Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Counting-and-Numbers
Números (numbers) are an integral and universal component of Romance languages, which includes Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, among others. Unlike certain languages that lack a precise system for quantification, Romance languages incorporate an elaborate numerical system. In these cultures, números are fundamental. They serve a myriad of functions: quantifying objects (e.g., dos celulares; two cellphones), counting people (e.g., una mesa para dos; a table for two), specifying dates (e.g., el 23 de marzo de 2024, 23/3/24; March 23, 2024, 3/23/24), indicating times (e.g., a las ocho; eight o'clock), and more. Notably, the structure of Spanish numbers is relatively simpler than that of French, where 90 is expressed as "quatre-vingt-dix" (four twenties plus ten).
Basic Numbers (1-10)[edit | edit source]
The fundamental digits in Spanish, which are the cornerstone for larger numbers, are as follows:
- 1 - uno
- 2 - dos
- 3 - tres
- 4 - cuatro
- 5 - cinco
- 6 - seis
- 7 - siete
- 8 - ocho
- 9 - nueve
- 10 - diez
These basic numbers form the foundation for constructing larger numbers in Spanish.
Tens and Units (11-99)[edit | edit source]
Apart from the basic digits, understanding the tens is crucial in Spanish:
- 20 - veinte
For numbers between 21 and 29, combine "veinte" with the units without using 'y':
- 21 - veintiuno
- 22 - veintidós
- 23 - veintitrés
- 24 - veinticuatro
- 25 - veinticinco
- 26 - veintiséis
- 27 - veintisiete
- 28 - veintiocho
- 29 - veintinueve
For numbers 30 and beyond, combine the tens and the units using 'y' (and):
- 30 - treinta
- 40 - cuarenta
- 50 - cincuenta
- 60 - sesenta
- 70 - setenta
- 80 - ochenta
- 90 - noventa
Examples:
- 33 - treinta y tres
- 46 - cuarenta y seis
- 72 - setenta y dos
Teens (11-19)[edit | edit source]
The numbers from 11 to 19 are unique and need to be memorized:
- 11 - once
- 12 - doce
- 13 - trece
- 14 - catorce
- 15 - quince
- 16 - dieciséis
- 17 - diecisiete
- 18 - dieciocho
- 19 - diecinueve
These form an essential part of the numerical system and are used frequently in everyday conversation.
Larger Numbers (100 and beyond)[edit | edit source]
For larger quantities, the structure in Spanish is as follows, expanding from the basics:
- 100 - cien (for exactly 100) or ciento (for 101 onwards, e.g., ciento uno, ciento dos)
- 1,000 - mil
- 10,000 - diez mil
- 100,000 - cien mil
- 1,000,000 - un millón
- 1,000,000,000 - mil millones
For numbers larger than a million, Spanish uses the plural form (e.g., dos millones for two million). Note that unlike English, Spanish uses a decimal comma and a thousand separator point (e.g., 1.000,00 for one thousand).
By mastering these numbers, Spanish speakers and learners can express virtually any numerical concept needed in daily life.