Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Tens in Spanish: Decenas
Decenas · noun · deh-SEH-nahs
Decenas is the Spanish word for tens, used both as a mathematical place value (the tens column) and as an expression for dozens of things. It comes from diez (ten) and follows the same pattern as centenas (hundreds) and millares (thousands). In everyday speech, decenas de means tens of or dozens of.
Say deh-SEH-nahs, stressing the second syllable. The c before e makes an s sound in Latin America and a th sound in most of Spain.
Hay decenas de restaurantes en esta calle.
There are tens of restaurants on this street.
Tens in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for tens, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| decenas | tens | deh-SEH-nahs | Default, widely understood |
| dieces | tens | informal plural of diez, sometimes heard in casual speech |
How Native Speakers Use Decenas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Expressing a large quantity
Recibimos decenas de solicitudes para el puesto de trabajo.
We received tens of applications for the job position.
Decenas de is used to convey a significant but not precisely counted number.
Math class
En la columna de las decenas, tenemos un tres, así que el valor es treinta.
In the tens column, we have a three, so the value is thirty.
Decenas is the mathematical term for the tens place in positional notation.
Counting objects
Los huevos se venden por decenas en este mercado.
Eggs are sold by the tens at this market.
While docena (dozen) is more common for eggs, decena is used for groups of ten.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Decenas
Confusing decena with docena
Incorrect: Compré una decena de huevos. (meaning twelve)
Correct: Compré una docena de huevos.
Decena is a group of ten, while docena is a group of twelve (a dozen). In most markets, eggs come in dozens (docenas), not tens (decenas).
Using dieces as a formal plural
Incorrect: El número tiene tres dieces.
Correct: El número tiene tres decenas.
While dieces might be heard informally, decenas is the mathematically correct and standard term for the tens place or groups of ten.
Lock in Tens Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Decenas used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using decenas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Hay decenas de restaurantes en esta calle. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Tens in Spanish
- How do you say tens in Spanish?
- Tens in Spanish is decenas. The singular is decena (a group of ten). For example, una decena de personas means about ten people, and decenas de personas means tens of people.
- What is the difference between decena and docena?
- Decena comes from diez and means a group of ten. Docena comes from doce and means a group of twelve (a dozen). They sound similar, so pay attention to the first syllable: de- for ten, do- for twelve.
- How is decena used in math in Spanish?
- In place value, the tens column is called las decenas. Teachers say la columna de las decenas when explaining how multi-digit numbers work. For example, in the number 47, the 4 is in the decenas place, meaning it represents cuarenta (forty).