Ciao and welcome to this guide on how to say “seventeenth” in Italian. Whether you’re planning a trip to Italy or simply expanding your language skills, it’s always useful to know how to count in various languages. In this guide, we’ll cover the formal and informal ways to express the seventeenth number in Italian, and provide you with valuable tips and examples along the way. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Seventeenth in Italian
When it comes to formal speech, especially in official settings or professional environments, Italians use the cardinal number “diciassette” to express “seventeenth.” Here are a few examples showcasing its usage:
Il diciassettesimo candidato sarà intervistato domani. (The seventeenth candidate will be interviewed tomorrow.)
Vorrei prenotare il tavolo per il diciassettesimo anniversario. (I would like to book the table for the seventeenth anniversary.)
No matter the gender or number agreement, “diciassette” remains the same when referring to the seventeenth position or quantity. It is worth noting that Italian numbers can be quite versatile, and they often combine both cardinal and ordinal functions.
Informal Ways to Say Seventeenth in Italian
When it comes to casual conversations or among friends, Italians often opt for a shortened version of the formal “diciassette.” The word “dic’asette” is widely used to express “seventeenth” in an informal context. Here are a couple of examples to illustrate its usage:
Ho comprato i biglietti per il concerto del dic’asette giugno. (I bought tickets for the concert on the seventeenth of June.)
L’appuntamento è fissato per il dic’asettesimo capitolo, giusto? (The meeting is set for the seventeenth chapter, right?)
“Dic’asette” is an abbreviation that is frequently used in spoken Italian, but it should be avoided in formal writing or in situations requiring a more polite tone.
Variations in Regional Dialects
Italian is known for its regional dialects and variations, each with its own unique charm. While the formal and informal ways mentioned above are universally understood, it’s interesting to note a couple of regional variations for saying “seventeenth” in specific dialects:
Sicilian Dialect:
In Sicilian dialect, the word “diciassettesimu” is commonly used to convey the concept of “seventeenth.” Here’s an example:
Ni festeggiamo ‘u diciassettesimu di giugnettu. (We celebrate the seventeenth of June.)
Tuscan Dialect:
In Tuscan dialect, the word “diciasettesimo” is widely used to refer to the seventeenth position or quantity, similar to the formal Italian. Here’s a sample sentence:
Affrontiamo ‘l diciasettesimo chilometro, poi siamo arrivati. (Let’s tackle the seventeenth kilometer, then we’ll be there.)
While knowing these regional variations can be intriguing, they are not essential for everyday communication in standard Italian.
Additional Tips and Examples
Here are some extra tips and examples to help solidify your understanding of how to say “seventeenth” in Italian:
- 1. Treating numbers as adjectives: In Italian, numbers are often treated as adjectives, agreeing in gender and number with the nouns they modify. For example:
- La diciassettesima piazza è molto bella. (The seventeenth square is very beautiful.)
- Ho fatto la strada per la diciassettesima volta oggi. (I walked the road for the seventeenth time today.)
- 2. Using alternative expressions: Sometimes, Italians use alternative expressions instead of the ordinal numbers to express the seventeenth position or the seventeenth time, such as “al diciasettesimo posto” (to the seventeenth place) or “per la diciassettesima volta” (for the seventeenth time).
- 3. Memorize basic numbers: It’s useful to memorize the cardinal numbers from one to ten in Italian (uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci), as they form the foundation for forming higher numbers including “diciassette.”
Congratulations! Now you have a solid grasp of how to say “seventeenth” in Italian. Remember to practice regularly to improve your pronunciation and fluency. Buon divertimento (Have fun) with your Italian language journey!
