Inklingo

How to Say "dozen" in Spanish

English → Spanish

docena

doh-SEH-nahdoˈse.na

nounA1
Use 'docena' when you mean a precise quantity of twelve items.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing twelve identical bright yellow lemons arranged neatly in a group on a white background.

Examples

Compré una docena de rosas para mi madre.

I bought a dozen roses for my mother.

Necesito una docena de huevos para hacer el pastel.

I need a dozen eggs to make the cake.

Solo queremos media docena de panecillos, por favor.

We only want half a dozen rolls, please.

Vimos docenas de pájaros volando hacia el sur.

We saw dozens of birds flying south.

Feminine Noun Rule

Even though it refers to the number twelve (doce), 'docena' is a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'una docena,' 'la docena').

Using 'doce' instead of 'docena'

Mistake: “Compré doce de huevos. (I bought twelve of eggs.)”

Correction: Compré una docena de huevos. ('Docena' is the collective noun for a group of twelve, like how we use 'dozen' in English.)

decena

deh-SEH-nahdeˈsena

nounA2
Use 'decena' when referring to a group of approximately ten, or figuratively as 'many' or 'dozens of'.
A row of ten identical red apples sitting on a wooden table.

Examples

Había una decena de personas esperando en la fila.

There were dozens of people waiting in line.

Compré una decena de huevos para el pastel.

I bought ten eggs for the cake.

Había decenas de personas esperando en la puerta.

There were dozens of people waiting at the door.

El collar tiene una decena de perlas blancas.

The necklace has a set of ten white pearls.

A Label for a Group

Think of 'decena' as a group name rather than a number. Just like we use 'dozen' for twelve, Spanish uses 'decena' for ten.

Connecting with 'de'

When you want to say what you have ten of, you must put the word 'de' (of) after 'decena'. For example: 'una decena de libros'.

Decena vs. Década

Mistake: “Using 'decena' to mean 10 years.”

Correction: Use 'década' for ten years. 'Decena' is only for counting items, not time.

Missing the word 'de'

Mistake: “Saying 'una decena manzanas'.”

Correction: Say 'una decena de manzanas'. It needs that little 'of' to connect to the item.

Docena vs. Decena

The most common mistake is using 'decena' when a precise quantity of twelve is intended. Remember, 'docena' is strictly twelve, while 'decena' can mean around ten or 'many'.

Related Translations

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