¡Hola, language learner!
Ever found yourself at a market in a Spanish-speaking country, trying to buy dos manzanasapples, but the vendor thinks you want doce (twelve)? Oops! Or maybe you're trying to share your age or phone number and find yourself stuck after diezten.
Don't worry, we've all been there. Numbers are a fundamental part of any language, and Spanish is no exception. The good news? Once you spot the patterns, counting to 100 is a piece of cake—or as they say in Spanish, ¡es pan comido!
This guide will break down Spanish numbers 1-100 into simple, digestible chunks. Ready? ¡Uno, dos, tres, vamos!
The Foundations: Numbers 0-15
First things first, let's learn the essentials. The numbers from 0 to 15 in Spanish are unique, so you'll need to memorize them. Think of them as the key building blocks for everything that follows.
| Number | Spanish Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | cero | seh-roh |
| 1 | uno | oo-noh |
| 2 | dos | dohs |
| 3 | tres | trehs |
| 4 | cuatro | kwah-troh |
| 5 | cinco | seen-koh |
| 6 | seis | seys |
| 7 | siete | syeh-teh |
| 8 | ocho | oh-choh |
| 9 | nueve | nweh-veh |
| 10 | diez | dyehs |
| 11 | once | ohn-seh |
| 12 | doce | doh-seh |
| 13 | trece | treh-seh |
| 14 | catorce | kah-tor-seh |
| 15 | quince | keen-seh |
Uno vs. Un
You might have seen the number one written as both uno and un. What's the deal?
- Use uno when you're just counting (
uno, dos, tres...) or when it stands alone. - Use un right before a masculine noun. For example, un gatoa cat.
- For feminine nouns, you use una! For example, una casaa house.
The First Pattern: Numbers 16-19
Great job! Now for our first pattern. The numbers from 16 to 19 are formed by smashing "diez y" (ten and) together with the single digits.
Notice how diez y seis becomes dieciséis.
- 16 - dieciséissixteen (diez + y + seis)
- 17 - diecisieteseventeen (diez + y + siete)
- 18 - dieciochoeighteen (diez + y + ocho)
- 19 - diecinuevenineteen (diez + y + nueve)
Watch for Accents!
Don't forget the accent on dieciséis! It's there to keep the stress on the correct syllable.
The Tens: 20, 30, 40...
Next, let's learn the tens. These are your new anchor points for building the rest of the numbers up to 100.
- 20 - veintetwenty
- 30 - treintathirty
- 40 - cuarentaforty
- 50 - cincuentafifty
- 60 - sesentasixty
- 70 - setentaseventy
- 80 - ochentaeighty
- 90 - noventaninety
Putting It All Together: 21-99
This is where the magic happens! There are two simple rules for combining the tens and the ones.
Rule 1: The Twenties (21-29)
Just like we saw with 16-19, the numbers from 21-29 are also squished into one single word. The veinte changes to veinti- and you just add the next number.
- 21 - veintiunotwenty-one
- 22 - veintidóstwenty-two
- 23 - veintitréstwenty-three
- 25 - veinticincotwenty-five
- 29 - veintinuevetwenty-nine
Rule 2: From 31 Onwards
From 31 all the way to 99, the pattern gets even easier! You just use three separate words: the ten, the word y (and), and the one.
Formula: [The Ten] + y + [The One]
- 31 - treinta y unothirty-one
- 45 - cuarenta y cincoforty-five
- 68 - sesenta y ochosixty-eight
- 99 - noventa y nueveninety-nine
This is a key difference. The 20s are one word, but 31 and up are three words. See for yourself with this slider!
Drag the handle to compare
The Grand Finale: 100!
You made it! The number 100 is simple.
- 100 - cienone hundred
A Peek Ahead: Cien vs. Ciento
When you're saying "100" exactly, you use cien. For example, "Tengo cien libros" (I have 100 books). When you start counting from 101 to 199, cien changes to ciento. For example, 101 is "ciento uno." A little tip for your future studies!
Time to Practice!
Reading the rules is one thing, but putting them into practice is how you'll truly learn. Let's try a few exercises.
Quick Quiz
Test your knowledge with this quick question.
How would you say '84' in Spanish?
Sentence Scramble
Now, let's use a number in a real sentence. Unscramble the words below.
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
You've Got This!
See? Not so scary! By memorizing 0-15 and the tens, and then applying two simple rules, you've unlocked the ability to count all the way to 100.
Your cheat sheet:
- 0-15: Memorize them.
- 16-29: One word (
dieciséis,veinticinco). - 31-99: Three words (
treinta y uno). - 100:
Cien.
The next time you're at a café, you can confidently order a cafécoffee for uno euro and cincuenta centavos.
Want to take your Spanish skills even further? The InkLingo app is packed with fun, interactive exercises to help you master numbers and much more. Happy learning!