Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "40" in Spanish
Cuarenta · number / adjective · kwah-REN-tah
The number 40 is "cuarenta" in Spanish. It is invariable in form and serves as the base for compound numbers like "cuarenta y uno" (41) through "cuarenta y nueve" (49).
kwah-REN-tah
Mi padre cumplió cuarenta años el mes pasado.
My father turned forty last month.
40 in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for 40, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cuarenta | 40 | kwah-REN-tah | Default, widely understood |
| cuarenta | 40 | Universal |
How Native Speakers Use Cuarenta
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Telling age
Ella tiene cuarenta y dos años y está en la mejor etapa de su vida.
She is forty-two years old and in the best phase of her life.
Using cuarenta as part of a compound number to express age.
Shopping quantity
Necesito cuarenta naranjas para preparar el jugo de la fiesta.
I need forty oranges to make juice for the party.
Counting items when shopping or cooking in large quantities.
Temperature
Ayer la temperatura llegó a cuarenta grados en Sevilla.
Yesterday the temperature reached forty degrees in Seville.
Referring to temperature readings in Celsius, common in Spanish-speaking countries.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuarenta
Misspelling with "qu" instead of "cu"
Incorrect: quarenta
Correct: cuarenta
Unlike English words starting with "qu" (like "quarter"), Spanish spells this number with "cu" at the beginning. The correct spelling is "cuarenta," not "quarenta."
Forgetting "y" in compound numbers
Incorrect: cuarenta cinco
Correct: cuarenta y cinco
In Spanish, compound numbers from 31 onward always require "y" (and) between the tens and units digit. You must say "cuarenta y cinco," never "cuarenta cinco."
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See Cuarenta used by native speakers
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Common Questions About 40 in Spanish
- How do you form numbers 41–49 in Spanish?
- Add "y" plus the unit: cuarenta y uno (41), cuarenta y dos (42), cuarenta y tres (43), and so on up to cuarenta y nueve (49). Each is written as three separate words.
- Is "cuarenta" ever abbreviated in Spanish writing?
- In everyday text, the numeral "40" is used just like in English. The word "cuarenta" is typically written out in literary prose, on checks, or in formal documents where numerals are discouraged.
- Does "cuarenta" change form for gender or plural?
- No, "cuarenta" is invariable. It keeps the same form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it modifies: cuarenta libros, cuarenta casas, cuarenta personas.