Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say 80 in Spanish: Ochenta
Ochenta · numeral · oh-CHEN-tah
Eighty in Spanish is ochenta, built on the root ocho (eight). Like other tens in Spanish (sesenta, setenta, noventa), it is invariable—it never changes for gender or number. Compound numbers are formed by adding y plus a unit: ochenta y uno (81), ochenta y dos (82), and so on.
Say oh-CHEN-tah, with the stress on the second syllable. The ch sounds like the English 'ch' in 'check.'
Mi abuela tiene ochenta años y todavía camina todos los días.
My grandmother is eighty years old and still walks every day.
How Native Speakers Use Ochenta
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Talking about age
El profesor se jubiló a los ochenta años.
The professor retired at eighty years old.
Ochenta is frequently heard when discussing someone's age, especially elderly relatives.
Prices and money
Estas zapatillas cuestan ochenta euros.
These sneakers cost eighty euros.
When stating prices, ochenta functions just like any other number before the currency.
Compound number (85)
La autopista tiene un límite de velocidad de ochenta y cinco kilómetros por hora.
The highway has a speed limit of eighty-five kilometers per hour.
Numbers 81–89 are formed with ochenta y + the unit digit, written as separate words.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ochenta
Misspelling as 'ochenta' vs. 'ocheinta'
Incorrect: El estadio tiene ocheinta mil asientos.
Correct: El estadio tiene ochenta mil asientos.
There is no i before the n. The correct spelling is ochenta, directly from the root ocho plus the tens suffix -enta.
Trying to make ochenta agree in gender
Incorrect: Había ochentas personas en la sala.
Correct: Había ochenta personas en la sala.
Cardinal numbers in Spanish (except uno/una and compounds ending in uno/una) do not change form for gender or number.
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See Ochenta used by native speakers
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Common Questions About 80 in Spanish
- How do I form numbers like 81 or 89?
- Add y plus the unit: ochenta y uno (81), ochenta y nueve (89). Each part stays as a separate word, unlike numbers 21–29 which are fused.
- Does ochenta ever change its ending?
- Ochenta never changes form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it modifies. You say ochenta casas and ochenta coches the same way.
- What is the pattern for tens in Spanish?
- The tens follow a consistent structure: treinta (30), cuarenta (40), cincuenta (50), sesenta (60), setenta (70), ochenta (80), noventa (90). All end in -enta except treinta, which ends in -einta.