Learn key Spanish words and phrases for talking about sizes, quantities, and measurements. This chapter covers vocabulary for small to large sizes, numerical amounts, and useful expressions for shopping, cooking, and more.
Size Descriptions
Size descriptions are used to talk about how big or small something is. In Spanish, these words can describe physical dimensions or general size.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pequeño | pequeños | small | small (plural) | Tengo un perro pequeño. | I have a small dog. |
| mediano | medianos | medium | medium (plural) | Quiero una camiseta mediana. | I want a medium t-shirt. |
| grande | grandes | large / big | large / big (plural) | La casa es muy grande. | The house is very big. |
| alto | altos | tall | tall (plural) | Él es muy alto. | He is very tall. |
| bajo | bajos | short / low | short / low (plural) | La mesa es baja. | The table is low. |
Quantity Words
Quantity words help specify how much of something there is. Some are exact numbers, while others are more general.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uno | unos | one | some | Quiero uno. | I want one. |
| dos | dos | two | two | Hay dos manzanas. | There are two apples. |
| tres | tres | three | three | Tengo tres libros. | I have three books. |
| algunos | algunos | some | some | Compré algunos zapatos. | I bought some shoes. |
| muchos | muchos | many | many | Hay muchos libros. | There are many books. |
Measurement Units
These are common units of measurement used in Spanish-speaking countries. They are important for talking about size, weight, length, and volume.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kilo (kilogramo) | kilos (kilogramos) | kilogram | kilograms | Compré dos kilos de arroz. | I bought two kilograms of rice. |
| gramo | gramos | gram | grams | Necesito 100 gramos de queso. | I need 100 grams of cheese. |
| litro | litros | liter | liters | Quiero un litro de leche. | I want a liter of milk. |
| metro | metros | meter | meters | La mesa mide dos metros. | The table is two meters long. |
| centímetro | centímetros | centimeter | centimeters | La regla tiene 30 centímetros. | The ruler is 30 centimeters long. |
Useful Phrases
These are common Spanish phrases for talking about size and amount in everyday situations like shopping, cooking, and describing things.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | ¿Cuánto cuestan? | How much does it cost? | How much do they cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta esta camisa? | How much does this shirt cost? |
| ¿Cuánto hay? | — | How much is there? | — | ¿Cuánto hay de azúcar? | How much sugar is there? |
| Es demasiado pequeño | — | It’s too small | — | La camiseta es demasiado pequeña. | The t-shirt is too small. |
| Es bastante grande | — | It’s quite large | — | La maleta es bastante grande. | The suitcase is quite large. |
| Quiero un poco | — | I want a little | — | Quiero un poco de agua. | I want a little water. |
Summary
Sizes and amounts in Spanish are expressed using descriptive adjectives (pequeño, grande), quantity words (uno, muchos), and measurement units (kilo, litro). Together with useful phrases, these vocabulary sets allow you to describe and ask about size and quantity in a variety of everyday contexts.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- English Singular: small
- English Plural: small (plural)
- English Example: I have a small dog.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
