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)
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)
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)
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)
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.