitati c'erano cento persone.There were one hundred people on the guest list.
- La nostra azienda ha venduto cento unità del nuovo prodotto.Our company has sold one hundred units of the new product.
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are looking at a book in a shop.
- LorenzoQuante pagine ha questo libro?How many pages does this book have?
- SofiaNe ha esattamente cento.It has exactly one hundred.
- LorenzoÈ un libro molto lungo.It is a very long book.
- SofiaSì, ma è molto interessante.Yes, but it is very interesting.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
