10 Easy Rules for Writing Numbers in Spanish

Numbers in Spanish

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Mastering the art of writing numbers in Spanish is a crucial step in expanding your linguistic repertoire and confidently navigating Spanish-speaking environments. Whether you’re a beginner eager to decipher street signs or an advanced learner seeking to enhance your written communication, this comprehensive guide will empower you to express numbers accurately and effectively in the melodious Spanish tongue. Transitioning from the familiar numerals you know to the distinct Spanish system may seem daunting initially, but with a systematic approach and consistent practice, you’ll soon find yourself writing numbers in Spanish with effortless precision.

To embark on this numerical adventure, let’s begin with the basics. In Spanish, numbers from zero to ten are represented by unique words: cero, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez. These words form the foundation of our number-writing journey and serve as building blocks for expressing larger numbers. Transitioning to double-digit numbers, we encounter a slight shift in the grammatical structure. Instead of using separate words for each digit, Spanish combines them using an “and” connector. For instance, the number 11 is written as “once” (literally “one and ten”), while 12 becomes “doce” (meaning “two and ten”). This pattern continues up to 19, making it relatively straightforward to write double-digit numbers.

As we venture into the realm of larger numbers, the rules become slightly more complex yet equally manageable. For numbers between 20 and 29, Spanish employs a unique structure involving the suffix “-nta.” For example, 20 is expressed as “veinte,” 21 as “veintiuno,” and so on. Transitioning to numbers in the hundreds, we encounter a new concept: the use of “cien” (meaning “hundred”). To write numbers in the hundreds, simply combine the corresponding tens digit with “cien.” For instance, 100 is written as “cien,” 200 as “doscientos,” and 300 as “trescientos.” By understanding these fundamental principles and practicing consistently, you’ll soon master the art of writing numbers in Spanish, unlocking new horizons in your linguistic adventure.

Converting Single Digits

Spanish numbers are written similarly to English numbers, with a few key differences. The main difference is that Spanish numbers are written out in full, rather than using numerals. For example, the number "1" is written as "uno," the number "2" is written as "dos," and so on.

The Number 1

The number 1 is a bit of an exception to the rule of writing out Spanish numbers in full. In most cases, the number 1 is written as "uno." However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, when the number 1 is used in a date, it is written as "primero." Additionally, when the number 1 is used as an ordinal number (i.e., first, second, third, etc.), it is written as "primer."

Here is a table summarizing the different ways to write the number 1 in Spanish:

Usage	Spanish
General	Uno
Date	Primero
Ordinal number	Primer

Forming Double-Digit Numbers

Double-digit numbers require special treatment in Spanish. They are formed by reading the tens digit first, followed by the ones digit.

Two

The number two stands out as an exception to this rule. In most cases, “dos” is used to represent the number two. However, if the tens digit is two, then the word changes to “veinte.” This occurs in the following numbers:

Number	Spanish Equivalent
20	Veinte
21	Veintiuno
22	Veintidos
23	Veintitres
24	Veinticuatro
25	Veinticinco
26	Veintiséis
27	Veintisiete
28	Veintiocho
29	Veintinueve

This is because these numbers are considered “compound numbers” in Spanish, formed by the combination of “veinte” and the ones digit. In other contexts, “dos” is used instead of “veinte.” For example, “dos libros” (two books) or “dos horas” (two hours).

Hundreds and Thousands

When writing hundreds and thousands in Spanish, remember to follow these rules:

To write “hundred,” use the word “cien” (pronounced see-en).
To write “thousand,” use the word “mil” (pronounced meel).
To write a number between 100 and 999, first write the hundreds digit, then the tens and ones digits. For example, 256 is written as “doscientos cincuenta y seis.”
To write a number between 1,000 and 999,999, first write the thousands digit, then the hundreds, tens, and ones digits. For example, 4,321 is written as “cuatro mil trescientos veintiuno.”

Writing the Number 3

The number 3 has two forms in Spanish: “tres” and “trescientos.” “Tres” is used when referring to the number 3 on its own or when it is part of a number less than 100. For example, 3 is written as “tres,” and 23 is written as “veintitrés.” “Trescientos” is used when referring to the number 300 or when it is part of a number greater than 100. For example, 300 is written as “trescientos,” and 321 is written as “trescientos veintiuno.”

Number	Spanish Word
3	tres
300	trescientos

Mathematical Operations

When performing mathematical operations in Spanish, the numbers involved are typically expressed in their cardinal forms. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

Addition

When adding two or more numbers, the numbers are generally expressed in their cardinal forms. For example, “dos más tres” (two plus three) equals “cinco” (five).

Subtraction

When subtracting one number from another, the minuend (the number being subtracted from) is expressed in its cardinal form, while the subtrahend (the number being subtracted) is expressed in its ordinal form. For example, “cinco menos dos” (five minus two) equals “tres” (three).

Multiplication

When multiplying two or more numbers, the numbers are generally expressed in their cardinal forms. However, the number being multiplied by a factor of two is typically expressed in its doubled form. For example, “dos por cuatro” (two times four) equals “ocho” (eight).

Multiplication by 4

When multiplying a number by four, the number is typically expressed in its quadruple form. For example:

Number	Quadruple Form	Meaning
1	uno por cuatro	one times four
2	dos por cuatro	two times four
3	tres por cuatro	three times four
4	cuatro por cuatro	four times four
5	cinco por cuatro	five times four

Ordinal Numbers

When you’re talking about the order in which things come, you use ordinal numbers. In Spanish, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -º to the cardinal number.

For example, the Spanish word for “first” is “primero,” which is formed by adding the suffix -º to the cardinal number “uno” (one).

Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Spanish:

Ordinal	Cardinal
primero	uno
segundo	dos
tercero	tres
cuarto	cuatro
quinto	cinco
sexto	seis
séptimo	siete
octavo	ocho
noveno	nueve
décimo	diez

Quinto (Fifth)

The Spanish word for “fifth” is “quinto.” It is used to describe something that comes in the fifth position. For example, you would use “quinto” to describe the fifth day of the week (jueves) or the fifth month of the year (mayo).

Here are some examples of how to use “quinto” in a sentence:

El quinto día de la semana es jueves.
El quinto mes del año es mayo.
Vivo en el quinto piso.
Tengo cinco años.
Necesito cinco manzanas.

Exceptions and Irregularities

The Number 6

The number 6 is an exception in Spanish and takes on different forms depending on its context.

When 6 stands alone or at the end of a compound number, it is written as “seis”. For example:

English	Spanish
Six	Seis
Sixty	Sesenta

However, when 6 is followed by another digit or used in a date, it changes to “sex”. For example:

English	Spanish
Sixteen	Dieciséis
1965	Mil novecientos sesenta y cinco

Fractions and Decimals

Fractions

In Spanish, fractions are written as a numerator followed by a denominator, with the words numerador and denominador used to clarify the parts of the fraction if necessary. For example, 1/2 is written as un medio or un sobre dos. Mixed numbers are written with the whole number followed by the fraction, with the word y (and) separating the two parts. For example, 2 1/2 is written as dos y medio.

Decimals

Decimals are written in the same way as in English, with a decimal point separating the whole number part from the decimal part. For example, 0.5 is written as cero punto cinco. When reading decimals aloud, the decimal point is read as coma (comma). For example, 0.5 is read as cero coma cinco.

Here is a table summarizing the rules for writing numbers in Spanish:

Number	Spanish
1	uno
2	dos
3	tres
4	cuatro
5	cinco
6	seis
7	siete One word number with various use cases and formations: – The number seven, itself. – A hundred times more as a multiplier. – The seventh day of the week. – The seventh element of a list. – A group of seven people or things.
8	ocho
9	nueve

Monetary Amounts

When writing monetary amounts in Spanish, there are a few special rules to keep in mind. First, the currency symbol is placed after the number, not before. For example, you would write “100 €” instead of “€ 100”.

Second, the decimal point is replaced by a comma. For example, you would write “10,50 €” instead of “10.50 €”.

Third, the word “euro” is used for both singular and plural amounts. For example, you would write “1 euro” or “100 euros”.

Special Case: The Number 8

The number 8 is written differently in Spanish depending on whether it is used in a monetary amount or not. When used in a monetary amount, the number 8 is written as “ocho”. For example, you would write “8 €” or “8 euros”.

However, when used in a non-monetary amount, the number 8 is written as “ocho”. For example, you would write “8 libros” or “8 días”.

To help you remember, here is a table summarizing the different ways to write the number 8 in Spanish:

Monetary Amount	Non-Monetary Amount
8 €	ocho libros
8 euros	ocho días

Dates and Time

To write dates in Spanish, you typically follow this format: day, number, month, year. The days of the week and months of the year are written as follows:

Day of the Week	Spanish
Monday	Lunes
Tuesday	Martes
Wednesday	Miércoles
Thursday	Jueves
Friday	Viernes
Saturday	Sábado
Sunday	Domingo

To write months in Spanish, use the following table:

Month	Spanish
January	Enero
February	Febrero
March	Marzo
April	Abril
May	Mayo
June	Junio
July	Julio
August	Agosto
September	Septiembre
October	Octubre
November	Noviembre
December	Diciembre

To write time in Spanish, you would typically use the following format: hour:minute AM/PM. The hours are written in a 24-hour clock, so 1:00 PM would be written as 13:00. The following table shows the numbers 1-12 in Spanish:

Number	Spanish
1	Uno
2	Dos
3	Tres
4	Cuatro
5	Cinco
6	Seis
7	Siete
8	Ocho
9	Nueve
10	Diez
11	Once
12	Doce

The numbers 13-24 are formed by adding “-ce” to the numbers 1-12. For example, 13 is written as “trece” and 14 is written as “catorce”. The numbers 25-29 are formed by adding “-nta” to the numbers 15-19. For example, 25 is written as “veinticinco” and 29 is written as “veintinueve”. The numbers 30-39 are formed by adding “-nta y” to the numbers 10-19. For example, 30 is written as “treinta” and 39 is written as “treinta y nueve”.

Measurement and Estimations

In Spanish, numbers are used to indicate measurement and estimates in various contexts. Similar to English, different units of measurement are employed for specific purposes.

Units of Measurement

Measurement	Spanish Unit
Length	Metro
Weight	Kilogramo
Volume	Litro
Time	Hora, minuto, segundo

Number 10

The number 10 (diez) is a special case in Spanish, as it undergoes a gender-based agreement with the noun it modifies. When followed by a masculine noun, it takes the form “diez.” For example, “diez metros” (ten meters).

However, when followed by a feminine noun, “diez” changes to “dieciocho.” For example, “dieciocho libras” (ten pounds).

It is important to note that when “diez” is used to form dates, it does not agree in gender with the noun. For example, “el diez de mayo” (May 10th).

Additionally, “diez” can be used as a prefix to create multiples of ten. For example, “diez mil” (ten thousand), “diez millones” (ten million).

How To Write Numbers In Spanish

Writing numbers in Spanish is relatively straightforward, but there are a few key differences from English that you need to be aware of. Here are the basics:

The numbers 0-9 are written the same way in Spanish as they are in English.
The numbers 11-15 are written as one word, with the ending “-ce” added to the base number. For example, 11 is “once”, 12 is “doce”, and so on.
The numbers 16-19 are written as two words, with the first word being “dieci” and the second word being the base number. For example, 16 is “dieciséis”, 17 is “diecisiete”, and so on.
The numbers 20-99 are written as two words, with the first word being the tens digit and the second word being the ones digit. For example, 20 is “veinte”, 21 is “veintiuno”, and so on.
The numbers 100-999 are written as three words, with the first word being the hundreds digit, the second word being the tens digit, and the third word being the ones digit. For example, 100 is “cien”, 101 is “ciento uno”, and so on.
The numbers 1,000-999,999 are written as four words, with the first word being the thousands digit, the second word being the hundreds digit, the third word being the tens digit, and the fourth word being the ones digit. For example, 1,000 is “mil”, 1,001 is “mil uno”, and so on.