Inklingo

How to Say "a hundred" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ciento

syén-tohˈθjento

NumeralA1informal speech
Use 'ciento' when you are stating an exact number that includes one hundred, often as part of a larger number like 'one hundred and fifty'.
A grouping of exactly one hundred small, brightly colored round balloons floating together in a clear blue sky, illustrating the quantity one hundred.

Examples

Ciento veinte personas asistieron a la conferencia.

One hundred and twenty people attended the conference.

Tengo ciento cincuenta dólares en mi cuenta.

I have one hundred fifty dollars in my account.

El aumento fue del cien por ciento.

The increase was one hundred percent.

Si sumas cien y ciento uno, tienes doscientos uno.

If you add one hundred and one hundred one, you have two hundred one.

The 'Cien' Rule (Apocope)

The full form 'ciento' is only used when the number 100 is immediately followed by another number (e.g., 'ciento uno'). Otherwise, it shortens to 'cien' when standing alone or before a noun (e.g., 'cien personas').

Use with Percentages

When talking about percentages, you must use the shortened form 'cien': 'cien por ciento' (one hundred percent).

Using 'Ciento' before nouns

Mistake: “Compré ciento libros.”

Correction: Compré cien libros. (You must drop the 'to' when it comes right before the thing you are counting.)

Confusing 'Cien' and 'Ciento'

Mistake: “El número es cien tres.”

Correction: El número es ciento tres. (Keep the 'to' when the number continues.)

centenar

sen-te-NARθenteˈnaɾ

nounB1general
Use 'centenar' when referring to an approximate group or collection of around one hundred items or people, not an exact count.
A large, neat pile of one hundred bright red apples.

Examples

Había un centenar de ovejas en el prado.

There were a hundred sheep in the meadow.

Había un centenar de personas en la plaza.

There were a hundred people in the square.

El museo recibió casi un centenar de obras nuevas.

The museum received nearly a hundred new works.

Miles de aves vuelan en centenares por el cielo.

Thousands of birds fly in hundreds across the sky.

The 'De' Rule

When you use 'centenar' before a noun, you must always include 'de' (e.g., 'un centenar DE libros').

Singular Word, Multiple Things

Even though it refers to 100 items, the word itself is singular. Use 'el' or 'un' with it.

Cien vs. Centenar

Mistake: “Hay un cien de personas.”

Correction: Hay un centenar de personas. Use 'cien' as a number and 'centenar' as a noun meaning 'a group of a hundred'.

Ciento vs. Centenar

The most common mistake is using 'centenar' when you mean an exact number. Remember, 'ciento' is part of exact numerical figures, while 'centenar' implies an approximation of 'around 100'.

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