Chapter 6 builds the numerical foundation for everyday professional communication. Starting with cardinal numbers 0–100, you will learn how Spanish forms numbers — the unique names, the veinti- compounds, and the treinta y… pattern that carries you to 100. From there, sections on ordinal numbers, days and months, dates, and telling time give you the complete toolkit to schedule meetings, read calendars, and navigate the working world in Spanish.
Cardinal numbers are the numbers we use for counting — 0–15 have unique names, 16–29 are written as single words, and 30+ use the three-word pattern tens + y + digit
Cardinal numbers are the numbers we use for counting. While many follow a predictable pattern, the first fifteen numbers have unique names that you must learn individually. From 16 onward, Spanish numbers follow clear, learnable patterns that allow you to build any number up to 100.
There are three structural zones to master: numbers 0–15 (unique, must memorize), numbers 16–29 (written as one word — either dieciséis…diecinueve or veinti- compounds), and numbers 30–100 (written as three separate words: tens + y + digit). The only agreement rule is for the number one — un before masculine nouns and una before feminine nouns.
| Number | Spanish Word | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | treinta | Hay treinta días en el mes. |
| 40 | cuarenta | Usted tiene cuarenta empleados. |
| 50 | cincuenta | El café cuesta cincuenta pesos. |
| 60 | sesenta | Hay sesenta minutos en la hora. |
| 70 | setenta | Usted ve setenta autos. |
| 80 | ochenta | La oficina tiene ochenta ventanas. |
| 90 | noventa | Hay noventa preguntas. |
| 100 | cien | Usted tiene cien invitados. |
These are the most basic building blocks. You will use these every day for everything from giving your address to ordering a coffee. All ten digits are unique words with no pattern connecting them — they must be memorized. Most never change for gender; only uno changes: it becomes un before a masculine noun and una before a feminine noun. For all numbers 2–10, the word stays identical regardless of the noun's gender: dos sillas / dos libros, cinco personas / cinco documentos.
The numbers 11 through 15 are unique names: once, doce, trece, catorce, quince. Starting at 16, the numbers follow a "ten and [number]" structure written as one word: dieciséis (16), diecisiete (17), dieciocho (18), diecinueve (19). The accent mark in dieciséis is required — it is the only one in this group that keeps the accent from seis. The number 20 (veinte) is a unique word, not a compound. Like numbers 2–10, none of 11–20 change for the gender of the noun they precede.
Numbers 21–29 are written as a single word starting with veinti- followed by the digit name. Four of them require accent marks: veintiuno (21), veintidós (22), veintitrés (23), and veintiséis (26). When 21 appears before a masculine noun, it changes to veintiún: veintiún días. Before a feminine noun, it stays veintiuna: veintiuna personas (though this form is rarely used — veintiún is more common in practice). The key spelling rule: all 21–29 are one word, unlike 30+ which are three words.
From 30 onwards, number formation becomes the most systematic. You use the word for the ten (treinta, cuarenta, etc.), the word y (and), and then the digit. Critically, these are written as three separate words — not one word like the 21–29 group. This is a common spelling error to watch: treinta y uno (correct) vs. treintiuno (incorrect). When the digit is 1 before a masculine noun, drop the final -o: treinta y un libro, cincuenta y un documento.
The word for 100 is cien when used before a noun or as the number exactly 100 on its own. It does not change for gender — cien libros, cien personas, cien flores. If there is any number after 100 (like 105 or 120), the word changes to ciento: ciento cinco, ciento veinte. The expression cien por ciento (100%) uses cien because "por ciento" is a phrase, not a direct noun. Ciento + a number is always three words: ciento cinco, ciento cuarenta y tres.
Listen to each sentence in Spanish, then repeat aloud during the countdown pause.
Each sentence contains a cardinal number in real context. As you listen, identify which structural zone the number belongs to: unique (0–15), single-word compound (16–29), or three-word pattern (30–99). Sentences 11–15 feature the veinti- compounds — notice the accent marks on 22, 23, and 26. Sentences 16–20 practice the three-word 30+ pattern. Sentences 21–25 include cien and ciento.
Step 1 — Listen: The Spanish sentence plays automatically. Focus on the number — hear its syllables and feel its rhythm before the countdown begins.
Step 2 — Repeat: During the 4-second countdown, say the complete sentence aloud — feel the number slot naturally into the sentence's rhythm.
Step 3 — Adjust: Use the Speed and Volume sliders to find your ideal practice pace.
Count in threes: For 0–15, practice counting in groups: 0-1-2-3, 4-5-6-7, 8-9-10, 11-12-13-14-15. Grouping activates different memory pathways than simple sequential counting.
Hear the pattern boundary: Sentences 10–15 all use single-word numbers (veinti-); sentences 16–20 all use three-word numbers. The contrast between the two patterns is the most important structural lesson in this section.
Accent marks in veinti- compounds: Sentences 11–14 include veintidós, veintitrés, and veintiséis. Repeat each one carefully — the accented syllable helps distinguish these from their unaccented neighbors.
Choose the correct answer. 20 questions drawn randomly from a pool of 25.