Spanish Numbers
Numbers are fundamental in any language, serving various purposes such as counting, ordering, and indicating quantities. In Spanish, numbers are divided into cardinal numbers (for counting) and ordinal numbers (for indicating order). This lesson will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and using both types of numbers in Spanish.
1. Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are the basic numbers used for counting and quantifying. Here’s a list of numbers from 0 to 20, followed by tens, hundreds, and thousands.
Cardinal Numbers from 0 to 20:
0: cero
1: uno
2: dos
3: tres
4: cuatro
5: cinco
6: seis
7: siete
8: ocho
9: nueve
10: diez
11: once
12: doce
13: trece
14: catorce
15: quince
16: dieciséis
17: diecisiete
18: dieciocho
19: diecinueve
20: veinte
Tens:
30: treinta
40: cuarenta
50: cincuenta
60: sesenta
70: setenta
80: ochenta
90: noventa
Hundreds:
100: cien (ciento when used in compound numbers, e.g., ciento uno)
200: doscientos
300: trescientos
400: cuatrocientos
500: quinientos
600: seiscientos
700: setecientos
800: ochocientos
900: novecientos
Thousands:
1,000: mil
2,000: dos mil
1,000,000: un millón
2,000,000: dos millones
Examples of Larger Numbers:
21: veintiuno
45: cuarenta y cinco
78: setenta y ocho
123: ciento veintitrés
1,500: mil quinientos
3,000,000: tres millones
2. Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order in a sequence. Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Spanish:
1st: primero/a
2nd: segundo/a
3rd: tercero/a
4th: cuarto/a
5th: quinto/a
6th: sexto/a
7th: séptimo/a
8th: octavo/a
9th: noveno/a
10th: décimo/a
Examples of Usage:
Él es el primero en la fila. (He is the first in line.)
Esta es la tercera vez que visito España. (This is the third time I visit Spain.)
3. Gender and Agreement
In Spanish, ordinal numbers must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This agreement is essential for grammatical correctness and clarity.
Examples:
El primer día (The first day) [masculine singular]
La primera vez (The first time) [feminine singular]
Los primeros días (The first days) [masculine plural]
Las primeras veces (The first times) [feminine plural]
Notice how “primero” changes to “primera” when modifying a feminine noun. This pattern applies to all ordinal numbers.
4. Large Numbers and Combinations
When dealing with large numbers, it’s important to note that Spanish uses a period to separate thousands and a comma for decimals, which is the opposite of the English system. Understanding this format is crucial when reading or writing numbers in Spanish.
Examples of Large Numbers:
1,000: mil
1,500: mil quinientos
1,234,567: un millón doscientos treinta y cuatro mil quinientos sesenta y siete
3.14: tres coma catorce (3.14)
This difference in formatting can sometimes lead to confusion, especially for beginners, so it’s important to practice and become familiar with this system.
5. Using Numbers in Sentences
Integrating numbers into sentences is a practical way to practice and reinforce your understanding. Here are some examples of how to use numbers in various contexts:
Tengo dos perros. (I have two dogs.)
El concierto es a las siete. (The concert is at seven.)
Compré cinco manzanas. (I bought five apples.)
Ella vive en el octavo piso. (She lives on the eighth floor.)
In these sentences, numbers serve various functions, such as indicating quantity, time, and position.
6. Special Cases and Numbers Beyond 20
While numbers from 0 to 20 have unique names, starting from 21, Spanish combines the tens with the units using "y" (and).
Examples:
21: veintiuno (21 = veinte y uno)
22: veintidós (22 = veinte y dos)
23: veintitrés (23 = veinte y tres)
24: veinticuatro (24 = veinte y cuatro)
25: veinticinco (25 = veinte y cinco)
This pattern continues up to 29, after which the tens are treated as separate words:
30: treinta
31: treinta y uno
32: treinta y dos
And so forth.
7. Fractional Numbers
In addition to whole numbers, Spanish also has terms for fractions. Understanding how to express fractions can be helpful in various contexts, such as cooking or sharing.
Common Fractions:
1/2: un medio
1/3: un tercio
1/4: un cuarto
3/4: tres cuartos
Examples of Usage:
Necesito un medio litro de leche. (I need half a liter of milk.)
Corta la pizza en cuatro partes. (Cut the pizza into four parts.)
Check out our Spanish Numbers Vocabulary page which has nice charts showing number related vocabulary.
8. Practice Exercises
To reinforce your understanding of numbers, try these exercises:
Translate the following numbers into Spanish:
15
42
1,256
3.5
Fill in the blanks with the correct ordinal numbers:
Ella es la ______ en la competencia. (third)
Mi cumpleaños es el ______ de abril. (fifth)
Este es el ______ libro que leo este mes. (second)
Create sentences using the following numbers:
8
14
60
9. Conclusion
Understanding and mastering Spanish numbers is essential for effective communication in the language. From basic counting to complex numerical expressions, being able to use cardinal and ordinal numbers will greatly enhance your fluency and confidence.
Regular practice is key to retaining what you learn, so consider incorporating numbers into your daily life. Whether counting items, telling time, or indicating position, numbers play a vital role in your Spanish language journey.
As you continue to practice, don’t hesitate to explore numbers in various contexts, including shopping, planning events, or discussing schedules. With dedication and practice, you’ll find that using Spanish numbers becomes second nature, allowing you to express yourself clearly and effectively.
Also visit our Spanish Short Stories page, where you'll find engaging stories tailored to various skill levels, helping you boost vocabulary and comprehension in a fun, immersive way.
