cientos
syen-tos
📝 In Action
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.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'de'
When 'cientos' describes a group of things, it nearly always needs the small connecting word 'de' (of) right after it: 'cientos de pájaros' (hundreds of birds).
Always Plural
This word is always used in its plural form 'cientos' when referring to an indefinite large number, never 'ciento' alone in this context.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'de'
Mistake: "Vi cientos personas en el parque."
Correction: Vi cientos de personas en el parque. (Always include 'de' before the noun it modifies.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Scale
Use 'cientos' when you want to emphasize that the quantity is very large, but you don't know or care about the exact count (e.g., 200, 300, 900, etc.).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cientos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'cientos'?
📚 More Resources
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).