Using Spanish Numerals Correctly220

Spanish numerals are an essential part of the language, used to express quantities, dates, and other numerical information. While they may seem straightforward at first glance, there are some nuances and rules that learners need to be aware of in order to use them correctly.

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers are used to count objects and indicate specific quantities. They are generally written as one word, with the exception of numbers over 30, which are written as two words.

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


30
treinta


40
cuarenta


50
cincuenta


60
sesenta


70
setenta


80
ochenta


90
noventa


100
cien


200
doscientos


300
trescientos


400
cuatrocientos

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are used to indicate position or order. They are typically formed by adding the suffix "-esimo/-esima" to the cardinal number.

Number
Spanish


1st
primero


2nd
segundo


3rd
tercero


4th
cuarto


5th
quinto


6th
sexto


7th
séptimo


8th
octavo


9th
noveno


10th
décimo


11th
undécimo


12th
duodécimo


13th
decimotercero


14th
decimocuarto


15th
decimoquinto


16th
decimosexto


17th
decimoséptimo


18th
decimoctavo


19th
decimonoveno


20th
vigésimo


30th
trigésimo


40th
cuadragésimo


50th
quincuagésimo

Using Numerals with Nouns

When using numerals with nouns, there are a few rules to keep in mind.
Cardinal numbers generally precede the noun, while ordinal numbers follow the noun.
For numbers over 100, the conjunction "y" is used to connect the hundreds, tens, and ones.
When a noun is modified by a possessive adjective, the numeral is placed before the adjective.

Examples:

* Tengo dos perros. (I have two dogs.)
* El primer día de clase fue ayer. (The first day of class was yesterday.)
* Mi centésimo gol fue en el partido pasado. (My hundredth goal was in the last game.)
* Los tres amigos estaban esperando en el parque. (The three friends were waiting in the park.)

Special Cases

There are a few special cases where the rules for using Spanish numerals may vary.* One million: The word "millón" is used for one million, and the plural is "millones."
* Half: The word "medio" is used for half, and it is placed before the noun.
* Dozens: The word "docena" is used for a dozen, and it is placed after the noun.
* Dates: Dates are typically written in the following format: day, month, year. The day and month are written as cardinal numbers, while the year is written as an ordinal number.

Examples:

* Tengo medio millón de dólares. (I have half a million dollars.)
* Compré una docena de huevos. (I bought a dozen eggs.)
* Hoy es el cinco de mayo de dos mil veintitrés. (Today is the fifth of May, two thousand twenty-three.)

Conclusion

Using Spanish numerals correctly is essential for clear and effective communication. By understanding the rules and nuances outlined in this article, learners can improve their accuracy and fluency when expressing numerical information in Spanish.

2024-11-07

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