📝 In Action
Necesitamos cien sillas para el evento.
A1We need one hundred chairs for the event.
Mi abuela cumplió cien años la semana pasada.
A2My grandmother turned one hundred years old last week.
El costo de la reparación es cien dólares.
A1The cost of the repair is one hundred dollars.
💡 Grammar Points
The Cien/Ciento Rule
Use 'cien' ONLY when the number 100 stands alone or comes directly before a noun. If it is part of a larger number (like 101, 150) or used as a standalone noun/number (like a percentage), you must use 'ciento' instead.
Always Singular
'Cien' always stays the same, regardless of whether the noun it refers to is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'cien días' and 'cien noches').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Cien and Ciento
Mistake: "Compró ciento libros."
Correction: Compró cien libros. (Use 'cien' when it is right next to the noun 'libros'.)
Using Cien in Large Numbers
Mistake: "Doscientos cien (200 + 100)."
Correction: Trescientos. (If it's part of a compound number, 'cien' changes to 'ciento', and then compounds into 300, 400, etc.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Saying 101-199
For numbers above 100, use 'ciento' followed by 'uno' through 'noventa y nueve' (e.g., 'ciento uno,' 'ciento cincuenta').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cien
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the word 'cien'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cien' and 'ciento'?
They both mean 'one hundred.' The key rule is placement: Use 'cien' when it is immediately followed by the noun it counts (e.g., 'cien personas'). Use 'ciento' when it is part of a bigger number (150 = 'ciento cincuenta') or used as a standalone unit (like a percentage: 20%).
Does 'cien' change based on masculine or feminine nouns?
No, 'cien' is invariable, meaning it stays the same regardless of the noun's gender. You say 'cien chicos' and 'cien chicas.' The only gender change is seen in the hundreds themselves (e.g., 'doscientos/doscientas').