Counting is one of the first and most essential skills to learn in any language. Let’s dive into the world of Spanish numbers and discover how to count from 1 to 100.
Basic Numbers (1-15)
| Number | Spanish | Pronunciation (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | uno | oo-noh |
| 2 | dos | dohs |
| 3 | tres | trehs |
| 4 | cuatro | kwah-troh |
| 5 | cinco | seen-koh |
| 6 | seis | sayss |
| 7 | siete | see-eh-teh |
| 8 | ocho | oh-choh |
| 9 | nueve | nweh-veh |
| 10 | diez | dee-ehss |
| 11 | once | ohn-seh |
| 12 | doce | doh-seh |
| 13 | trece | treh-seh |
| 14 | catorce | kah-tohr-seh |
| 15 | quince | keen-seh |
Numbers 16-19
These follow the pattern of “diez y seis” (ten and six), but are shortened:
- 16: dieciséis (dee-eh-see-sayss)
- 17: diecisiete (dee-eh-see-see-eh-teh)
- 18: dieciocho (dee-eh-see-oh-choh)
- 19: diecinueve (dee-eh-see-nweh-veh)
The Tens (20-90)
| Number | Spanish | Pronunciation (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | veinte | bayn-teh |
| 30 | treinta | trayn-tah |
| 40 | cuarenta | kwah-ren-tah |
| 50 | cincuenta | seen-kwen-tah |
| 60 | sesenta | seh-sen-tah |
| 70 | setenta | seh-ten-tah |
| 80 | ochenta | oh-chen-tah |
| 90 | noventa | noh-ven-tah |
Numbers 21-29
These have unique forms:
- 21: veintiuno (bayn-tee-oo-noh)
- 22: veintidós (bayn-tee-dohs)
- 23: veintitrés (bayn-tee-trehs)
- … and so on
Numbers 31-99
For numbers 31-99 (except those in the twenties), follow this pattern:
- [tens] + y + [ones]
Examples:
- 32: treinta y dos (trayn-tah ee dohs)
- 45: cuarenta y cinco (kwah-ren-tah ee seen-koh)
- 78: setenta y ocho (seh-ten-tah ee oh-choh)
100
100 is “cien” (see-en) in Spanish
Key Rules and Tips
- Use “y” (and) between the tens and ones for numbers 31-99 (except 21-29).
- Numbers 21-29 have special, shortened forms (veinti-).
- “Uno” changes to “un” before a masculine noun (e.g., “veintiún libros” – twenty-one books).
- When counting, use “uno” instead of “un” for the number 21 (veintiuno).
- Practice makes perfect! Try counting objects around you, or use online resources and apps to reinforce your learning
With consistent practice, you’ll be counting like a native speaker in no time! ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)