Counting in Spanish is not difficult, just memorize the correct terms and the main rules associated with the numbers. It is important to start from scratch: only after you have memorized the smaller numbers can you gradually progress towards the larger ones.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Group of Units
Step 1. Count from 0 to 9
Before learning the larger numbers, you need to memorize the terms associated with numbers between 0 and 9. These words form the base or root of many larger numbers.
-
Here are what they are:
- 0: cero (pronunciation);
- 1: one (pronounced as in Italian);
- 2: dos (pronounced as it is read);
- 3: tres (pronounced as it is read);
- 4: cuatro (pronounced as it is read);
- 5: cinco (pronunciation);
- 6: seis (pronounced as it is read);
- 7: you are (pronounced as you read);
- 8: ocho (pronunciation);
- 9: nueve (pronunciation).
- Remember that zero is used by itself and does not form the basis of any larger number.
- Also consider that the word one should only be used to refer to the number itself. To describe the number of objects, use a to refer to masculine nouns (for example, a chico) and one for feminine names (for example, a chica).
Part 2 of 5: Group of Tens
Step 1. Learn to count from 10 to 19
Some of these numbers are derived from the group of units, while others are composed of the term diez and the word associated with the corresponding unit.
- In Spanish 10 we say diez (pronunciation).
-
The terms for referring to numbers between 11 and 15 are derived from those used for units:
- 11: once (pronunciation);
- 12: doce (pronunciation);
- 13: trece (pronunciation);
- 14: catorce (pronunciation);
- 15: quince (pronunciation).
-
Words to refer to numbers between 16 and 19 consist of two terms: diez and the corresponding unit. The z of diez must be transformed into c. To join ten to the unit, add an i:
- 16: dieciséis (pronunciation);
- 17: diecisiete (pronunciation);
- 18: dieciocho (pronunciation);
- 19: diecinueve (pronunciation).
Count in Spanish Step 3 Step 2. Learn to count from 20 to 29
These numbers consist of the term veinte and the word associated with the corresponding decade.
- In Spanish veinte (pronunciation) means 20.
-
To form the numbers between 21 and 29, remove the final e and replace it with an i:
- 21: veintiuno (pronunciation);
- 22: veintidós (pronunciation);
- 23: veintitrés (pronunciation);
- 24: veinticuatro (pronunciation);
- 25: veinticinco (pronunciation);
- 26: veintiséis (pronunciation);
- 27: veintisiete (pronunciation);
- 28: veintiocho (pronunciation;
- 29: veintinueve (pronunciation).
Count in Spanish Step 4 Step 3. Memorize the tens between 30 and 90
These terms all derive from those of the units, with some variations. Before forming any number between 31 and 99, learn these basic words.
-
Here are the words used to refer to the tens between 30 and 90:
- 30: treinta (pronunciation);
- 40: cuarenta (pronunciation);
- 50: cincuenta (pronunciation);
- 60: sesenta (pronunciation);
- 70: setenta (pronunciation);
- 80: ochenta (pronunciation);
- 90: noventa (pronunciation).
Count in Spanish Step 5 Step 4. Learn to count from 31 to 99
Contrary to what happens with numbers between 21 and 29, we must not alter the roots of the tens to form the numbers between 31 and 99. Instead, we must separate the group of tens from that of the units with y, which in Spanish means " And".
-
Here are some concrete examples:
- 31: treinta y one;
- 42: cuarenta y dos;
- 53: cincuenta y tres;
- 64: sesenta y cuatro;
- 75: setenta y cinco;
- 86: ochenta y seis;
- 97: noventa y you are.
Part 3 of 5: Group of Hundreds
Count in Spanish Step 6 Step 1. Find out what 100 is in Spanish
You will obviously need it to count to 199, but you will also need it to form even larger numbers in the group of hundreds, as it forms the basis of it.
- In Spanish 100 translates as follows: cien (pronunciation).
- Remember that this term is only used to express the word "one hundred". When you use it to form words associated with other numbers, you will have to add the suffix -tos to the root, thus obtaining cientos.
Count in Spanish Step 7 Step 2. Learn to count the other hundreds
To form them, you will need to add the corresponding units (or a shortened form) to the base, which is cientos.
-
Here's how to count the rest of the group of hundreds in Spanish:
- 200: doscientos (pronunciation);
- 300: trescientos (pronunciation);
- 400: cuatrocientos (pronunciation);
- 500: quinientos (pronunciation);
- 600: seiscientos (pronunciation);
- 700: setecientos (pronunciation);
- 800: ochocientos (pronunciation);
- 900: novecientos (pronunciation.
- Note that the terms used to express 500, 700 and 900 are irregular, but the basic rule is still applied.
Count in Spanish Step 8 Step 3. Form the numbers by progressively adding the smaller digits
When you need to say or write a number that falls into the hundreds group, you simply add the tens and / or units to the hundreds. It is not necessary to enter y ("and") between hundreds and tens.
-
Here are some examples of this:
- 103: ciento tres.
- 530: quinientos treinta.
- 872: ochocientos setenta y dos.
Part 4 of 5: Group of Thousands
Count in Spanish Step 9 Step 1. Find out what is 1000 in Spanish
To count the whole group of thousands (from 1000 to 9999), you need to memorize and use this word.
- 1000 in Spanish is a mil (pronounced as it is read).
-
For all numbers between 1000 and 1099, you must keep the adjective a.
For example, 1072 would be one mil setenta y dos
-
Instead, you can delete it for all numbers between 1100 and 1999.
For example, 1272 would be mil doscientos setenta y dos
Count in Spanish Step 10 Step 2. Count the remaining thousands
To do this, simply precede the word mil with the corresponding unit or decade.
- Consider that this applies to the thousands, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands.
-
Here are the words that allow you to translate the remaining groups of thousands:
- 2000: dos mil;
- 3000: tres mil;
- 4000: cuatro mil;
- 5000: cinco mil;
- 6000: six mil;
- 7000: you are mil;
- 8000: ocho mil;
- 9000: new mil.
-
Here are some examples of numbers belonging to the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands group:
- 10,000: diez mil;
- 34000: treinta y cuatro mil;
- 800000: ochocientos mil.
Count in Spanish Step 11 Step 3. Form the numbers by adding the appropriate lower digits
When counting numbers in the thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands group, write the correct term followed by the relevant tens and units. There are no irregular shapes.
-
Here are some examples:
- 34872: treinta y cuatro mil ochocientos setenta y dos;
- 800103: ochocientos mil ciento tres.
Part 5 of 5: Group of Millions and Billions
Count in Spanish Step 12 Step 1. Learn the right terms
The words corresponding to 1,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 form the basis of the other numbers belonging to the group of millions and billions.
-
Here are the terms in Spanish:
- 1,000,000: one millón (pronunciation);
- 1,000,000,000: mil millones (pronunciation).
Count in Spanish Step 13 Step 2. As far as millions and billions are concerned, the same rules apply as for thousands
Since they don't change, you should keep following them without exception.
- For larger numbers within these groups, precede the word millón or mil millones with the relevant unit, ten or thousand.
- As for the numbers belonging to the group of millions and billions, write them directly, without inserting terms to connect them.
-
Here are some examples:
- 4,800,103: cuatro millones ochocientos mil ciento tres;
- 78.800.103: setenta y ocho millones ochocientos mil ciento tres.
