Numbers in Spanish
Numbers from 1 to 1000
Learning numbers is a key stage in your Spanish learning journey. Numbers enable us to interact in a wide variety of situations, for example: describing your surroundings, asking for information, talking about the time or simply to go shopping!
Numbers in Spanish are very straightforward and they are similar to English in their formation.
Let's start with the basic ones (here's a video for pronunciation).
1-20
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
20-30
From 21 we use the stem "veinti-" plus another number:
21 - veintiuno
22 - veintidós
23 - veintitrés
24 - veinticuatro
25 - veinticinco
26 - veintiséis
27 - veintisiete
28 - veintiocho
29 - veintinueve
30-99
Now, for the multiples of ten you need to add a letter "y" (and).
For example, 31 would be "treinta y uno", literally meaning: Thirty and one
30 - treinta
31 - treinta y uno
32 - treinta y dos
33 - treinta y tres
and so on, you repeat the same pattern with the rest.
40 - cuarenta
50 - cincuenta
60 - sesenta
70 - setenta
80 - ochenta
90 - noventa
You are at 100 (cien) now! 🎉
When we express numbers higher than 100 we say "ciento"
101 - ciento uno
102 - ciento dos
103 - ciento tres
and so on...
For higher numbers, use the rules learnt previously regarding the multiples of ten.
Example:
145 - ciento cuarenta y cinco
123 - ciento veintitrés
178 - ciento setenta y ocho
Now, here are the rest of the hundreds. Pay special attention to 500, 700 and 900.
200 - doscientos
300 - trescientos
400 - cuatrocientos
500 - quinientos
600 - seiscientos
700 - setecientos
800 - ochocientos
900 - novecientos
And now you have reached 1000 (mil)! 🎉
Now all you need to do is to combine all the structures learnt previously, observe the examples:
864 - ochocientos sesenta y cuatro.
503 - quinientos tres
166 - ciento sesenta y seis
223 - doscientos veintitrés
77 - setenta y siete
Activity ✍️
Write the following numbers. The answers are at the end.
47 ......................................
137 ......................................
456 ......................................
33 ......................................
532 ......................................
159 ......................................
786 ......................................
999 ......................................
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47 - cuarenta y siete
137 - ciento treinta y siete
456 - cuatrocientos cincuenta y seis
33 - treinta y tres
532 - quinientos treinta y dos
159 - ciento cincuenta y nueve
786 - setecientos ochenta y seis
999 novecientos noventa y nueve
Happy learning!