Spanish numbers 1–20, covering pronunciation, usage, and examples for building foundational counting skills in Spanish.
This page covers the numbers 1 through 20 in Spanish, including how to say them, use them in context, and understand their role in building foundational counting skills.
Spanish Numbers 1–
Here are the numbers from 1 to 20 in Spanish, along with their English equivalents and example sentences.
| Spanish Number | English Number | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| uno | one | Tengo uno. | I have one. |
| dos | two | Tengo dos. | I have two. |
| tres | three | Tengo tres. | I have three. |
| cuatro | four | Tengo cuatro. | I have four. |
| cinco | five | Tengo cinco. | I have five. |
| seis | six | Tengo seis. | I have six. |
| siete | seven | Tengo siete. | I have seven. |
| ocho | eight | Tengo ocho. | I have eight. |
| nueve | nine | Tengo nueve. | I have nine. |
| diez | ten | Tengo diez. | I have ten. |
| once | eleven | Tengo once. | I have eleven. |
| doce | twelve | Tengo doce. | I have twelve. |
| trece | thirteen | Tengo trece. | I have thirteen. |
| catorce | fourteen | Tengo catorce. | I have fourteen. |
| quince | fifteen | Tengo quince. | I have fifteen. |
| dieciséis | sixteen | Tengo dieciséis. | I have sixteen. |
| diecisiete | seventeen | Tengo diecisiete. | I have seventeen. |
| dieciocho | eighteen | Tengo dieciocho. | I have eighteen. |
| diecinueve | nineteen | Tengo diecinueve. | I have nineteen. |
| veinte | twenty | Tengo veinte. | I have twenty. |
Pronunciation Tips
Spanish numbers 1–20 are generally straightforward to pronounce, but aquí are some tips for tricky spots:
- “c” before “i” or “e” is pronounced like “th” in Spain (e.g., catorce is “ka-tor-the”) or “s” in Latin America.
- “j” is like an English “h” (e.g., trece is “tre-se”).
- Stress: Numbers 16–19 have the stress on the second vowel (e.g., dieciséis is “dye-see-SAYS”).
- é has an accent and should be stressed (e.g., dieciséis).
Usage Notes
- Gender: Uno becomes un before masculine nouns (e.g., un libro). Use una for feminine (e.g., una mesa).
- Agreement: Numbers 1–20 are invariable except for uno. Use singular or plural nouns accordingly (e.g., dos libros, veinte sillas).
- Counting: Use y (and) after 30 (e.g., treinta y uno), but 1–20 are standalone.
How do you say 'one book' in Spanish using the correct form of 'uno'?
un libro
'Uno' becomes 'un' before masculine nouns. 'Libro' is masculine, so it’s 'un libro'.
Building Further
Once you master 1–20, you can:
- Count to 100 (veintiuno = 21, treinta = 30)
- Learn ordinal numbers (primero, segundo…)
- Use numbers in dates, time, and money.
Understanding 1–20 is the first step to confidently navigating numbers in Spanish!
What is the Spanish word for 21 after mastering numbers 1–20?
veintiuno
After 20 (veinte), Spanish forms 21 as 'veintiuno', combining 'veinte' and 'uno'.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- English Number: one
- English Example: I have one.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
