Fractions in Spanish
Fractions in Spanish are called fracciones. They are constructed by using cardinal numbers for the numerator and ordinal numbers for the denominator, except for the denominator 1, which is implied. For example, 1/2 is un medio, 3/4 is tres cuartos, and 5/8 is cinco octavos. When the numerator is greater than one, the denominator is pluralized. Fraction numbers are feminine because they refer to parte (part), which is feminine.
Percentages in Spanish
Percentages are expressed with the word porcentaje or by using the preposition por ciento, which literally means "per hundred." To say a percentage, you state the number, followed by por ciento. For example, 50% is said as cincuenta por ciento. You can also use the symbol % after the number, just like in English.
Common examples
Some common fractions and percentages you might use include un cuarto (a quarter, 1/4), tres cuartos (three-quarters, 3/4), and veinticinco por ciento (twenty-five percent, 25%). Fractions and percentages often appear in contexts like cooking, shopping discounts, and statistics, so understanding their names in Spanish is useful.
Usage tips
When using fractions as adjectives, they agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For instance, media hora (half an hour, feminine singular) but medias horas (half hours, feminine plural). Percentages are invariable and do not change according to the gender of the noun.
Related topics
For more on numbers in Spanish, you can explore the Numbers page, and for broader language rules, visit the Spanish main page or the Categories index for other numeric expressions.
