Numbers, Days, and Dates in Spanish
(Los Números, los Días y las Fechas)
Numbers, days, and dates are essential building blocks for everyday communication. We use them to tell time, share birthdays, talk about events, make plans, and give important information. Mastering these basics helps students communicate clearly and confidently in real-world situations. Let’s review how to use them correctly and naturally in Spanish.
1) Numbers – Los Números
A. Numbers 0–20
| Number | Spanish | Number | Spanish |
| 0 | cero | 11 | once |
| 1 | uno / un / una | 12 | doce |
| 2 | dos | 13 | trece |
| 3 | tres | 14 | catorce |
| 4 | cuatro | 15 | quince |
| 5 | cinco | 16 | dieciséis |
| 6 | seis | 17 | diecisiete |
| 7 | siete | 18 | dieciocho |
| 8 | ocho | 19 | diecinueve |
| 9 | nueve | 20 | veinte |
| 10 | diez |
Notes:
- Uno becomes un before masculine nouns (un libro), and una before feminine nouns (una mesa).
- Dieciséis through diecinueve are written as one word.
B. Numbers 21–100
| Number | Spanish | Number | Spanish |
| 21 | veintiuno | 40 | cuarenta |
| 22 | veintidós | 50 | cincuenta |
| 23 | veintitrés | 60 | sesenta |
| 24 | veinticuatro | 70 | setenta |
| 25 | veinticinco | 80 | ochenta |
| 26 | veintiséis | 90 | noventa |
| 27 | veintisiete | 100 | cien / ciento |
| 28 | veintiocho | ||
| 29 | veintinueve | ||
| 30 | treinta |
After 30, use y (and) to connect tens and ones:
- 31 = treinta y uno
- 42 = cuarenta y dos
- 56 = cincuenta y seis
Cien is used alone (e.g., cien libros).
Ciento is used before other numbers (e.g., ciento uno).
C. Numbers 100–1,000 and Beyond
| Number | Spanish |
| 100 | cien / ciento |
| 200 | doscientos |
| 300 | trescientos |
| 400 | cuatrocientos |
| 500 | quinientos |
| 600 | seiscientos |
| 700 | setecientos |
| 800 | ochocientos |
| 900 | novecientos |
| 1,000 | mil |
| 2,000 | dos mil |
| 1,000,000 | un millón |
Examples:
- Ciento veinte alumnos → 120 students
- Mil personas → 1,000 people
- Dos mil veinticinco → 2025
Mil never takes “un.” You say mil (not un mil).
Millón (million) does need “un”: un millón de personas.
D. Ordinal Numbers (First, Second, etc.)
| English | Spanish | English | Spanish |
| first | primero / primer | sixth | sexto |
| second | segundo | seventh | séptimo |
| third | tercero / tercer | eighth | octavo |
| fourth | cuarto | ninth | noveno |
| fifth | quinto | tenth | décimo |
Primero and tercero drop the final “o” before masculine singular nouns:
- el primer día, el tercer piso
Ordinals are often used only up to décimo (10th); after that, Spanish speakers use regular numbers:
- el piso once (the 11th floor)
E. Practice: Write the Numbers
- 15 → __________
- 27 → __________
- 42 → __________
- 100 → __________
- 1,000 → __________
- 2,025 → __________
Answers:
- quince
- veintisiete
- cuarenta y dos
- cien
- mil
- dos mil veinticinco
2) The Days of the Week – Los Días de la Semana
| English | Spanish |
| Monday | lunes |
| Tuesday | martes |
| Wednesday | miércoles |
| Thursday | jueves |
| Friday | viernes |
| Saturday | sábado |
| Sunday | domingo |
Notes:
- Days of the week are not capitalized in Spanish.
- El means on (for one specific day): El lunes tengo clase. → I have class on Monday.
- Los means on (repeated/habitual): Los lunes tengo clase. → I have class on Mondays.
The week starts on Monday in Spanish calendars.
Examples
- Hoy es martes. → Today is Tuesday.
- Mañana es jueves. → Tomorrow is Thursday.
- Ayer fue domingo. → Yesterday was Sunday.
- Trabajo los viernes. → I work on Fridays.
3) The Months and Seasons – Los Meses y las Estaciones
| Month | Spanish | Season | Spanish |
| January | enero | Winter | el invierno |
| February | febrero | Spring | la primavera |
| March | marzo | Summer | el verano |
| April | abril | Fall / Autumn | el otoño |
| May | mayo | ||
| June | junio | ||
| July | julio | ||
| August | agosto | ||
| September | septiembre | ||
| October | octubre | ||
| November | noviembre | ||
| December | diciembre |
Months and seasons are not capitalized in Spanish.
4) Dates – Las Fechas
A. Structure
el + number + de + month (+ de + year)
Examples:
- el 3 de mayo → May 3rd
- el 15 de julio de 2025 → July 15, 2025
- el 1 de enero → January 1st
El primero (not uno) is used for “the first” of the month:
- el primero de junio → June 1st
B. Expressing Dates in Sentences
| English | Spanish |
| Today is April 10. | Hoy es el diez de abril. |
| My birthday is July 5. | Mi cumpleaños es el cinco de julio. |
| What’s today’s date? | ¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? |
| Today is Monday, October 2. | Hoy es lunes, el dos de octubre. |
C. Writing the Date
Spanish format: day / month / year
- 3/5/25 = 3 de mayo de 2025 (May 3, 2025)
- 12/11/25 = 12 de noviembre de 2025 (November 12, 2025)
D. Talking About Years
Years are read as one full number:
- mil novecientos noventa y nueve → 1999
- dos mil veinticinco → 2025
5) Practice: Say or Write the Dates
- 2/4 → __________
- 14/9 → __________
- 1/1/2024 → __________
- My birthday is May 22. → __________
Answers:
- el dos de abril
- el catorce de septiembre
- el primero de enero de dos mil veinticuatro
- Mi cumpleaños es el veintidós de mayo.
6) Common Time Expressions
| English | Spanish |
| today | hoy |
| yesterday | ayer |
| tomorrow | mañana |
| the day before yesterday | anteayer |
| the day after tomorrow | pasado mañana |
| next week | la próxima semana |
| last year | el año pasado |
| every day | todos los días |
| on weekends | los fines de semana |
7) Quick Reference Summary
| Category | Pattern / Notes | Example |
| Numbers | 0–29 = single word; 30+ = use “y” | treinta y dos |
| Ordinals | 1st–10th used most often | el tercer piso |
| Days | Not capitalized | el lunes, los lunes |
| Months | Not capitalized | el cuatro de julio |
| Dates | el + number + de + month + (de + year) | el 10 de abril de 2025 |
| “On” a day | el / los | el viernes, los viernes |
Why It Matters
Knowing how to use numbers, days, and dates helps learners:
- Communicate birthdays, schedules, appointments, and events
- Understand Spanish calendars, cultural holidays, and time expressions
- Speak with accuracy and cultural fluency in everyday conversation
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