Learn to count from 0 to 29 and understand larger number concepts in Spanish.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
¡Hola otra vez! Numbers are fundamental in any language. In this chapter, you'll learn how to count from zero to twenty-nine in Spanish, as well as get introduced to how to talk about larger quantities like hundreds, thousands, and millions. This will be a crucial building block for future lessons involving quantities, prices, time, and more. Pay close attention to the pronunciation!
Continue to emphasize the pronunciation of each new number and the larger units. Highlight the combined nature of the numbers from 21-29 (veinti-uno, etc.) and the gender agreement for hundreds (doscientos libros vs. doscientas plumas).
Master these numbers and large units.
Import Chapter 4 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Instructions: Draw a line (mentally or on paper) to match the written Spanish number on the left with its numerical form on the right.
cero ( ) 15
cinco ( ) 22
diez ( ) 7
quince ( ) 0
veintidós ( ) 10
siete ( ) 5
veintinueve ( ) 12
doce ( ) 29Answer Key:
cero → 0
cinco → 5
diez → 10
quince → 15
veintidós → 22
siete → 7
veintinueve → 29
doce → 12Instructions: Imagine you are listening to someone say the following numbers in Spanish. Write down the numeral you hear.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Draw a line (mentally or on paper) to match the Spanish word for a larger number on the left with its English equivalent on the right.
cien ( ) one million
mil ( ) one hundred
un millón ( ) one thousand
doscientos ( ) two hundredAnswer Key:
cien → one hundred
mil → one thousand
un millón → one million
doscientos → two hundredInstructions: Practice the following speaking exercises aloud.
Practice saying the numbers from cero to veintinueve aloud in Spanish. Try to do it at a steady pace. (Refer to the vocabulary section above for pronunciation help!)
(No answer key - focus on practice)
Have someone (or use flashcards/a random number generator) prompt you with the English numbers from 0 to 29. Respond by saying the Spanish equivalent aloud. Repeat several times.
(No answer key - focus on practice)
Find small groups of objects around you (e.g., pens, books, coins). Count each group aloud in Spanish, up to a maximum of 29 objects per group.
(No answer key - focus on practice)
Practice saying the following sentences aloud:
(No answer key - focus on pronunciation)
Instructions: Person A says a number in English between zero and twenty-nine. Person B says the corresponding number in Spanish. Take turns.
(No answer key needed - focus on interaction)
Instructions: Find a group of objects (up to 29). Take turns saying the next number in Spanish as you count the objects together.
(No answer key needed - focus on interaction)
Instructions: Person A thinks of a number between zero and twenty-nine. Person B asks "¿Es... [Spanish number]?" (Is it...?). Person A responds with "Sí" or "No." Continue until Person B guesses the number. Switch roles.
(No answer key needed - focus on interaction)
Instructions: Person A asks a simple addition question involving "cien" and numbers you know (0-99). Example: "¿Cuántos son cien más veinte?" Person B answers in Spanish: "Son ciento veinte." Take turns asking and answering. Try subtraction too.
(No answer key needed - focus on interaction)
Just like in English, commas and periods are used differently in Spanish for large numbers. While English uses commas to separate thousands (e.g., 1,000,000), Spanish often uses periods (e.g., 1.000.000). For decimal points, Spanish uses commas (e.g., 3,5)." (This is an important early point to introduce for future use).
When talking about quantities, remember the gender agreement for hundreds (doscientos/doscientas, etc.). For example: doscientos libros (200 books - masculine), but doscientas plumas (200 pens - feminine).
cero - veinte (as before), veintiuno - veintinueve, cien, ciento, doscientos/as - novecientos/as, mil, un millón, dos millones.
Practice saying all the numbers from zero to twenty-nine and the basic forms of hundreds, thousands, and millions.
Can you now say the Spanish numbers from zero to twenty-nine? Can you understand when someone says a number in this range? Can you use these numbers to count objects? Do you understand the basic words for hundreds, thousands, and millions?
In the next chapter, we'll delve into personal pronouns like 'yo,' 'tú,' 'él,' and 'ella,' which will allow you to start building more complex sentences and talking about yourself and others.