Which one should you use?
You should use cada número when you want to emphasize each individual number one by one. In contrast, if you are referring to the group as a whole, use todos los números (all the numbers).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, the word mil (thousand) is expressed colloquially as lucas or palo.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the word cada is always followed by a singular noun, even if the English equivalent might imply a plural sense. When counting, remember that certain numbers change based on the gender of the noun they modify: for example, the number 1 is uno in the masculine and una in the feminine. This applies to other numbers like 21, which can be veintiuno or veintiuna for feminine nouns and 81, which can be ochenta y uno or ochenta y una for feminine nouns. The word mil is used to represent thousands.
Did you know?
- The word cada shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'catalogue', as both traces back to the Greek-derived root meaning 'to go down' or 'according to'.
- While número is used for the value of a quantity, Spanish uses the word cifra to refer to the individual digits or figures that compose that number.
- In gambling contexts across various Spanish-speaking cultures, saying cada número can specifically refer to an individual ticket purchased for a lottery raffle.
Examples in context
- Cada número tiene un valor.Every number has a value.
- Debes revisar cada número de la lista.You must check every number on the list.
- Cada número tiene un significado especial.Every number has a special meaning.
- Escribe cada número con mucha claridad.Write every number very clearly.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are checking a long list of codes.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿ya verificaste cada número?Lucía, did you verify every number already?
- LucíaNo, me faltan algunos todavía.No, I'm still missing a few.
- AlejandroEs importante que no falte ninguno.It's important that not one is missing.
- LucíaLo sé, voy a revisar cada número ahora.I know, I'm going to check every number now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cada, número, CC BY-SA 4.0.
