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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn basic Spanish cardinal numbers from 1 to 20, including unique number names, numbering patterns, and useful expressions like "un par" and "una docena". This introduction covers pronunciation, counting tips, and practical phrases to help Spanish learners master early number vocabulary.
  1. The numbers from 0 to 9 are called unidades.
  2. From 0 to 15 are unique numbers and do not follow a specific pattern.
  3. From 16 to 19, "dieci" is combined with the units. Example: Diecisiete (17)
  4. The 0 is pronounced "cero".

Números del 1 al 20 (Numbers from 1 to 20)

1: Uno (One)11: Once (Eleven)
2: Dos (Two)12: Doce (Twelve)
3: Tres (Three)13: Trece (Thirteen)
4: Cuatro (Four)14: Catorce (Fourteen)
5: Cinco (Five)15: Quince (Fifteen)
6: Seis (Six)16: Dieciséis (Sixteen)
7: Siete (Seven)17: Diecisiete (Seventeen)
8: Ocho (Eight)18: Dieciocho (Eighteen)
9: Nueve (Nine)19: Diecinueve (Nineteen)
10: Diez (Ten)20: Veinte (Twenty)

Exceptions!

  1. "Un par" means 2. Example: "Un par de zapatos" (a pair of shoes).
  2. "Una docena" means 12. Example: "Una docena de huevos" (A dozen eggs).

Exercise 1: Números cardinales: básicos

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Uno, Once, Cinco, Nueve, Tres, Trece, Diez, Seis

1. 5:
...
(Five)
2. 3:
...
(Three)
3. 10:
...
(Ten)
4. 11:
...
(Once)
5. 6:
...
(Six)
6. 9:
...
(Nine)
7. 13:
...
(Thirteen)
8. 1:
...
(One)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Yo _____ hasta cien en la clase de español.

(I _____ to one hundred in Spanish class.)

2. Ella _____ cinco y diez para hacer quince.

(She _____ five and ten to make fifteen.)

3. Nosotros _____ cuatro para encontrar el resultado.

(We _____ four to find the result.)

4. Tú _____ siete por ocho en la clase de matemáticas.

(You _____ seven by eight in math class.)

5. Ellos _____ noventa y nueve alumnos en la escuela.

(They _____ ninety-nine students at school.)

6. Yo _____ veinticinco y treinta para obtener cincuenta y cinco.

(I _____ twenty-five and thirty to get fifty-five.)

Basic Cardinal Numbers in Spanish

This lesson covers the essential Spanish cardinal numbers from 1 to 20. You'll learn how to count using these basic numbers, which serve as the foundation for understanding larger numbers in Spanish.

Numbers from 1 to 20

The numbers from 1 (uno) to 20 (veinte) have unique names, especially from 11 to 15 which don’t follow a standard pattern. For example, 11 is once, 12 is doce, and 15 is quince. From 16 to 19, the pattern combines "dieci" + the unit number, such as dieciséis (16) and diecisiete (17).

Key Concepts

  • Numbers 0 to 9 are called unidades (units).
  • The number 0 is pronounced cero.
  • Special expressions include un par meaning "a pair" (2), for example, "un par de zapatos" (a pair of shoes).
  • Una docena means "a dozen" (12), like "una docena de huevos" (a dozen eggs).

Useful Examples for Practice

Practice counting and combining numbers with sentences like:

  • "Yo cuento hasta cien en la clase de español." (I count to one hundred in Spanish class.)
  • "Ella suma cinco y diez para hacer quince." (She adds five and ten to get fifteen.)
  • "Tú multiplicas siete por ocho en la clase de matemáticas." (You multiply seven by eight in math class.)

Note on Spanish Number Structure

Unlike English, Spanish numbers 16 to 19 are formed by combining the prefix "dieci" with the units (e.g., 18 is "dieciocho"), which may differ from English's separate word system. Also, expressions like "un par" and "una docena" are common idiomatic phrases used to refer to small quantities.

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