Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers - Números Cardinales y Números Ordinales
In Spanish and English we have ordinal and cardinal numbers. Cardinal numbers are those we use for counting (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.). Ordinal numbers are those that we use to rank things, name streets, give a position to something, etc. (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.).
This lesson includes information on:
- Cardinal Numbers
- Ordinal Numbers
- Related Vocabulary
Cardinal numbers are the numbers we use to count (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
The spelling of "uno" (one in English) will change depending on the gender of the noun it modifies. "Uno" is spelled "un" before a masculine noun and "una" before a feminine noun. For example, un chico (one boy) or una chica (one girl). See Lesson 4 for more information about Nouns and gender.
"Mil" (1000) is never pluralized however millión is pluralized. For example, dos mil chicos (two thousand boys) or dos millones chicos (two million boys).
Numbers 16 to 29 are commonly written as one word or as two words connected by "y" (and). An accent is added to the one word spelling of 16, 22, 23 and 26. For example:
Number |
Spelling: One word |
Spelling: Two words and "y" |
| 16 |
Dieciséis | Diez y seis |
| 17 |
Diecisiete |
Diez y siete |
| 22 |
Veintidós |
Veinte y dos |
| 23 |
Veintitrés |
Veinte y tres |
| 26 |
Veintiséis |
Veinte y seis |
| 28 |
Veintiocho |
Veinte y ocho |
"Ciento" (100) will change to "cien" before all nouns. When plural an -os or -as is added depending on the gender of the noun. For example:
Number |
English |
| Ciento |
100 or one hundred |
| Cien chicos |
100 boys |
| Cien chicas |
100 girls |
| Doscientos chicos |
200 boys |
| Doscientas chicas |
200 girls |
2. Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are the numbers we use to rank things, name streets, etc. (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.). The last letter of ordinal numbers will be an "o" or an "a" for masculine or feminine nouns, respectively. However, the "o" is dropped before masculine nouns for 1st & 3rd. Ordinal numbers are rarely used beyond 10. For example:
| Number |
Ordinal |
Example
in Spanish |
English |
| 1st |
Primero |
|
|
| 2nd |
Segundo |
|
|
| 3rd |
Tercero |
|
|
| 4th |
Cuarto |
|
|
| 5th |
Quinto |
|
|
| 6th |
Sexto |
|
|
| 7th |
Séptimo |
|
|
| 8th |
Octavo |
|
|
| 9th |
Noveno |
|
|
| 10th |
Décimo |
|
|
3. Related Vocabulary
| Spanish | Number |
| Uno | 1 |
| Dos | 2 |
| Tres | 3 |
| Cuatro | 4 |
| Cinco | 5 |
| Seis | 6 |
| Siete | 7 |
| Ocho | 8 |
| Nueve | 9 |
| Diez | 10 |
| Once | 11 |
| Doce | 12 |
| Trece | 13 |
| Catorce | 14 |
| Quince | 15 |
| Dieciséis, Diez y seis | 16 |
| Diecisiete, Diez y siete | 17 |
| Dieciocho, Diez y ocho | 18 |
| Diecinueve, Diez y nueve | 19 |
| Veinte | 20 |
| Veintiuno, Veinte y uno | 21 |
| Veintidós, Veinte y dos | 22 |
| Veintitrés, Veinte y tres | 23 |
| Veinticuatro, Veinte y cuatro | 24 |
| Veinticinco, Veinte ycinco | 25 |
| Veintiséis, Veinte y seis | 26 |
| Veintisiete, Veinte y siete | 27 |
| Veintiocho, Veinte y ocho | 28 |
| Veintinueve, Veinte y nueve | 29 |
| Treinta | 30 |
| Cuarenta | 40 |
| Cincuenta | 50 |
| Sesenta | 60 |
| Setenta | 70 |
| Ochenta | 80 |
| Noventa | 90 |
| Cien | 100 |
| Ciento uno | 101 |
| Ciento dos | 102 |
| Ciento tres | 103 |
| Ciento cuatro | 104 |
| Ciento cinco | 105 |
| Ciento seis | 106 |
| Ciento siete | 107 |
| Ciento ocho | 108 |
| Ciento nueve | 109 |
| Ciento diez | 110 |
| Doscientos | 200 |
| Trescientos | 300 |
| Cuatrocientos | 400 |
| Quinientos | 500 |
| Seiscientos | 600 |
| Setecientos | 700 |
| Ochocientos | 800 |
| Novecientos | 900 |
| Mil | 1000 |
| Mil uno | 1001 |
| Mil dos | 1002 |
| Mil tres | 1003 |
| Mil cuatro | 1004 |
| Mil cinco | 1005 |
| Mil seis | 1006 |
| Mil siete | 1007 |
| Mil ocho | 1008 |
| Mil nueve | 1009 |
| Mil diez | 1010 |
| Dos mil | 2000 |
| Tres mil | 3000 |
| Cuatro mil | 4000 |
| Cinco mil | 5000 |
| Seis mil | 6000 |
| Siete mil | 7000 |
| Ocho mil | 8000 |
| Nueve mil | 9000 |
| Diez mil | 10000 |
| Un millón | 1000000 |
| Spanish |
English |
| Primero |
First |
| Segundo | Second |
| Tercero | Third |
| Cuarto | Fourth |
| Quinto | Fifth |
| Sexto | Sixth |
| Séptimo | Seventh |
| Octavo | Eighth |
| Noveno | Nineth |
| Décimo | Tenth |
| Décimo primero | Eleventh |
| Décimo segundo | Twelfth |
| Décimo tercero | Thirteenth |
| Décimo cuarto | Fourteenth |
| Décimo quinto | Fifteenth |
| Décimo Sexto | Sixteenth |
| Décimo séptimo | Seventeenth |
| Décimo Octavo | Eighteenth |
| Décimo Noveno | Nineteenth |
| Vigésimo | Twentieth |