Italian · Time, Numbers & Colors
"One" in Italian: uno
uno
One in Italian is uno (OO-noh). Before nouns it becomes un, una, or un' by gender and sound: un libro, una casa, un'amica, uno zaino.
Counting
Uno, due, tre: via!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce uno
Say it
OO-noh
/ˈu.no/
Uno is OO-noh. Stress OO. Un is a short oon.
"One" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| uno | one Counting and before some masculine nouns. | Counting and before some masculine nouns. |
| un / una / un' | a / one Forms before nouns. | Forms before nouns. |
| numero uno | number one Ranking. | Ranking. |
| uno solo | only one Emphasizing a single item. | Emphasizing a single item. |
How to use uno in real life
- 1Counting
Uno, due, tre: via!
One, two, three: go!
Bare uno in counting.
- 2Ordering
Ne prendo uno piccolo.
I'll take a small one.
Uno as pronoun.
- 3Score
Siamo avanti di uno.
We're ahead by one.
Di uno.
Mistakes English speakers make with uno
Incorrect: Una amica (without apostrophe).
Correct: Un'amica.
Use un' before feminine vowel.
Incorrect: Un zaino.
Correct: Uno zaino.
Uno before z, s+consonant, gn, ps, x, y.
Good to know
Uno is counting, scoring, and the indefinite article family. Learners hear un constantly; practicing when to say uno versus un pays off in shops and cafés.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying pastries
ChatPal
Ne vuoi uno o due?
Do you want one or two?
You
Uno basta, grazie.
One is enough, thanks.
ChatPal
Prendo uno al cioccolato per me.
I'll take a chocolate one for me.
You
Allora paghiamo uno ciascuno.
Then we'll each pay for one.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"One" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "One" in Italian
Uno or un?
Uno alone or before special masculine starts; un before most masculine nouns.
Feminine one?
Una or un' before a vowel.
How do I count?
Uno, due, tre…
Number one ranking?
Il numero uno.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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