Spanish Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide75

Numbers are an essential part of everyday life, and knowing how to use them correctly is important for effective communication. In Spanish, there are specific rules and conventions for using numbers, which can differ from English. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of Spanish numbers, including cardinals, ordinals, dates, and time.

Cardinals

Cardinal numbers are used to count objects and indicate quantity. In Spanish, cardinal numbers are generally the same as their English counterparts, with a few exceptions. The numbers 16 and 20 are irregular, and their feminine forms are dieciséis and veinte, respectively. Additionally, the number 100 is written as cien, and the number 1,000 is written as mil.

Here is a table of cardinal numbers from 0 to 20:| Number | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 0 | cero |
| 1 | uno |
| 2 | dos |
| 3 | tres |
| 4 | cuatro |
| 5 | cinco |
| 6 | seis |
| 7 | siete |
| 8 | ocho |
| 9 | nueve |
| 10 | diez |
| 11 | once |
| 12 | doce |
| 13 | trece |
| 14 | catorce |
| 15 | quince |
| 16 | dieciséis |
| 17 | diecisiete |
| 18 | dieciocho |
| 19 | diecinueve |
| 20 | veinte |

Ordinals

Ordinal numbers are used to indicate position or order. In Spanish, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -ésimo to the cardinal number. For example, primero (first) is formed from the cardinal number uno (one). The ordinal numbers for the first ten numbers are as follows:| Number | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1st | primero |
| 2nd | segundo |
| 3rd | tercero |
| 4th | cuarto |
| 5th | quinto |
| 6th | sexto |
| 7th | séptimo |
| 8th | octavo |
| 9th | noveno |
| 10th | décimo |

For numbers greater than ten, the suffix -ésimo is added to the stem of the cardinal number. For example, vigésimo (twentieth) is formed from the stem of the cardinal number veinte (twenty).

Dates

In Spanish, dates are typically written in the following order: day, month, year. The day and month are written as cardinal numbers, and the year is written as a four-digit number. For example, the date March 8, 2023, would be written as 8 de marzo de 2023.

When writing dates in Spanish, it is important to use the correct preposition. The preposition de is used before the month and the year. For example:
El 15 de enero de 2024 (January 15, 2024)
El 24 de diciembre de 2022 (December 24, 2022)

When writing dates in Spanish, it is also important to use the correct article. The definite article el is used before the day and the month. For example:
El lunes 12 de febrero (Monday, February 12)
El martes 17 de marzo (Tuesday, March 17)

Time

In Spanish, time is typically expressed using the 24-hour clock. The hours are written as cardinal numbers, and the minutes are written as ordinal numbers. For example, 3:15 PM would be written as las tres y cuarto.

Here is a table of the Spanish words for the hours and minutes:| Hour | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1 | la una |
| 2 | las dos |
| 3 | las tres |
| 4 | las cuatro |
| 5 | las cinco |
| 6 | las seis |
| 7 | las siete |
| 8 | las ocho |
| 9 | las nueve |
| 10 | las diez |
| 11 | las once |
| 12 | las doce |
| 1 | la una y cuarto |
| 2 | la una y media |
| 3 | la una y tres cuartos |
| 4 | las dos |
| 5 | las dos y cuarto |
| 6 | las dos y media |
| 7 | las dos y tres cuartos |
| 8 | las tres |
| 9 | las tres y cuarto |
| 10 | las tres y media |
| 11 | las tres y tres cuartos |
| 12 | las cuatro |

When telling time in Spanish, it is important to use the correct preposition. The preposition a is used before the hour, and the preposition de is used before the minutes. For example:
Son las cinco de la tarde (It is five in the afternoon)
Son las diez y media de la noche (It is ten-thirty at night)

2025-02-05

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