Numbers in Spanish: A Quick Guide
by Patricia Mendez on Wednesday, October 30, 2019
We use numbers to count and sort things. When we count, we use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3, 4…) but when we want to indicate the order of an element within a series, we use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th…)
In this post, we will learn how to form cardinal numbers and, especially, how to write them properly. Keep on reading in Spanish if you want to get the full immersion experience!
# |
Written Form |
Comments |
0 |
cero |
Spelled with a c, not with a z (as in other languages) |
1 |
uno |
Do not confuse the number (uno) with the indefinite article (un, una) |
2 |
dos |
|
3 |
tres |
|
4 |
cuatro |
|
5 |
cinco |
|
6 |
seis |
|
7 |
siete |
|
8 |
ocho |
|
9 |
nueve |
Watch out! A common mistake is mixing up nueve, nuevo and nieve. |
10 |
diez |
# |
Written Form |
Comments |
# |
Written Form |
Comments |
11 |
once |
These numbers follow the same pattern, ending in -ce |
21 |
veintiuno |
They are all are one-word numbers, following the pattern veinte+y+number |
12 |
doce |
22 |
veintidós |
||
13 |
trece |
23 |
veintitrés |
||
14 |
catorce |
24 |
veinticuatro |
||
15 |
quince |
25 |
veinticinco |
||
16 |
dieciséis |
These numbers follow the same pattern: diez+y+number in just one word |
26 |
veintiséis |
|
17 |
diecisiete |
27 |
veintisiete |
||
18 |
dieciocho |
28 |
veintiocho |
||
19 |
diecinueve |
29 |
veintinueve |
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
20 |
veinte |
50 |
cincuenta |
80 |
ochenta |
30 |
treinta |
60 |
sesenta |
90 |
noventa |
40 |
cuarenta |
70 |
setenta |
100 |
cien |
Numbers between 31 and 99 follow the same pattern: tens (30, 40, 50…) + y + units (1, 2, 3…)
31 |
treinta y uno |
64 |
sesenta y cuatro |
97 |
noventa y siete |
42 |
cuarenta y dos |
75 |
setenta y cinco |
||
53 |
cincuenta y tres |
86 |
ochenta y seis |
From 101 and on, we use the same pattern: hundreds (100, 200, 300...) + number (14, 27, 39…)
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
200 |
doscientos |
600 |
seiscientos |
150 |
ciento cincuenta |
300 |
trescientos |
700 |
setecientos |
375 |
trescientos setenta y cinco |
400 |
cuatrocientos |
800 |
ochocientos |
523 |
quinientos veintitrés |
500 |
quinientos |
900 |
novecientos |
748 |
setecientos cuarenta y ocho |
And so on and so forth…
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
# |
Written Form |
1000 |
mil |
10000 |
diez mil |
1000000 |
un millón |
2000 |
dos mil |
60000 |
sesenta mil |
5000000 |
cinco millones |
3000 |
tres mil |
100000 |
cien mil |
12500000 |
doce millones quinientos mil |
5000 |
cinco mil |
300000 |
trescientos mil |
20350160 |
veinte millones trescientos cincuenta mil ciento sesenta |
8000 |
ocho mil |
500000 |
quinientos mil |
Many thanks to Ramón, Head of Studies in our Spanish school in Malaga, for sharing this quick guide to Spanish numbers.
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