cientos
“cientos” means “hundreds” in Spanish (as an indefinite quantity).
hundreds
Also: hundreds of, scores of
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Recibimos cientos de solicitudes para el puesto.
A2We received hundreds of applications for the position.
La biblioteca tiene cientos de libros antiguos.
A2The library has hundreds of old books.
Ella ha viajado cientos de kilómetros este mes.
B1She has traveled hundreds of kilometers this month.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cientos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'cientos'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin *centum*, meaning 'a hundred'. Spanish simply pluralized the concept to talk about multiple groups of a hundred.
First recorded: Before the 10th century (as *ciento*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 'cientos' versus just saying the exact number, like 'doscientos' (two hundred)?
Use 'cientos' when you don't know the exact number, or when the exact number isn't important—you just want to emphasize that the quantity is very large, usually 200 or more. If you know it's exactly 200, say 'doscientos'.
Is 'cientos' masculine or feminine?
'Cientos' itself is masculine. However, if you are counting feminine things, you would say 'cientos de' plus the feminine noun (e.g., 'cientos de manzanas' - hundreds of apples).