Spanish Grammar

The three word forms for the numbers 16-29 are also considered correct, e.g.: diez y seis, veinte y uno.

NOTE: Before masculine nouns, the uno of these numbers (31, 41, etc.) becomes un; before feminine nouns, it becomes una. E.g.: treinta y un libros, treinta y una mesas.

Cien is used for 100 except before numbers smaller than 100: cien casas, cien mil [100,000]; but: ciento dos [102].

When the numbers 200 through 900 modify a noun, they must agree with the noun in gender: trescientas mujeres; quinientas una personas.

Mil = one thousand; do NOT use "un mil". 2.000 = dos mil. NOTE: Numbers like "nineteen hundred" must be expressed with mil in Spanish: 1982 mil novecientos ochenta y dos.

1.000.000 = un millón, 2.000.000 = dos millones. When millón or its plural form millones is used with a noun, it must be followed by de. E.g.: tres millones de dólares.

Equations: y (plus), menos (minus), son (equals). E.g.: diez y treinta son cuarenta [10 + 30 = 40]; noventa menos veinte son setenta [90 - 20 = 70]

Ordinal numbers (Los números ordinales)

Ordinal numbers give the "order" in which something occcurs: first, second, etc. Ordinals exist for all numbers, but normally only the forms from one to ten are used in Spanish:

These are adjective forms, so the usual endings are used, depending on the noun modified: -o, -os, -a, -as. In addition, note the special shortened forms primer and tercer, used before masculine singular nouns: mi primer examen. The ordinals are most frequently used before nouns, but may appear afterwards, especially with names. After names, the word "the" is omitted in Spanish.