Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say One Hundred in Spanish: Cien vs. Ciento
Cien · number / adjective · see-EHN
One hundred in Spanish is cien when used alone or directly before a noun (cien dólares, cien años). When combined with additional numbers, it becomes ciento: ciento uno (101), ciento veinte (120). The two forms are not interchangeable — the rule is purely positional.
see-EHN — one syllable for cien. see-EHN-toh — two syllables for ciento, stress on the second.
Hay cien personas en la sala.
There are one hundred people in the room.
One Hundred in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for one hundred, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cien | one hundred | see-EHN | Default, widely understood |
| ciento | one hundred | used in compounds: ciento uno, ciento dos |
How Native Speakers Use Cien
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Exact 100
Corrí cien metros en doce segundos.
I ran one hundred meters in twelve seconds.
Cien is used when the number is exactly 100, directly before a noun.
Compound number
El libro tiene ciento cincuenta páginas.
The book has one hundred fifty pages.
Any number from 101 to 199 uses ciento, not cien.
Percentage
Estoy cien por ciento seguro.
I'm one hundred percent sure.
Cien por ciento (100%) uses cien because it stands for exactly 100.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cien
Using cien for numbers above 100
Incorrect: Hay cien veintitrés estudiantes.
Correct: Hay ciento veintitrés estudiantes.
For 101–199, you must use ciento + the remaining number. Cien only works for exactly 100.
Using ciento before a noun for exactly 100
Incorrect: Tengo ciento dólares.
Correct: Tengo cien dólares.
When the number is exactly 100 before a noun, use cien. Ciento only appears when followed by another number (ciento uno, ciento diez).
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Common Questions About One Hundred in Spanish
- How do you say one hundred in Spanish?
- One hundred is cien (when alone or before a noun). For numbers 101–199, use ciento: ciento uno (101), ciento cincuenta (150).
- When do I use cien vs. ciento?
- Use cien for exactly 100 (cien personas, cien por ciento). Use ciento when followed by additional numbers (ciento tres, ciento noventa y nueve).
- How do you say 200, 300, etc. in Spanish?
- 200 = doscientos/as, 300 = trescientos/as, 400 = cuatrocientos/as, 500 = quinientos/as. These agree in gender with the noun: doscientas páginas (f), doscientos libros (m).