un tercio
/un teɾθjo/from spelling rules
One third in Spanish is un tercio.
Un tercio is used to describe one of three equal parts of a whole, such as un tercio del pastel (one third of the cake) or un tercio del tiempo (one third of the time).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of un (one) and tercio (third).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because tercio is a masculine noun, it is paired with the masculine article un. When you want to express a fraction of a noun, you must use the preposition de after un tercio.
How do you pronounce it?
/un teɾθjo/
Did you know?
- In historical Spanish contexts, a tercio refers to a specific type of elite infantry unit that fought in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, un tercio can colloquially refer to a third of a liter of beer or a specific bottle size.
- While un tercio is the standard term for the fraction, you can also use the feminine form una tercia in certain Latin American countries to refer to a set of three.
Examples in context
- Un tercio de nueve es tres.One third of nine is three.This sentence demonstrates a mathematical calculation using un tercio.Tatoeba #3068165 by marcelostockle, translation #1495367 by niceguydave
- Aproximadamente un tercio de la superficie de la Tierra es suelo firme.About one third of the earth's surface is land.This sentence describes a fraction of the Earth's surface using un tercio.Tatoeba #1754882 by marcelostockle, translation #277111 by CK
- Si vas en autobús, puedes llegar allí en más o menos un tercio del tiempo.If you go by bus, you can get there in about one-third of the time.This sentence uses un tercio to describe a fraction of time.Tatoeba #1837696 by teskmon, translation #35386 by CK
- Tenemos un tercio de la pizza para cada uno.We have one third of the pizza for each one.
- Cada año, donamos una tercera parte de nuestras ganancias a organizaciones benéficas.Every year, we donate one third of our profits to charitable organizations.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are splitting a pizza in a kitchen.
- LucíaSolo queda un tercio de la pizza.There is only one third of the pizza left.
- Alejandro¿Quieres que te traiga más comida, Lucía?Do you want me to bring you more food, Lucía?
- LucíaNo, un tercio es suficiente para mí.No, one third is enough for me.
- AlejandroEstá bien, entonces comeré el resto yo.Okay, then I will eat the rest.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
