tres
/ˈtɾes/
tres is the Spanish word for three.
tres is the most common and straightforward way to express three in Spanish, suitable for formal and informal situations throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾes/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'tercer tiempo' or 'third half' refers to the social gathering and drinking that happens among athletes after a game is finished.
- The Spanish word tres shares a common ancestor with the English word 'three' and the Greek word 'treis', all descending from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root.
- The phonetic structure of tres is remarkably stable across most dialects, unlike many other Spanish words that change significantly between Spain and Latin America.
Examples in context
- Mi hijo cumplió tres años hoyMy son turned three today
- Fui a comprar tres manzanasI went to buy three apples
- Tengo tres gatos en casa.I have three cats at home.
- Solo quedan tres manzanas.There are only three apples left.
- Necesito tres lápices para la clase.I need three pencils for the class.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are at a coffee shop ordering drinks.
- Lucía¿Cuántos cafés quieres pedir, Alejandro?How many coffees do you want to order, Alejandro?
- AlejandroQuiero tres cafés, por favor.I want three coffees, please.
- LucíaMuy bien, yo pediré uno.Very well, I will order one.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tres, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tres, CC BY-SA 4.0.
