How to Say "a hundred" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “a hundred” is “ciento” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
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.)
Related Translations
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