Numbers in Spanish
Numbers are, obviously, important. You use them to tell time, calculate prices, talk about dates, and describe quantities. If you’re going to communicate in Spanish at all, you need to understand how to count.
This guide will give you an overview of both cardinal and ordinal numbers in Spanish, including the spelling, gender agreement, and punctuation rules. We’ll also cover some common ways that numbers are used.
We’ll cover everything from zero all the way up to numbers like “trillion,” as well as how to use decimal points and combine numbers. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to write numbers in Spanish and how to use them in everyday conversation.
Cardinal Numbers in Spanish
If you’re learning Spanish, knowing how to count is essential. Here’s a breakdown of how to write cardinal numbers, from basic numbers to larger figures.
Basic Cardinal Numbers (0-29)
The first step is mastering the numbers from zero to twenty-nine.
Numbers 0-15
The numbers from zero to fifteen each have unique names:
- Cero (0)
- Uno (1)
- Dos (2)
- Tres (3)
- Cuatro (4)
- Cinco (5)
- Seis (6)
- Siete (7)
- Ocho (8)
- Nueve (9)
- Diez (10)
- Once (11)
- Doce (12)
- Trece (13)
- Catorce (14)
- Quince (15)
Like many things in language learning, you just have to memorize these!
Numbers 16-19
The numbers sixteen through nineteen are formed by combining “diez” (ten) with the single-digit number, often written as a single word:
- Dieciséis (16)
- Diecisiete (17)
- Dieciocho (18)
- Diecinueve (19)
Both the combined and separate forms are acceptable, though the single-word version is more common.
Numbers 20-29
A similar pattern applies to the numbers twenty through twenty-nine. For example:
- Veintiuno (21)
- Veintidós (22)
- Veintitrés (23)
After the twenties, the way you combine numbers changes slightly.
Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands
Once you know the basic building blocks, you can combine them to form larger numbers.
Tens (30-90)
Here are the names for the tens:
- Treinta (30)
- Cuarenta (40)
- Cincuenta (50)
- Sesenta (60)
- Setenta (70)
- Ochenta (80)
- Noventa (90)
These form the basis for building numbers from 31 to 99. For example, 32 is “treinta y dos” (thirty and two).
Hundreds (100-900)
The word “cien” is used when referring to exactly 100. For numbers above 100, use “ciento.” The plural of “cien” is “cientos,” not “cienes.” So, 200 is “doscientos,” 300 is “trescientos,” and so on.
Thousands and Millions
“Mil” is used for 1000. Numbers like millions, billions, and trillions have different formats in Spanish compared to English. Spanish number formation differs from English, especially for four-digit numbers and larger units.
Gender Agreement and Special Cases
Pay attention to gender agreement and special cases.
Gender Agreement with “Uno”
“Uno” and numbers ending in “-uno” have specific agreement rules depending on the noun. Numbers ending in “-uno” change to “-una” when modifying a feminine noun. For example, “veintiún libros” (twenty-one books) but “veintiuna mesas” (twenty-one tables).
“Cien” vs. “Ciento”
Understand the difference between using “cien” and “ciento.” “Cien” is used before nouns, while “ciento” is used in compound numbers and when not directly followed by a noun.
Ordinal Numbers in Spanish
Ordinal numbers tell the order or position of something in a series: first, second, third, and so on. Here’s what you need to know about using them in Spanish.
Formation and Usage
In Spanish, ordinal numbers act as adjectives, so they have to agree in number and gender with the nouns they’re describing. Here are the ordinal numbers from first to tenth:
- First: primero (or primer before a masculine singular noun)
- Second: segundo
- Third: tercero (or tercer before a masculine singular noun)
- Fourth: cuarto
- Fifth: quinto
- Sixth: sexto
- Seventh: séptimo
- Eighth: octavo
- Ninth: noveno
- Tenth: décimo
After tenth, you can form ordinal numbers by adding “-avo” to the cardinal number, but these aren’t used as often. You’re more likely to just use the cardinal number.
- Eleventh: onceavo (or undécimo)
- Twelfth: doceavo (or duodécimo)
- Thirteenth: treceavo
- And so on…
Gender and Placement
As mentioned earlier, ordinal numbers have to agree in gender with the nouns they modify. So, you’d use “primero” or “primer” before masculine singular nouns (“el primer día” – the first day) and “primera” before feminine singular nouns (“la primera vez” – the first time).
Cardinal numbers usually come before ordinal numbers in a sentence. Ordinal numbers often come after nouns in proper names, like “Carlos Quinto” (Charles the Fifth).
Abbreviations
You can abbreviate ordinal numbers. Here are some common abbreviations:
- 1.º (primero)
- 2.º (segundo)
- 3.º (tercero)
- 4.º (cuarto)
- And so on…
For feminine forms, use 1.ª, 2.ª, 3.ª, and so on.
Practical applications of numbers
Knowing how to count is great, but to really use Spanish numbers, you have to understand how they’re used in daily life. Here are some examples.
Dates and Time
First, you’ll need to learn the Spanish date formatting, which is day-month-year, not month-day-year as in the United States. So, the first day of January 2024 is written 1 de enero de 2024.
When you’re telling time, you use feminine articles. Es la una means “It’s one o’clock,” and Son las dos means “It’s two o’clock.”
Prices and shopping
When you’re expressing prices, you can use the word con, which means “with,” to express amounts. The words euros and céntimos mean “euros” and “cents.” So, if something costs five euros and fifty cents, you’d say Cuesta cinco euros con cincuenta céntimos.
In a shopping situation, you’d probably ask “Cuánto cuesta?” which means “How much does it cost?” Then, you’d need to understand the response.
Giving phone numbers and doing basic math
Phone numbers are pretty similar in Spanish. You just have to remember the numbers. Here’s an example of how you might exchange numbers:
Person 1: ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? (What’s your phone number?)
Person 2: Es el cinco, cinco, cinco, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete. (It’s 555-123-4567.)
Finally, it’s good to know some basic math terms:
- Sumas (Additions): dos más dos son cuatro (two plus two is four)
- Restas (Subtractions): cinco menos uno son cuatro (five minus one is four)
Common Pitfalls and Considerations
Spanish-speaking countries have their own conventions for writing numbers, and you’ll want to be aware of these to avoid mistakes.
Decimal Points and Commas
One important thing to know is that Spanish uses a comma (,) instead of a dot (.) to represent decimal numbers. So, for example, the number we’d write as 21.7 in English would be written as 21,7 in Spanish.
Keep in mind that different countries may use different formats for decimal and thousands separators. It’s always a good idea to double-check the standard in the country you’re writing for.
Large Numbers
You’ll also need to know the correct terms for large numbers like “mil” (thousand), “millón” (million), “billón” (billion), and “trillón” (trillion). Note that the values of “billón” and “trillón” are different in Spanish than they are in English. Also, there’s some disagreement about the exact meaning of “billion” in English, so it’s wise to double check.
Avoiding Ambiguity
When you’re writing numbers on a check, it’s standard practice to use “un mil” (one thousand) instead of just “mil” for clarity. Using “un mil” makes it less likely that someone could alter the check to make it appear as if you meant to write a larger amount.
Be careful with the word “or” in numbers, too, as it can sometimes cause ambiguity. It’s always best to be as clear and precise as possible to avoid any potential misunderstandings.
In Closing
We’ve covered a lot of ground: cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, and the many ways you’ll use them every day. Understanding the gender agreement, how to use decimal points, and the quirks of very large numbers is also key to using Spanish numbers correctly.
To really get comfortable with los números, practice using them whenever you can. Try counting items you see, telling the time, or pricing items in a store. The more you practice, the more natural it will become. And don’t hesitate to check out other resources to deepen your understanding of this essential part of the Spanish language.