How to Say "hundreds" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “hundreds” is “cientos” — use 'cientos' when you mean 'a large, indefinite number of' things, similar to 'lots of' or 'many'.
cientos
syen-tosˈsjen.tos
Examples
Recibimos cientos de solicitudes para el puesto.
We received hundreds of applications for the position.
La biblioteca tiene cientos de libros antiguos.
The library has hundreds of old books.
Ella ha viajado cientos de kilómetros este mes.
She has traveled hundreds of kilometers this month.
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.
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.)
centenar
sen-te-NARθenteˈnaɾ
Examples
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'.
Exact vs. Approximate Quantity
Related Translations
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