Spanish Cardinal Numbers: A Complete Guide

January 28, 2025

Article created on January 28, 2025, article updated on January 31, 2025, by Sandra Sánchez

Spanish Cardinal Numbers: A Complete Guide

Learning Spanish cardinal numbers is a fundamental aspect of mastering the language. Whether you’re traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, conducting business, or simply expanding your language skills, understanding how to count and use numbers in Spanish is essential. This comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know about Spanish cardinal numbers, from basic counting to complex numerical expressions.

The Importance of Spanish Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers are the foundation of numerical communication in any language. In Spanish, they are used for a wide range of everyday situations, including:

Telling time
Discussing prices
Providing phone numbers
Expressing dates
Describing quantities

Mastering these numbers will significantly enhance your ability to navigate Spanish-speaking environments and communicate effectively with native speakers.

Basic Spanish Numbers (0-20)

Let’s start with the basics. Here are the Spanish cardinal numbers from zero to twenty:

0 – cero
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

Memorizing these numbers is crucial as they form the foundation for all other numerical expressions in Spanish.

Spanish Numbers 21-100

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to move on to larger numbers. The pattern for forming numbers from 21 to 99 is relatively straightforward:

Numbers 21-29

For numbers 21-29, use “veinti” followed by the corresponding units:

21 – veintiuno
22 – veintidós
23 – veintitrés
24 – veinticuatro
25 – veinticinco
26 – veintiséis
27 – veintisiete
28 – veintiocho
29 – veintinueve

Numbers 30-99

For numbers 30-99, use the tens word followed by “y” (and) and the units word:

30 – treinta
40 – cuarenta
50 – cincuenta
60 – sesenta
70 – setenta
80 – ochenta
90 – noventa

For example:

31 – treinta y uno
42 – cuarenta y dos
55 – cincuenta y cinco
68 – sesenta y ocho
73 – setenta y tres
89 – ochenta y nueve
94 – noventa y cuatro

Spanish Numbers 100-999

As we move into the hundreds, the pattern changes slightly but remains logical:

Hundreds (100-900)

100 – cien
200 – doscientos
300 – trescientos
400 – cuatrocientos
500 – quinientos
600 – seiscientos
700 – setecientos
800 – ochocientos
900 – novecientos

For numbers between the hundreds, simply combine the hundred with the tens and units:

101 – ciento uno
250 – doscientos cincuenta
375 – trescientos setenta y cinco
499 – cuatrocientos noventa y nueve
888 – ochocientos ochenta y ocho

Spanish Numbers 1,000 and Beyond

For larger numbers, the pattern continues to build upon what we’ve learned:

Thousands (1,000-999,999)

1,000 – mil
2,000 – dos mil
10,000 – diez mil
100,000 – cien mil

Combine these with the hundreds, tens, and units as needed:

1,234 – mil doscientos treinta y cuatro
5,678 – cinco mil seiscientos setenta y ocho
12,345 – doce mil trescientos cuarenta y cinco
123,456 – ciento veintitrés mil cuatrocientos cincuenta y seis

Millions and Beyond

1,000,000 – un millón
2,000,000 – dos millones
1,000,000,000 – mil millones (or un billón in some countries)

Special Considerations for Spanish Numbers

As you delve deeper into Spanish cardinal numbers, there are a few special considerations to keep in mind:

Gender Agreement

The numbers “uno” (one) and numbers ending in “uno” change to “una” when modifying feminine nouns:

un libro (one book) – masculine
una mesa (one table) – feminine
veintiún libros (twenty-one books) – masculine
veintiuna mesas (twenty-one tables) – feminine

Shortening of “Uno”

When “uno” comes before a noun, it’s shortened to “un”:

un perro (one dog)
un coche (one car)

Use of “Y”

Remember to use “y” (and) between tens and units for numbers 31 and above, except for numbers ending in 0:

31 – treinta y uno
42 – cuarenta y dos
50 – cincuenta (no “y”)

Practical Applications of Spanish Cardinal Numbers

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Spanish cardinal numbers, let’s explore some practical applications:

Telling Time in Spanish

Using cardinal numbers to tell time in Spanish is straightforward:

1:00 – Es la una.
2:15 – Son las dos y cuarto.
3:30 – Son las tres y media.
4:45 – Son las cinco menos cuarto.

Expressing Dates

Dates in Spanish use cardinal numbers for the day:

January 1st – El primero de enero
May 5th – El cinco de mayo
December 25th – El veinticinco de diciembre

Discussing Prices

When talking about prices, use cardinal numbers followed by the currency:

$10 – diez dólares
€20 – veinte euros
50 pesos – cincuenta pesos

Tips for Learning Spanish Cardinal Numbers

Mastering Spanish cardinal numbers takes practice, but with these tips, you’ll be counting like a native in no time:

Practice regularly: Incorporate number practice into your daily routine. Count objects around you, read license plates, or practice with flashcards.
Use mnemonic devices: Create memory aids to help you remember tricky numbers. For example, “ocho” (eight) sounds like “oh-cho,” which could remind you of a sneeze.
Listen to native speakers: Watch Spanish-language news, movies, or podcasts to hear how numbers are pronounced and used in context.
Play number games: Engage in activities like bingo or counting games in Spanish to make learning more enjoyable.
Write numbers out: Practice writing numbers as words to reinforce your learning and improve your spelling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you learn Spanish cardinal numbers, be aware of these common pitfalls:

Forgetting to use “y” between tens and units (e.g., saying “treinta dos” instead of “treinta y dos”)
Mispronouncing numbers with similar sounds (e.g., “sesenta” vs. “setenta”)
Incorrectly applying gender agreement (e.g., using “un” instead of “una” with feminine nouns)
Confusing “mil” (thousand) and “millón” (million)
Using ordinal numbers instead of cardinal numbers for dates (except for the first of the month)

Conclusion

Spanish cardinal numbers are an essential component of the language, enabling you to communicate effectively in a wide range of situations. From basic counting to expressing complex numerical concepts, mastering these numbers will significantly enhance your Spanish language skills. Remember to practice regularly, use numbers in context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you learn. With time and dedication, you’ll find yourself confidently using Spanish cardinal numbers in your everyday conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do you say “zero” in Spanish?

The Spanish word for “zero” is “cero.” It’s pronounced similarly to the English word, with a soft “c” sound at the beginning.

2. What’s the difference between “cien” and “ciento” in Spanish?

“Cien” is used for exactly 100, while “ciento” is used for numbers between 101 and 199. For example, “cien años” (100 years) but “ciento un años” (101 years).

3. How do you express large numbers like millions and billions in Spanish?

In Spanish, “million” is “millón” (plural: millones), and “billion” is typically “mil millones.” However, in some Spanish-speaking countries, “billón” is used for “trillion,” so it’s important to clarify when dealing with very large numbers.

4. Are there any irregular number formations in Spanish?

Yes, the most notable irregularities are in the teens (11-15) and the twenties (21-29). Numbers 11-15 have unique names (once, doce, trece, catorce, quince), while 16-19 follow a pattern (dieciséis, diecisiete, etc.). Numbers 21-29 use “veinti-” instead of “veinte y.”

5. How do you express decimals and fractions in Spanish?

Decimals in Spanish use a comma instead of a period. For example, 3.5 would be written as 3,5 and pronounced “tres coma cinco.” Fractions are expressed using cardinal numbers for the numerator and ordinal numbers for the denominator. For instance, 1/2 is “un medio,” and 3/4 is “tres cuartos.”