Spanish Grammar Bank
MEASUREMENTS IN SPANISH
In Spanish, there are two basic systems used to represent numbers, the Arabic and the Roman numeral systems.
In modern Spanish, quantities and measurement units are universally expressed using Arabic numerals (0-9).
Roman numerals are used only residually and in more formal contexts, such as when referring to a century or a monarch.
NUMERAL SYSTEM
The most common numeral system used to express quantities is the Arabic system, which consists of ten digits (0-9).
The Arabic system has replaced the Roman numeral system, which is scarcely used, save in specific contexts.
When expressing quantities in Spanish, numbers and words can be used just as well.
Arabic Numerals (Números Arábicos)
The digits comprising the Arabic system (0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) are combined to represent any number, their value being determined by the position within the given number (units, tens, hundreds, etc.).
For example, in the number 354:
➡️ The 3 represents the hundreds or centenas (300)
➡️ The 5 represents the tens or decenas (50)
➡️ The 4 represents the units or unidades (4)
Roman Numerals (Números Romanos)
Although Roman numerals are rarely used in modern Spanish to express numbers and quantities, they are still used when referring to a century, a monarch, a chapter, popes, etc., like siglo XVIII (18th century).
The Roman numeral system is based on seven Latin letters:
➡️ I is equivalent to 1
➡️ V is equivalent to 5
➡️ X is equivalent to 10
➡️ L is equivalent to 50
➡️ C is equivalent to 100
➡️ D is equivalent to 500
➡️ M is equivalent to 1000
| El cine mudo empezó a finales del siglo XIX. | Silent cinema started at the end of the 19th century. |
| La camisa cuesta veinticinco euros. | The shirt costs twenty-five euros. |
| La maleta pesa 12,3 kg. | The luggage weighs 12.3 kg. |
Quantifiers
Quantities can also be expressed in non-specific ways with the use of quantifiers, such as mucho (a lot/plenty), poco (a little), demasiado (too much), suficiente (enough), etc.
Quantifiers indicate relative amounts instead of exact numbers.
Quantifiers must agree in gender and in number with the nouns that they modify.
| Ella tiene muchas amigas. | She has plenty of friends. |
| Necesito un poco de agua. | I need a little bit of water. |
| El postre lleva demasiada mantequilla. | The desert has too much butter. |
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
Units of measurement (unidades de medida) in Spanish follow the International System of Units (SI), which define the basic units of measurement such as length (longitud), weight (peso), volume (volumen) and time (tiempo).
Measure words in Spanish contain two elements that reference a noun that is being represented, that is, numeral (numeral) + unidad de medida (unit of measurement). For example, tres litros de agua (three liters of water).
PATTERN
Numeral + unit of measurement
Length
Commonly used units of length in Spanish are metro (meter), kilómetro (kilometer), centímetro (centimeter), like for example, dos kilómetros de distancia (two kilometers distance).
| La casa mide dos metros de altura. | The house measures two meters high. |
| El museo está a cinco kilómetros de distancia. | The museum is at a five kilometer distance. |
| Tengo que acortar mis pantalones un centímetro de largo. | I have to shorten my pants a length of one centimeter. |
Weight
Commonly used units of weight in Spanish to indicate the heaviness or lightness of something are kilo (kilogram) are gramo (grams), miligramo (milligram), and tonelada (ton).
| Compra diez kilos de patatas. | Buy ten kilograms of potatoes. |
| El pastel lleva ciento cincuenta gramos de azúcar. | The cake has one hundred fifty grams of sugar. |
| El médico me recetó quinientos miligramos de aspirina. | The doctor prescribed me five hundred milligrams of aspirin. |
Volume
Commonly used units of volume in Spanish to indicate the amount of space a liquid or gas occupies are litro (liter), mililitro (milliliter), and metro cúbico (cubic meter).
| Ponle un litro de leche a la salsa. | Put one liter of milk to the sauce. |
| Necesitas cien mililitros de aceite de oliva para esa receta. | You need one hundred milliliters of olive oil for that recipe. |
| El tanque de agua tiene una capacidad de tres metros cúbicos. | The water tank has a three cubic meter capacity. |
Time
Commonly used units of time in Spanish to indicate periods, durations, or specific moments are semanas (weeks), días (days), horas (hours), minutos (minutes), and segundos (seconds).
| En tres meses me voy de vacaciones. | In three months I will go on vacation. |
| Nos mudamos de casa en dos semanas. | We move house in two weeks. |
| Tengo un día libre este fin de semana. | I have one day off this weekend. |
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FAQs
What are common measurement units used in Spanish?
Spanish uses the metric system, so common units include metro (meter), litro (liter), gramo (gram), and kilómetro (kilometer).
How do you use numbers with measurement units in Spanish?
Numbers come before the measurement units, and no plural is used for the units themselves (e.g., dos kilo de azúcar – “two kilos of sugar”).
What’s the difference between mucho and muy when talking about quantities?
Mucho is used with nouns to indicate quantity (e.g., mucho dinero – “a lot of money”), while muy is used with adjectives and adverbs to intensify them (e.g., muy grande – “very big”).
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