In Spanish, hundreds and thousands follow specific patterns that build on the basic number words. Understanding these patterns will help you count higher numbers and use them correctly in sentences.
Hundreds
- Cien is the word for one hundred. Use cien when it stands alone or before a noun (e.g., cien libros).
- For other hundreds, use the root number + -cientos (e.g., doscientos = 200, trescientos = 300).
- Note: The endings change to agree in gender if the noun is feminine (doscientas mujeres).
Creation Rules
- Use cien before nouns and when the number is exactly 100.
- Use ciento when the number is between 101 and 199 (e.g., ciento uno = 101).
- For 200–900, use doscientos, trescientos, cuatrocientos, quinientos (irregular), seiscientos, setecientos, ochocientos, novecientos.
Examples
- – cien
- – ciento uno
- – doscientos
- – trescientos cuarenta y cinco
- – quinientos doce
Thousands
- The word mil means "thousand".
- Unlike English, use mil without un for one thousand (just mil, not un mil).
- For multiples of thousand, place the number before mil (e.g., dos mil = 2,000).
- Mil is invariable and has no plural form.
- Combine thousands with hundreds and smaller numbers as usual (e.g., mil doscientos treinta y cuatro = 1,234).
Examples
- ,000 – mil
- ,000 – dos mil
- ,000 – diez mil
- ,345 – veintiún mil trescientos cuarenta y cinco
Larger Numbers
- ,000 – cien mil
- ,000,000 – un millón (use millones for plural)
Practice: Numbers from 100 to 1,
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cien | one hundred |
| ciento uno | one hundred one |
| doscientos | two hundred |
| trescientos cuarenta y cinco | three hundred forty-five |
| quinientos doce | five hundred twelve |
| setecientos sesenta y siete | seven hundred sixty-seven |
| novecientos noventa y nueve | nine hundred ninety-nine |
| mil | one thousand |
| mil doscientos | one thousand two hundred |
| mil quinientos treinta y | one thousand five hundred thirty |
| cuatro |
Practice: Thousands
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| mil | one thousand |
| dos mil | two thousand |
| cinco mil | five thousand |
| diez mil | ten thousand |
| veinte mil | twenty thousand |
| treinta y cinco mil | thirty-five thousand |
| cincuenta mil | fifty thousand |
| cien mil | one hundred thousand |
| doscientos mil | two hundred thousand |
| quinientos mil | five hundred thousand |
Key Takeaways
- Use cien for exactly 100; use ciento for numbers 101–199.
- Combine the root number + -cientos for other hundreds; watch out for irregulars.
- Mil = 1,000; no un before it.
- For thousands, just place the number before mil (e.g., tres mil = 3,000).
- Mil does not change for singular or plural.
How do you form numbers between 101 and 199 in Spanish?
Use "ciento" followed by the smaller number (e.g., ciento uno).
For numbers 101–199, start with "ciento" and then add the rest (e.g., ciento veintitrés).
How do you form multiples of a thousand in Spanish?
Place the number before "mil" (e.g., dos mil, tres mil).
Simply put the number before mil: dos mil (2,000), tres mil (3,000), etc.
Flashcards (1 of 21)
- English: one hundred
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
