tres
/ˈtɾes/
The English word "trois" translates to the Spanish tres.
tres is used to denote the number three.
Which one should you use?
While tres is the cardinal number for three, if you wish to express the number 3rd in a series, you should use the ordinal forms tercero or tercer for masculine nouns or tercera for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾes/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the number tres is used in the common expression a tres bandas, which describes a situation where three different parties are conflicting or competing.
- Spanish uses tercer instead of tercero specifically when it comes immediately before a masculine singular noun, such as in el tercer piso.
- The Spanish word tres shares the same Indo-European root as the English word 'three' and the French 'trois', making them distant linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Necesito tres libros para la clase.I need three books for the class.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are ordering drinks at a cafe.
- MaríaHola, queremos tres cafés con leche.Hello, we want three coffees with milk.
- MateoMuy bien, ¿alguna cosa más?Very well, anything else?
- MaríaNo, solo los tres cafés.No, just the three coffees.
- MateoPerfecto, Mateo, traigo los cafés ahora.Perfect, Mateo, I'll bring the coffees now.
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.
