Learn and practise the Spanish numbers, with listening & speaking drills – Episode 106

Learn and practise the Spanish numbers, with listening & speaking drills

Podcast episode 106 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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Today you’re going to master numbers 30 to 39.

See also: Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses.

Today’s question comes from James, one of my students. James asked me recently whether I could do another number lesson. So here it is.

Knowing the basic numbers well will make all other Spanish numbers much easier to say and understand.

In today’s lesson, you’re going to learn and practice numbers 30 to 39.

Let’s say those ten numbers. Repeat after me:

treinta :: thirty
treinta y uno :: thirty-one
treinta y dos :: thirty-two
treinta y tres :: thirty-three
treinta y cuatro :: thirty-four
treinta y cinco :: thirty-five
treinta y seis :: thirty-six
treinta y siete :: thirty-seven
treinta y ocho :: thirty-eight
treinta y nueve :: thirty-nine

Let’s say them once more:

treinta
treinta y uno
treinta y dos
treinta y tres
treinta y cuatro
treinta y cinco
treinta y seis
treinta y siete
treinta y ocho
treinta y nueve

When you use Spanish numbers in conversation, you need to say them as best as you can. As I’ve said in previous lessons, mispronounced numbers are impossible to understand. To help you say those ten numbers right, here are 4 tips:

Tip number 1. Notice that the ‘i’ in the word’ treinta’ is very short, almost non-existent: treinta.

Tip number 2. Never drop the ‘y’ between treinta and the following number: treinta y dos, treinta y cinco, treinta y nueve.

Tip number 3. Avoid adding a ‘u’ sound at the end of: uno, cuatro, cinco, ocho.

And tip number 4. Never drop the last ‘e’ in: siete, nueve.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Now we’re going to do a listening drill. Can you tell me which number I’m saying?

treinta y dos :: thirty-two
treinta y nueve :: thirty-nine
treinta y cinco :: thirty-five
treinta y siete :: thirty-seven
treinta y tres :: thirty-three
treinta y cuatro :: thirty-four
treinta :: thirty
treinta y seis :: thirty-six
treinta y uno :: thirty-one
treinta y ocho :: thirty-eight

Let’s now do a speaking drill. Can you tell me these numbers in Spanish?

thirty-one :: treinta y uno
thirty-eight :: treinta y ocho
thirty-two :: treinta y dos
thirty-six :: treinta y seis
thirty-three :: treinta y tres
thirty-nine :: treinta y nueve
thirty-five :: treinta y cinco
thirty :: treinta
thirty-four :: treinta y cuatro
thirty-seven :: treinta y siete

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

To recap, let’s go through those ten numbers once again. Remember the pronunciation tips I gave you before. Repeat after me:

treinta
treinta y uno
treinta y dos
treinta y tres
treinta y cuatro
treinta y cinco
treinta y seis
treinta y siete
treinta y ocho
treinta y nueve

Find out more about my Spanish courses.