Mastering “Thirty” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to say numbers in Spanish is a fundamental aspect of language acquisition. Among these, knowing how to express “thirty” is crucial for everyday conversations, from telling time and dates to discussing prices and quantities. This article provides a detailed exploration of the Spanish word for “thirty,” its grammatical context, usage, and common pitfalls. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will enhance your numerical fluency in Spanish.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of “Thirty” in Spanish
• Structural Breakdown of “Treinta”
• Pronunciation of “Treinta”
• Grammatical Gender Considerations
• Examples of “Treinta” in Sentences
  • Expressing Age
  • Telling Time
  • Stating Dates
  • Describing Quantities
  • Talking about Money
  • Expressing Measurements
• Usage Rules for “Treinta”
  • Combining “Treinta” with Other Numbers
  • Ordinal Numbers Related to “Treinta”
• Common Mistakes When Using “Treinta”
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of “Thirty” in Spanish

The Spanish word for “thirty” is treinta. It’s a cardinal number, meaning it expresses quantity rather than order (like ordinal numbers). “Treinta” is used in a variety of contexts, including counting, expressing age, telling time, indicating dates, and describing measurements or amounts. In essence, it serves the same function as “thirty” does in English, representing the numerical value of 30.

Understanding the definition of “treinta” is more than just knowing the word itself. It involves recognizing its role within the Spanish number system and how it interacts with other numbers to form larger values. For instance, knowing that “treinta” is the base for numbers between 30 and 39 is critical for building more complex numerical expressions.

Structural Breakdown of “Treinta”

The word “treinta” is a single word in Spanish, unlike some other numbers which are formed by combining multiple elements. It doesn’t have any prefixes or suffixes affecting its core meaning. However, its structure is important to understand in the context of how it combines with other numbers. When forming numbers from 31 to 39, “treinta” is combined with “y” (and) followed by the single-digit number. This structure is consistent for all numbers from 31 to 39.

For example:

• 31: Treinta y uno (Thirty and one)
• 32: Treinta y dos (Thirty and two)
• 33: Treinta y tres (Thirty and three)
• 34: Treinta y cuatro (Thirty and four)
• 35: Treinta y cinco (Thirty and five)
• 36: Treinta y seis (Thirty and six)
• 37: Treinta y siete (Thirty and seven)
• 38: Treinta y ocho (Thirty and eight)
• 39: Treinta y nueve (Thirty and nine)

Pronunciation of “Treinta”

The pronunciation of “treinta” is relatively straightforward for English speakers, but paying attention to a few key sounds will ensure accuracy. Here’s a breakdown:

• Tr: This sound is similar to the English “tr,” but the “r” should be rolled or tapped. Practice rolling your “r” to achieve the correct Spanish pronunciation.
• ei: This is pronounced like the “ay” in “day.”
• n: A standard “n” sound.
• ta: Pronounced like “tah.”

Putting it all together, “treinta” is pronounced approximately as “tray-een-tah.” Listening to native Spanish speakers pronounce the word is highly recommended. Many online resources, such as Forvo or SpanishDict, provide audio pronunciations.

Grammatical Gender Considerations

Unlike nouns, numbers in Spanish do not inherently have a grammatical gender. However, the words that accompany numbers, such as articles or adjectives, must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This is crucial when using “treinta” in sentences.

For example, if you are talking about “thirty books” (libros), you would say “treinta libros.” The word “libros” is masculine plural. If you are talking about “thirty tables” (mesas), you would say “treinta mesas.” The word “mesas” is feminine plural. The number “treinta” itself doesn’t change, but the surrounding words must agree in gender and number with the noun.

Examples of “Treinta” in Sentences

Understanding how to use “treinta” in different contexts is essential for practical application. Here are several examples categorized by common situations:

Expressing Age

When stating someone is thirty years old, you use the phrase “treinta años.”

The following table provides examples of expressing age using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Tengo treinta años.	I am thirty years old.
Mi hermano tiene treinta años.	My brother is thirty years old.
Ella cumplió treinta años ayer.	She turned thirty yesterday.
Él va a cumplir treinta años pronto.	He is going to turn thirty soon.
Mis padres tienen treinta años de casados.	My parents have been married for thirty years.
El edificio tiene treinta años de antigüedad.	The building is thirty years old.
La empresa tiene treinta años en el mercado.	The company has been in the market for thirty years.
El árbol tiene aproximadamente treinta años.	The tree is approximately thirty years old.
El proyecto durará treinta años.	The project will last thirty years.
La ley tiene treinta años de vigencia.	The law has been in effect for thirty years.
Mi abuela tiene treinta años más que yo.	My grandmother is thirty years older than me.
Este libro tiene treinta años.	This book is thirty years old.
El coche tiene treinta años.	The car is thirty years old.
La estatua tiene treinta años.	The statue is thirty years old.
La película tiene treinta años.	The movie is thirty years old.
Llevo treinta años viviendo aquí.	I have been living here for thirty years.
Trabajo en esta empresa desde hace treinta años.	I have been working at this company for thirty years.
Estudio español desde hace treinta años.	I have been studying Spanish for thirty years.
Conozco a Juan desde hace treinta años.	I have known Juan for thirty years.
Visito este lugar desde hace treinta años.	I have been visiting this place for thirty years.
El programa lleva treinta años en antena.	The program has been on the air for thirty years.
La banda lleva treinta años tocando junta.	The band has been playing together for thirty years.
El club lleva treinta años existiendo.	The club has been in existence for thirty years.
La tradición lleva treinta años celebrándose.	The tradition has been celebrated for thirty years.
El festival lleva treinta años realizándose.	The festival has been held for thirty years.
La convención lleva treinta años organizándose.	The convention has been organized for thirty years.
El evento lleva treinta años atrayendo gente.	The event has been attracting people for thirty years.
Llevo treinta años coleccionando sellos.	I have been collecting stamps for thirty years.
Llevo treinta años practicando este deporte.	I have been practicing this sport for thirty years.

Telling Time

When telling time, “treinta” is used to indicate “thirty minutes” or “half past” the hour.

The following table provides examples of telling time using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Son las diez y treinta.	It’s ten thirty.
La reunión es a las once y treinta.	The meeting is at eleven thirty.
Llegaré a las doce y treinta.	I will arrive at twelve thirty.
Salimos a la una y treinta.	We leave at one thirty.
Regresaremos a las dos y treinta.	We will return at two thirty.
Cenamos a las siete y treinta.	We have dinner at seven thirty.
El programa empieza a las ocho y treinta.	The program starts at eight thirty.
La clase termina a las nueve y treinta.	The class ends at nine thirty.
Nos vemos a las tres y treinta.	We’ll see each other at three thirty.
El tren sale a las cuatro y treinta.	The train leaves at four thirty.
El vuelo aterriza a las cinco y treinta.	The flight lands at five thirty.
El concierto comienza a las seis y treinta.	The concert starts at six thirty.
El partido empieza a las diez y treinta.	The game starts at ten thirty.
La película empieza a las once y treinta.	The movie starts at eleven thirty.
La obra de teatro empieza a las doce y treinta.	The play starts at twelve thirty.
El seminario empieza a la una y treinta.	The seminar starts at one thirty.
La conferencia empieza a las dos y treinta.	The conference starts at two thirty.
La presentación empieza a las tres y treinta.	The presentation starts at three thirty.
El curso empieza a las cuatro y treinta.	The course starts at four thirty.
El taller empieza a las cinco y treinta.	The workshop starts at five thirty.
El evento empieza a las seis y treinta.	The event starts at six thirty.
La fiesta empieza a las siete y treinta.	The party starts at seven thirty.
La reunión termina a las ocho y treinta.	The meeting ends at eight thirty.
La clase termina a las nueve y treinta.	The class ends at nine thirty.
Nos vamos a casa a las diez y treinta.	We go home at ten thirty.
Me voy a dormir a las once y treinta.	I go to sleep at eleven thirty.
Me levanto a las seis y treinta.	I get up at six thirty.
Desayuno a las siete y treinta.	I have breakfast at seven thirty.
Almuerzo a la una y treinta.	I have lunch at one thirty.

Stating Dates

When stating dates, “treinta” can refer to the thirtieth day of the month.

The following table provides examples of stating dates using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Hoy es treinta de abril.	Today is the thirtieth of April.
Nací el treinta de mayo.	I was born on the thirtieth of May.
La reunión es el treinta de junio.	The meeting is on the thirtieth of June.
El evento será el treinta de julio.	The event will be on the thirtieth of July.
El plazo vence el treinta de agosto.	The deadline is on the thirtieth of August.
Celebramos el aniversario el treinta de septiembre.	We celebrate the anniversary on the thirtieth of September.
Viajaremos el treinta de octubre.	We will travel on the thirtieth of October.
La fiesta es el treinta de noviembre.	The party is on the thirtieth of November.
Nos vemos el treinta de diciembre.	We’ll see each other on the thirtieth of December.
El contrato termina el treinta de enero.	The contract ends on the thirtieth of January.
La promoción termina el treinta de febrero.	The promotion ends on the thirtieth of February.
El taller empieza el treinta de marzo.	The workshop starts on the thirtieth of March.
La conferencia es el treinta de abril.	The conference is on the thirtieth of April.
El seminario será el treinta de mayo.	The seminar will be on the thirtieth of May.
La presentación es el treinta de junio.	The presentation is on the thirtieth of June.
El curso empieza el treinta de julio.	The course starts on the thirtieth of July.
La exposición será el treinta de agosto.	The exhibition will be on the thirtieth of August.
El festival empieza el treinta de septiembre.	The festival starts on the thirtieth of September.
El estreno es el treinta de octubre.	The premiere is on the thirtieth of October.
El lanzamiento es el treinta de noviembre.	The launch is on the thirtieth of November.
La inauguración es el treinta de diciembre.	The inauguration is on the thirtieth of December.
El aniversario es el treinta de enero.	The anniversary is on the thirtieth of January.
El cumpleaños es el treinta de febrero.	The birthday is on the thirtieth of February.
La boda es el treinta de marzo.	The wedding is on the thirtieth of March.
El funeral es el treinta de abril.	The funeral is on the thirtieth of April.
El evento es el treinta de mayo.	The event is on the thirtieth of May.
La fiesta es el treinta de junio.	The party is on the thirtieth of June.
La reunión es el treinta de julio.	The meeting is on the thirtieth of July.

Describing Quantities

“Treinta” is used to describe a quantity of thirty items or units.

The following table provides examples of describing quantities using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Tengo treinta libros.	I have thirty books.
Compré treinta manzanas.	I bought thirty apples.
Necesito treinta sillas.	I need thirty chairs.
Hay treinta estudiantes en la clase.	There are thirty students in the class.
Recibí treinta correos electrónicos.	I received thirty emails.
Vendí treinta boletos.	I sold thirty tickets.
Planté treinta árboles.	I planted thirty trees.
Escribí treinta páginas.	I wrote thirty pages.
Preparé treinta sándwiches.	I prepared thirty sandwiches.
Envié treinta invitaciones.	I sent thirty invitations.
Contraté treinta empleados.	I hired thirty employees.
Doné treinta dólares.	I donated thirty dollars.
Gasté treinta euros.	I spent thirty euros.
Ahorré treinta pesos.	I saved thirty pesos.
Invertí treinta libras.	I invested thirty pounds.
Gané treinta yenes.	I earned thirty yen.
Compré treinta acciones.	I bought thirty shares.
Vendí treinta productos.	I sold thirty products.
Cultivé treinta plantas.	I grew thirty plants.
Cociné treinta galletas.	I baked thirty cookies.
Dibujé treinta cuadros.	I drew thirty paintings.
Compuse treinta canciones.	I composed thirty songs.
Traduje treinta textos.	I translated thirty texts.
Corregí treinta pruebas.	I corrected thirty tests.
Organicé treinta eventos.	I organized thirty events.
Planifiqué treinta viajes.	I planned thirty trips.
Diseñé treinta logotipos.	I designed thirty logos.
Construí treinta casas.	I built thirty houses.
Administré treinta cuentas.	I managed thirty accounts.

Talking about Money

“Treinta” is used to express amounts of money involving thirty units of currency.

The following table provides examples of talking about money using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Cuesta treinta dólares.	It costs thirty dollars.
Me pagaron treinta euros.	They paid me thirty euros.
Gané treinta pesos.	I earned thirty pesos.
Ahorré treinta libras.	I saved thirty pounds.
Invertí treinta yenes.	I invested thirty yen.
Debo treinta dólares.	I owe thirty dollars.
Presta me treinta euros.	Lend me thirty euros.
Cambié treinta pesos.	I exchanged thirty pesos.
Gasté treinta libras.	I spent thirty pounds.
Doné treinta yenes.	I donated thirty yen.
El precio es de treinta dólares.	The price is thirty dollars.
La cuota es de treinta euros.	The fee is thirty euros.
El alquiler es de treinta pesos.	The rent is thirty pesos.
La multa es de treinta libras.	The fine is thirty pounds.
La propina es de treinta yenes.	The tip is thirty yen.
El descuento es de treinta dólares.	The discount is thirty dollars.
La ganancia es de treinta euros.	The profit is thirty euros.
La pérdida es de treinta pesos.	The loss is thirty pesos.
La inversión es de treinta libras.	The investment is thirty pounds.
El costo es de treinta yenes.	The cost is thirty yen.
El premio es de treinta dólares.	The prize is thirty dollars.
La beca es de treinta euros.	The scholarship is thirty euros.
El subsidio es de treinta pesos.	The subsidy is thirty pesos.
La ayuda es de treinta libras.	The aid is thirty pounds.
El regalo es de treinta yenes.	The gift is thirty yen.
El salario es de treinta dólares.	The salary is thirty dollars.
El sueldo es de treinta euros.	The wage is thirty euros.
El ingreso es de treinta pesos.	The income is thirty pesos.

Expressing Measurements

“Treinta” is used to express measurements such as length, weight, or volume.

The following table provides examples of expressing measurements using “treinta.”

Spanish	English
Mide treinta centímetros.	It measures thirty centimeters.
Pesa treinta kilos.	It weighs thirty kilograms.
Tiene treinta litros.	It has thirty liters.
La distancia es de treinta metros.	The distance is thirty meters.
El volumen es de treinta mililitros.	The volume is thirty milliliters.
La altura es de treinta pies.	The height is thirty feet.
El ancho es de treinta pulgadas.	The width is thirty inches.
La profundidad es de treinta centímetros.	The depth is thirty centimeters.
La superficie es de treinta metros cuadrados.	The area is thirty square meters.
El perímetro es de treinta metros.	The perimeter is thirty meters.
La longitud es de treinta kilómetros.	The length is thirty kilometers.
La capacidad es de treinta galones.	The capacity is thirty gallons.
El radio es de treinta milímetros.	The radius is thirty millimeters.
El diámetro es de treinta centímetros.	The diameter is thirty centimeters.
La circunferencia es de treinta metros.	The circumference is thirty meters.
La temperatura es de treinta grados Celsius.	The temperature is thirty degrees Celsius.
La velocidad es de treinta kilómetros por hora.	The speed is thirty kilometers per hour.
La presión es de treinta pascales.	The pressure is thirty pascals.
La densidad es de treinta gramos por centímetro cúbico.	The density is thirty grams per cubic centimeter.
La energía es de treinta julios.	The energy is thirty joules.
La potencia es de treinta vatios.	The power is thirty watts.
La frecuencia es de treinta hercios.	The frequency is thirty hertz.
La resistencia es de treinta ohmios.	The resistance is thirty ohms.
La conductividad es de treinta siemens.	The conductivity is thirty siemens.
La viscosidad es de treinta poise.	The viscosity is thirty poise.
La acidez es de treinta pH.	The acidity is thirty pH.
La alcalinidad es de treinta ppm.	The alkalinity is thirty ppm.
La dureza es de treinta grados.	The hardness is thirty degrees.

Usage Rules for “Treinta”

Understanding the specific rules that govern the use of “treinta” ensures accuracy and fluency in Spanish.

Combining “Treinta” with Other Numbers

As mentioned earlier, when combining “treinta” with numbers 1-9, the structure is “treinta y [number].” This rule is consistent and crucial for forming numbers 31-39 correctly.

For example, to say “thirty-five,” you would say “treinta y cinco.” Note the “y” (and) which connects “treinta” and “cinco.”

Ordinal Numbers Related to “Treinta”

The ordinal number corresponding to “thirty” is “trigésimo” (thirtieth). This is used to indicate the thirtieth position in a sequence.

For example:

• El trigésimo día (The thirtieth day)
• La trigésima persona (The thirtieth person)

Common Mistakes When Using “Treinta”

Even experienced learners can make mistakes. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:

• Incorrect: Treinta uno (This is incorrect; the correct form is “treinta y uno”).
• Correct: Treinta y uno (Thirty-one).
• Incorrect: Treintas libros (This is incorrect because “treinta” doesn’t change to plural form).
• Correct: Treinta libros (Thirty books).

It’s also important to remember that “treinta” itself doesn’t have a grammatical gender, but the surrounding words must agree with the nouns they modify. For instance, “treinta mesas” (thirty tables – feminine plural) is correct, while any variation that doesn’t maintain agreement would be incorrect.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of “treinta” with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences with the correct Spanish translation.

Question	Answer
I am ______ years old. (thirty)	Tengo ______ años. (treinta)
It costs ______ dollars. (thirty)	Cuesta ______ dólares. (treinta)
Today is the ______ of June. (thirtieth)	Hoy es el ______ de junio. (trigésimo)
There are ______ students in the class. (thirty-two)	Hay ______ estudiantes en la clase. (treinta y dos)
The meeting is at ______ . (ten thirty)	La reunión es a las ______. (diez y treinta)
I bought ______ apples. (thirty-one)	Compré ______ manzanas. (treinta y uno)
The building is ______ meters high. (thirty-five)	El edificio tiene ______ metros de altura. (treinta y cinco)
She is ______ years old. (thirty-three)	Ella tiene ______ años. (treinta y tres)
The book has ______ pages. (thirty-nine)	El libro tiene ______ páginas. (treinta y nueve)
The train leaves at ______. (four thirty)	El tren sale a las ______. (cuatro y treinta)

Exercise 2: Translation

Translate the following sentences into Spanish.

English	Spanish
I have thirty books.	Tengo treinta libros.
He is thirty-six years old.	Él tiene treinta y seis años.
The thirtieth of December is my birthday.	El trigésimo de diciembre es mi cumpleaños.
It’s thirty kilometers away.	Está a treinta kilómetros de distancia.
We need thirty chairs.	Necesitamos treinta sillas.
The conference is on the thirtieth of May.	La conferencia es el treinta de mayo.
I saved thirty euros.	Ahorré treinta euros.
The movie starts at eleven thirty.	La película empieza a las once y treinta.
There are thirty-eight houses on the street.	Hay treinta y ocho casas en la calle.
The deadline is the thirtieth of April.	La fecha límite es el treinta de abril.

Exercise 3: Combine the Numbers

Write out the following numbers in Spanish.

Number	Spanish
31	Treinta y uno
34	Treinta y cuatro
37	Treinta y siete
39	Treinta y nueve

Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions

Spanish, like any language, has idiomatic expressions that incorporate numbers. While “treinta” may not feature as prominently in idioms as some other numbers, understanding these expressions can add depth to your comprehension and fluency.

For example, although not directly related to the number thirty, phrases like “a los treinta y tantos” (in one’s late thirties) might come up in conversation. Recognizing such expressions requires exposure and practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering “treinta” in Spanish is a significant step towards numerical fluency. By understanding its definition, structural breakdown, pronunciation, grammatical considerations, and usage in various contexts, you can confidently incorporate this number into your Spanish conversations. Consistent practice and attention to common mistakes will further solidify your knowledge, enabling you to communicate effectively and accurately in Spanish-speaking environments. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find using “treinta” and other Spanish numbers second nature!