Numbers are everywhere! From telling someone your age to asking for the price of something, counting is a fundamental skill in any language. In Spanish, learning the numbers and how to tell time will unlock countless everyday conversations. For A1 and A2 level learners, mastering these basics is a key building block.

In this guide, we'll cover the essential Spanish numbers and walk you through the rules for telling time, including common phrases and nuances. ¡Vamos!

Index: Numbers and Time

Jump to a specific section:

• Spanish Numbers
• Telling Time in Spanish
• Practice Tips

Spanish Numbers (Los Números)

Let's break down the Spanish numbers. Pay close attention, as the formation changes slightly as you go higher.

Numbers 0-15 (Unique Words)

• cero (0)
• uno (1)
• dos (2)
• tres (3)
• cuatro (4)
• cinco (5)
• seis (6)
• siete (7)
• ocho (8)
• nueve (9)
• diez (10)
• once (11)
• doce (12)
• trece (13)
• catorce (14)
• quince (15)

Numbers 16-29 (Compound Words)

From 16 to 29, numbers are generally one word formed by combining elements of "diez" (or "veinte") and the single digits. Note the spelling changes.

• dieciséis (16) - diez + y + seis
• diecisiete (17) - diez + y + siete
• dieciocho (18) - diez + y + ocho
• diecinueve (19) - diez + y + nueve
• veinte (20)
• veintiuno (21) - veinte + y + uno
• veintidós (22) - veinte + y + dos
• veintitrés (23) - veinte + y + tres
• ... and so on up to ...
• veintinueve (29)

Numbers 30+ (Tens + "y" + Units)

From 30 onwards, tens and units are separate words joined by y (and).

• treinta (30)
• treinta y uno (31)
• cuarenta (40)
• cuarenta y dos (42)
• cincuenta (50)
• cincuenta y tres (53)
• sesenta (60)
• setenta (70)
• ochenta (80)
• noventa (90)

Numbers 100+

• cien (100) - Use "cien" exactly for 100.
• ciento uno (101) - For numbers > 100, use "ciento" followed by the remaining number.
• doscientos, -as (200)
• trescientos, -as (300)
• ... up to ...
• novecientos, -as (900)

• mil (1,000)
• dos mil (2,000)
• diez mil (10,000)
• cien mil (100,000)
• un millón (1,000,000)
• dos millones (2,000,000)

Telling Time in Spanish (La Hora)

To tell time in Spanish, you primarily use the verb ser (to be) and the numbers you just learned. The conjugation of ser depends on whether you are talking about one o'clock (singular) or other hours (plural).

Asking the Time:

• ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) - This is the standard question, always singular, even if the answer is plural.

Stating the Hour:

• For 1:00, use the singular form of ser: Es la una. (It is one o'clock.)
• For all other hours (2-12), use the plural form: Son las dos. (It is two o'clock.)
• Son las diez. (It is ten o'clock.)
• Son las doce. (It is twelve o'clock.)

Adding Minutes Past the Hour:

To add minutes past the hour, use the structure: Son las + hour + y + minutes (or Es la una + y + minutes).

• Son las dos y diez. (It's 2:10.)
• Es la una y quince. (It's 1:15.)
• Son las ocho y veinticinco. (It's 8:25.)
• Son las once y cincuenta. (It's 11:50.)

Special Phrases for Quarter Past and Half Past:

• y cuarto (quarter past / 15 minutes)
• y media (half past / 30 minutes)

• Son las tres y cuarto. (It's 3:15.)
• Son las cinco y media. (It's 5:30.)

Minutes Until the Next Hour:

For minutes past the half hour (from 31 to 59), you often state the *next* hour and subtract the remaining minutes. Use the structure: Son las + (next) hour + menos + minutes remaining (or Es la una + menos + minutes remaining).

• Son las seis menos veinte. (It's 5:40 - Literally 'It's six less twenty'.)
• Son las siete menos diez. (It's 6:50.)
• Son las diez menos cinco. (It's 9:55.)

Special Phrase for Quarter To:

• menos cuarto (quarter to / less fifteen minutes)

• Son las ocho menos cuarto. (It's 7:45.)

Specifying Time of Day (AM/PM):

Spanish uses phrases like "de la mañana," "de la tarde," and "de la noche" instead of AM/PM.

• de la mañana (in the morning - roughly midnight to noon)
• de la tarde (in the afternoon/early evening - roughly noon to dusk/evening)
• de la noche (in the evening/night - roughly dusk/evening to midnight)

• Son las ocho de la mañana. (It's 8:00 AM.)
• Es la una de la tarde. (It's 1:00 PM.)
• Son las siete de la tarde. (It's 7:00 PM.)
• Son las once de la noche. (It's 11:00 PM.)

Other Important Time Phrases:

• mediodía (noon) - Use Es mediodía.
• medianoche (midnight) - Use Es medianoche.
• en punto (sharp / exactly)Son las tres en punto. (It's 3:00 sharp.)
• ¿A qué hora...? (At what time...?)¿A qué hora abre la tienda? (At what time does the store open?)

Practice Tips: Using Numbers and Time

Integrating numbers and time into your Spanish practice from the beginning is key:

• Count Everything: Count objects around you in Spanish. Count stairs, fingers, cars, etc.
• Practice Your Age: Practice saying your age (Tengo [number] años) and ask others.
• Do Simple Math: Practice addition (más), subtraction (menos), multiplication (por), and division (dividido por) with simple numbers. "Dos más dos son cuatro."
• Check the Clock: Look at a clock or your phone throughout the day and say the time aloud in Spanish.
• Ask and Answer: Practice asking ¿Qué hora es? and answering using the correct Es la or Son las and minutes.
• Schedule Your Day: Talk about your daily routine using times: "Me levanto a las siete de la mañana." "Almuerzo a la una y media de la tarde."
• Listen for Numbers: Pay attention when native speakers use numbers in conversations, media, or songs.

Count Your Way to Confidence!

Numbers and telling time are incredibly practical skills that you'll use every single day. Mastering them early on will boost your confidence and allow you to participate in more basic Spanish conversations.

Sprachlingua's online Spanish courses provide comprehensive lessons on numbers, time, and all the other vocabulary and grammar you need to become fluent. Our interactive platform and experienced instructors make learning engaging and effective.

Ready to put numbers and time to work in real Spanish conversations?