How do you say thousand in Spanish?

The word is mil, a single invariable syllable that never changes form when used as a number multiplier (dos mil, tres mil, cien mil).

When do you use mil vs miles?

Use mil as the number (mil personas = a thousand people, cinco mil = five thousand), and miles de as a noun meaning thousands of when expressing an indefinite large quantity (miles de personas = thousands of people).

How do you say numbers like 1,500 in Spanish?

The number 1,500 is mil quinientos, combining mil with the hundreds: similarly, 2,300 is dos mil trescientos, following the pattern of multiplier + mil + hundreds.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Thousand in Spanish: Mil

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Mil · noun (masculine) · meel

Thousand in Spanish is mil, a short and invariable word representing the number 1,000.

Mil is a single syllable: meel.

Esta ciudad fue fundada hace más de mil años.

This city was founded more than a thousand years ago.

How Native Speakers Use Mil

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Price discussion

El alquiler cuesta dos mil dólares al mes.

The rent costs two thousand dollars a month.

Discussing costs.

Large quantity

Mil gracias por toda tu ayuda.

A thousand thanks for all your help.

Expression of deep gratitude.

Year reference

Nací en mil novecientos noventa y cinco.

I was born in nineteen ninety-five.

Stating birth year.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mil

Adding un before mil

Incorrect: Hay un mil personas en el concierto.

Correct: Hay mil personas en el concierto.

Unlike English where you say one thousand, Spanish uses mil alone without un—you never say un mil.

Pluralizing incorrectly

Incorrect: Tres miles de personas asistieron.

Correct: Tres mil personas asistieron.

Mil does not pluralize when used as a multiplier; miles is only used in the noun phrase miles de (thousands of).

Lock in Thousand 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 Mil used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mil in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Esta ciudad fue fundada hace más de mil años. 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 Thousand in Spanish

How do you say thousand in Spanish?: The word is mil, a single invariable syllable that never changes form when used as a number multiplier (dos mil, tres mil, cien mil).
When do you use mil vs miles?: Use mil as the number (mil personas = a thousand people, cinco mil = five thousand), and miles de as a noun meaning thousands of when expressing an indefinite large quantity (miles de personas = thousands of people).
How do you say numbers like 1,500 in Spanish?: The number 1,500 is mil quinientos, combining mil with the hundreds: similarly, 2,300 is dos mil trescientos, following the pattern of multiplier + mil + hundreds.