Gaining a solid foundation in numbers is crucial when learning any language. Whether you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, or simply want to expand your language skills, mastering numbers plays a vital role. In this guide, we will explore how to say numbers 1-30 in Spanish, including both formal and informal variations. Regional variations will also be discussed whenever necessary. So, let’s dive in and start counting in Spanish!
Table of Contents
Cardinal Numbers 1-30
1 – uno (OO-no)
2 – dos (dohs)
3 – tres (tress)
4 – cuatro (KWAH-troh)
5 – cinco (SEEN-koh)
6 – seis (says)
7 – siete (SYEH-teh)
8 – ocho (OH-choh)
9 – nueve (NWEH-beh)
10 – diez (DYESS)
11 – once (OHN-seh)
12 – doce (DOH-seh)
13 – trece (TREH-seh)
14 – catorce (kah-TOR-seh)
15 – quince (KEEN-seh)
16 – dieciséis (dyeh-SEE-sees)
17 – diecisiete (dyeh-cee-SYEH-teh)
18 – dieciocho (dyeh-SYOH-choh)
19 – diecinueve (dyeh-SEE-nweh-veh)
20 – veinte (BAYN-teh)
21 – veintiuno (bayn-tee-OO-no)
22 – veintidós (bayn-tee-DOHS)
23 – veintitrés (bayn-tee-TRAYS)
24 – veinticuatro (bayn-tee-KWAH-troh)
25 – veinticinco (bayn-tee-SEEN-koh)
26 – veintiséis (bayn-tee-SEES)
27 – veintisiete (bayn-tee-SYEH-teh)
28 – veintiocho (bayn-tee-OH-choh)
29 – veintinueve (bayn-tee-NWEH-beh)
30 – treinta (TRAYN-tah)
Formal and Informal Ways to Express Numbers
When it comes to expressing numbers in Spanish, it’s important to note that you’ll encounter both formal and informal variations. Formal expressions are typically used in professional or formal settings, whereas informal expressions are used in casual conversations with friends, family, or when speaking to children.
Formal Expressions
- Formal: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez, once, doce, trece, catorce, quince, dieciséis, diecisiete, dieciocho, diecinueve, veinte, veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés, veinticuatro, veinticinco, veintiséis, veintisiete, veintiocho, veintinueve, treinta.
- Example: El libro cuesta veintiuno euros. (The book costs twenty-one euros.)
Informal Expressions
- Informal: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez, once, doce, trece, catorce, quince, diecisé, diecisiete, dieciocho, diecinueve, veinte, veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés, veinticuatro, veinticinco, veintisé, veintisiete, veintiocho, veintinueve y treinta.
- Example: Comí dos hamburguesas ayer. (I ate two hamburgers yesterday.)
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to enhance your learning and usage of numbers in Spanish:
1. Practice Pronunciation
Pay attention to the pronunciation of each number. Practice saying them out loud to familiarize yourself with the correct accent and intonation. It will help you be understood easily by native speakers.
2. Connect with Everyday Objects
Associate numbers with objects you use in your daily life. For example, relate “dos” (two) to “shoes” since they sound similar. Establishing these connections will aid in better memorization.
3. Count in Spanish Regularly
Set aside some time every day to count in Spanish. Counting aloud or in your head will improve your fluency and make numbers feel more natural to you.
Fun Fact: In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word “catorce” (14) is considered to be bad luck due to its phonetic similarity to the word “muerte” (death). It is sometimes replaced with “catorc e ” or “catorce y uno” to avoid the superstition.
Now that you’ve learned the numbers from 1 to 30, try practicing them in everyday situations. Counting money, telling time, or ordering food in a restaurant are excellent ways to integrate numbers into your daily conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect!
By following this comprehensive guide, you have taken the first step in mastering numbers in Spanish from 1 to 30. Whether you’re communicating formally or informally, these numbers will prove to be essential in various situations. So go ahead, celebrate your new language skills, and keep building upon them!
