Numbers (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Spanish numbers
Understanding numbers in Spanish is essential for everyday communication. This guide covers cardinal numbers, dates, time, and ordinal numbers with their important grammar rules.
Cardinal numbers (1-1000)
Spanish numbers follow patterns that make them easier to learn once you understand the basics. The Spanish number system is built on logical foundations that, once mastered, allow you to construct virtually any number with confidence.
The Spanish number system uses consistent patterns and rules. Learning these patterns will help you construct numbers systematically rather than memorising each one individually.
Here's how the number system works:
Basic numbers (1-20)
The foundation numbers are unique and form the building blocks for all other numbers in Spanish.
These foundation numbers (1-20) are completely unique and must be memorised. They don't follow the patterns used for larger numbers, so there are no shortcuts for learning them.
- 1-10: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez
- 11-20: once, doce, trece, catorce, quince, dieciséis, diecisiete, dieciocho, diecinueve, veinte
Numbers 21-99
From 21 onwards, Spanish uses a consistent pattern that makes number construction predictable. Understanding this pattern is crucial for building confidence with Spanish numbers.
Pattern Demonstration: Building Numbers 21-99
For 21-29: Use "veinti-" + unit number
- 21: veintiuno
- 22: veintidós
- 23: veintitrés
For 31-99: Use tens + "y" + units
- 31: treinta y uno
- 42: cuarenta y dos
- 67: sesenta y siete
The twenties combine "veinti-" with the unit number (veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés, etc.), while 31-99 follow the pattern of tens + "y" + units (treinta y uno, cuarenta y dos).
Key vocabulary table
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| uno | one | treinta | thirty |
| dos | two | cuarenta | forty |
| tres | three | cincuenta | fifty |
| cuatro | four | sesenta | sixty |
| cinco | five | setenta | seventy |
| diez | ten | ochenta | eighty |
| veinte | twenty | noventa | ninety |
| cien | one hundred | mil | one thousand |
Notice how the tens (30, 40, 50, etc.) mostly follow predictable patterns based on the root numbers, with only a few exceptions like "veinte" (twenty) and some irregular forms.
Agreement rules for numbers ending in "uno"
This is one of the most important grammar rules for Spanish numbers and affects how numbers integrate with nouns in sentences.
When a number ends in "uno", it must agree with the gender of the noun it describes. The "-o" is dropped before masculine nouns, and "una" is used before feminine nouns.
Common mistake to avoid: Never use "uno" directly before a masculine noun. Always drop the "-o" to make "un".
Gender Agreement Examples:
Masculine nouns:
- veintiún años (twenty-one years)
- treinta y un libros (thirty-one books)
Feminine nouns:
- veintiuna chicas (twenty-one girls)
- cuarenta y una casas (forty-one houses)
This rule applies to all numbers ending in one: treinta y un libros, cuarenta y una casas.
Hundreds and their special forms
The hundreds in Spanish require careful attention because they have both irregular forms and gender agreement rules that must be mastered.
Hundreds must agree with the gender of the noun they modify. This means you need to know whether the noun is masculine or feminine to use the correct form.
The hundreds have some irregular forms that need special attention:
- 100: cien (standalone) / ciento (with other numbers)
- 200: doscientos (masculine) / doscientas (feminine)
- 300: trescientos/as
- 400: cuatrocientos/as
- 500: quinientos/as (irregular - note the "qui")
- 600: seiscientos/as
- 700: setecientos/as (irregular - note the single "t")
- 800: ochocientos/as
- 900: novecientos/as (irregular - note the "nove")
Hundreds Agreement Examples:
With masculine nouns:
- doscientos libros (two hundred books)
- quinientos años (five hundred years)
With feminine nouns:
- doscientas páginas (two hundred pages)
- setecientas casas (seven hundred houses)
Remember that hundreds must agree with the gender of the noun: doscientos libros (masculine), doscientas páginas (feminine).
Dates in Spanish
Expressing dates in Spanish follows a specific pattern that differs from English in several important ways. Understanding these differences will help you avoid common mistakes when discussing dates.
Spanish date format is more consistent than English - it always follows the same pattern regardless of the specific date being expressed.
Date structure
Spanish dates use this fixed format: el + number + de + month + de + year
Date Construction Examples:
- El trece de diciembre de mil novecientos setenta y ocho (13th December 1978)
- El veintiuno de julio del dos mil dieciséis (21st July 2016)
- El cinco de enero de dos mil veintitrés (5th January 2023)
Important grammar rules
Understanding these rules will help you construct dates correctly and avoid common errors that English speakers often make.
Critical Date Rules:
- Months are not capitalised in Spanish (unlike English: enero, febrero, marzo)
- The first of the month can be expressed as either "el primero de abril" or "el uno de abril"
- Ordinal numbers are only used for the first day of the month; all other dates use cardinal numbers
Telling the time
Time expressions in Spanish have specific patterns and one important exception that trips up many Spanish learners.
Spanish time expressions are generally more regular than English ones, but there is one crucial exception that you must remember for correct usage.
Basic time structure
Most times use the plural form "Son las" followed by the hour:
- Son las cinco (It's five o'clock)
- A las diez (At ten o'clock)
The special case of one o'clock
This exception is critical to remember and is one of the most common mistakes made by Spanish learners.
One o'clock is different because it uses the singular form "Es la una" (It's one o'clock). This is the ONLY time that uses the singular form. All other hours use "Son las".
Wrong: Son las una ❌ Correct: Es la una ✅
Time expressions with minutes
When expressing minutes past the hour, Spanish follows predictable patterns:
Time Expression Patterns:
- 3:05 - las tres y cinco
- 3:15 - las tres y cuarto (quarter past)
- 3:30 - las tres y media (half past)
- 3:45 - las cuatro menos cuarto (quarter to four)
- 3:55 - las cuatro menos cinco (five to four)
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers describe position or order and have their own specific agreement rules that differ from cardinal numbers.
Ordinal numbers are used much less frequently in Spanish than in English. After "tenth" (décimo), Spanish speakers often use cardinal numbers instead of ordinals.
Common ordinal numbers
The most frequently used ordinal numbers that you should prioritise learning:
- primero (first)
- segundo (second)
- tercero (third)
Agreement with nouns
Like adjectives, ordinal numbers must match the gender and number of the nouns they describe.
Ordinal numbers must agree with the gender of the noun they describe, just like adjectives:
- la segunda calle (the second street - feminine)
- el segundo piso (the second floor - masculine)
Special shortening rule
This rule affects two of the most common ordinal numbers and is essential for natural-sounding Spanish.
"Primero" and "tercero" have a special shortening rule: they become "primer" and "tercer" before masculine singular nouns.
Examples:
- el primer día (the first day)
- el tercer mes (the third month)
Usage in dates
Unlike English, Spanish has a very specific and limited use of ordinal numbers in dates.
Spanish only uses ordinal numbers for the first day of the month. All other dates use cardinal numbers. This is completely different from English usage.
Translation practice
Practice Exercises:
Spanish to English:
- Son las cuatro y media
- El primer día del mes
English to Spanish: 3. It's twenty past seven 4. The third book
Answers:
- It's half past four
- The first day of the month
- Son las siete y veinte
- El tercer libro
Key Points to Remember:
- Numbers ending in "uno" drop the "-o" before masculine nouns (veintiún años)
- Hundreds must agree with gender (doscientos libros, doscientas páginas)
- One o'clock is singular: "Es la una" (not "Son las una")
- Months don't have capital letters in Spanish
- Only use ordinal numbers for the 1st of the month in dates
- "Primero" and "tercero" shorten before masculine singular nouns