doce
“doce” means “twelve” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
twelve
Also: 12
📝 In Action
Necesito doce huevos para hacer la tortilla.
A1I need twelve eggs to make the omelet.
Hay doce meses en un año.
A1There are twelve months in a year.
El grupo tiene doce miembros.
B1The group has twelve members.
twelve
Also: noon/midnight
📝 In Action
El doce es mi número de la suerte.
A1Twelve is my lucky number.
La reunión es a las doce en punto.
A1The meeting is at twelve o'clock sharp (noon or midnight).
Mi cumpleaños es el doce de mayo.
A2My birthday is the twelfth (12th) of May.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: doce
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish phrase correctly asks for a quantity of 12 rolls?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Doce' comes directly from the Latin word 'duodecim,' which is a combination of 'duo' (two) and 'decem' (ten). This pattern of combining words is how many numbers in Spanish were formed.
First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'doce' ever change its ending (like to 'doces' or 'doca')?
No, 'doce' is one of the numbers that always stays the same regardless of whether the things you are counting are masculine or feminine, or singular or plural. If you are talking about the number itself, you would say 'los doces' (the twelves) but this is rare.
How do I distinguish between 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM?
You can add context: 'las doce del mediodía' (12 PM / noon) or 'las doce de la noche' (12 AM / midnight). If you just say 'a las doce,' context often makes it clear, but it's best to specify if needed.