Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

◀️ Greetings and Salutations — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Days of the Week and Months of the Year ▶️

Spanish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Counting

Welcome to the exciting world of numbers and counting in Spanish! Understanding numbers is a fundamental part of learning any language, and mastering this skill will open many doors for you as you progress in your Spanish studies. Whether you're shopping at a market, ordering food, or simply trying to understand a price tag, knowing how to count in Spanish is essential.

In this lesson, we will explore the Spanish number system in depth, covering everything from the basics of counting from 1 to 100, to some useful applications in everyday situations. By the end of this lesson, you should feel confident in your ability to use numbers in Spanish, whether you're counting objects, telling time, or discussing prices.

The Importance of Numbers in Spanish

Numbers are more than just symbols; they are a vital part of communication. Imagine trying to buy something without knowing how to say the price or how many of an item you want. Numbers allow us to quantify our experiences and express ourselves clearly. In Spanish-speaking countries, numbers come up in various contexts, from asking for the time to discussing age, and they can even play a role in cultural events like fiestas and celebrations.

Overview of Spanish Numbers

In Spanish, numbers are categorized into different groups based on their value. Here's a brief overview of how the number system works:

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers indicate quantity. For example:

• One apple

• Three books

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order. For example:

• First place

• Third chapter

In this lesson, we will focus primarily on cardinal numbers, as they are essential for beginners.

Basic Counting: 1 to 10

Let’s start with the basics! Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Spanish:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
uno	ˈuno	one
dos	dos	two
tres	tɾes	three
cuatro	ˈkwatɾo	four
cinco	ˈsiŋko	five
seis	sejs	six
siete	ˈsjete	seven
ocho	ˈotʃo	eight
nueve	ˈnweβe	nine
diez	djes	ten

You’ll notice that the pronunciation can differ significantly from English. Practice saying these numbers out loud to get comfortable with their sounds!

Counting from 11 to 20

Now let’s move on to the numbers from 11 to 20. This is where you’ll see some unique patterns in Spanish:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
once	ˈonse	eleven
doce	ˈdose	twelve
trece	ˈtɾese	thirteen
catorce	kaˈtoɾθe	fourteen
quince	ˈkinse	fifteen
dieciséis	djesiˈsejs	sixteen
diecisiete	djesiˈsjete	seventeen
dieciocho	djesiˈotʃo	eighteen
diecinueve	djesiˈnweβe	nineteen
veinte	ˈbeinte	twenty

Notice how the numbers from 11 to 15 have unique names, but starting from 16, the pattern is based on "diez" (ten). For example, "dieciséis" literally means "ten and six."

Counting from 21 to 100

As you continue your counting journey, you’ll find that Spanish numbers follow a logical pattern. Let’s break it down:

21 to 30

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
veintiuno	beinˈtjun̪o	twenty-one
veintidós	bein̪tiˈðos	twenty-two
veintitrés	bein̪tiˈtɾes	twenty-three
veinticuatro	bein̪tiˈkwatɾo	twenty-four
veinticinco	bein̪tiˈsiŋko	twenty-five
veintiséis	bein̪tiˈsejs	twenty-six
veintisiete	bein̪tiˈsjete	twenty-seven
veintiocho	bein̪tiˈotʃo	twenty-eight
veintinueve	bein̪tiˈnweβe	twenty-nine
treinta	ˈtɾeinta	thirty

From 21 onward, the pattern continues, using "veinti-" for numbers 21 to 29.

31 to 100

Once you reach thirty, the structure changes slightly:

• From 31 to 39, you’ll use "treinta y" (thirty and) followed by the unit number.

• From 40 onward, you’ll use the tens place followed by the unit number.

Let’s look at the numbers from 30 to 100:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
treinta y uno	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈuno	thirty-one
treinta y dos	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈðos	thirty-two
treinta y tres	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈtɾes	thirty-three
treinta y cuatro	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈkwatɾo	thirty-four
treinta y cinco	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈsiŋko	thirty-five
treinta y seis	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈsejs	thirty-six
treinta y siete	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈsjete	thirty-seven
treinta y ocho	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈotʃo	thirty-eight
treinta y nueve	tɾeɪ̯n̪ta i ˈnweβe	thirty-nine
cuarenta	kwaˈɾenta	forty
...	...	...
noventa	noˈβenta	ninety
cien	siɛn	one hundred

As you can see, counting in Spanish becomes increasingly systematic as you progress. The key is to understand the patterns and practice consistently.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the basics of counting in Spanish, let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are some practice exercises to help you reinforce what you've learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct Spanish numbers.

1. 5 = ______

2. 12 = ______

3. 25 = ______

4. 38 = ______

5. 100 = ______

Answers:

1. cinco

2. doce

3. veinticinco

4. treinta y ocho

5. cien

Exercise 2: Matching

Match the Spanish numbers with their English equivalents.

| Spanish | English |

|---------|---------|

| a. trece | 1. fifteen |

| b. veinte | 2. twenty |

| c. quince | 3. thirteen |

| d. catorce | 4. fourteen |

Answers:

• a - 3

• b - 2

• c - 1

• d - 4

Exercise 3: Counting Objects

Look around you and count different objects in your environment. Try to say the number in Spanish. For example, if you have three books, say "tres libros."

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've taken a significant step in learning Spanish by mastering numbers and counting. Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep counting in Spanish as you go about your day. Try to incorporate numbers into conversations, whether you’re shopping, cooking, or just hanging out with friends.

As you continue your journey through the Spanish language, you'll find that numbers are just one of the many exciting elements that make learning Spanish so rewarding. Keep up the great work, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher!

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Spanish

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Subject Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense Verbs
• Ser and Estar
• Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

  ---

Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

  ---

Common Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Salutations
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

  ---

Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

  ---

Spanish-Speaking Countries

• Spain: History and Culture
• Latin America: History and Culture

  ---

Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

  ---

Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Sources

• Spanish Numbers and Counting - Lawless Spanish Vocabulary
• Spanish Numbers. Learn Numbers in Spanish 1-100 | don Quijote
• Spanish Numbers: How to Count from 1 - 1,000+ in Spanish

Other Lessons

• Parts of a leaf
• Huesos
• Las Frutas
• At Home
• Zodíaco
• Soccer
• Olympic Sports
• The 4 Seasons
• Slang
• Animals

◀️ Greetings and Salutations — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Days of the Week and Months of the Year ▶️