Ten in Spanish
The Spanish word for 'ten' is 'diez', pronounced DYEHS (IPA: /ˈdjes/). It is an A1-level number.
| Spanish | diez |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | DYEHS · /ˈdjes/ |
| Part of speech | number |
| Level | A1 (beginner-friendly) |
Example Sentences with 'diez'
- El autobús pasa cada diez minutos.
The bus comes every ten minutes. - ¿Me prestas diez dólares hasta el viernes?
Can you lend me ten dollars until Friday? - Cuento hasta diez cuando me enojo para calmarme.
I count to ten when I get angry to calm down. - Hace diez años esta calle era muy tranquila, pero ahora está llena de tiendas y restaurantes.
Ten years ago this street was very quiet, but now it is full of shops and restaurants.
Common Phrases with 'diez'
- sacar(se) un diez
to get a perfect score / an A+ - contar hasta diez
to count to ten (to calm down)
How to Use 'diez'
'Diez' is one syllable ('DYEHS'). Numbers 16–19 are built on it as one word: 'dieciséis', 'diecisiete', 'dieciocho', 'diecinueve'. 'Sacar un diez' means to get a perfect score in school.
Regional note: In Spain the final 'z' sounds like 'th' (dyeth); in Latin America it sounds like 's'. School grading 'sacarse un diez' (a perfect 10) is common in Spain, Mexico, and Argentina.
Counting to Twenty in Spanish
Diez sits at the hinge of the Spanish number system: everything from 16 to 19 is built on it.
| 1–5 | uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco |
|---|---|
| 6–10 | seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez |
| 11–15 | once, doce, trece, catorce, quince |
| 16–20 | dieciséis, diecisiete, dieciocho, diecinueve, veinte |
Only dieciséis carries a written accent in that group, and all four teens are written as a single word — diez y seis is a spelling mistake. To keep going to 100 and learn how to give your age, tell the time and read prices, see numbers in Spanish 1–100.
Related Vocabulary
Keep going: review colors and numbers in Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ten' in Spanish is 'diez', pronounced DYEHS.
It is spelled d-i-e-z.
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