In Spanish, large numbers follow a logical pattern, with miles for thousands, millones for millions, and mil millones for billions (American system). Understanding these terms helps you discuss everything from dates to debts across different scales.
- mil = 1,000 (thousand)
- miles = thousands (plural)
- millón = 1,000,000 (million) — plural: millones
- mil millón(es) = 1,000,000,000 (billion in Spanish; billion=1,000 million)
'Billion' is 'mil millones' in Spanish.
'Millón' means 'million.'
1. Thousands: mil, miles
For 1,000 you say mil. It never takes an “s” in the singular form. For multiple thousands, use miles.
| Number | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | mil |
| 2,000 | dos mil |
| 10,000 | diez mil |
| 25,000 | veinticinco mil |
| 100,000 | cien mil |
| 250,000 | doscientos cincuenta mil |
- mil = 1,000; no “un” before mil. (Correct: mil, not un mil)
- Use miles for “thousands” when it’s plural and not exact number.
2,000 is 'dos mil.'
No, just 'mil.'
'mil' and 'miles' are correct.
2. Millions: millón, millones
Millón means million (1,000,000). For more than one million, use millones and treat it like an adjective—you need “de” before a noun.
| Number | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000 | un millón |
| 2,000,000 | dos millones |
| 1,000,000,000 | mil millones |
- 1,000,000 = un millón (with article "un").
- Plural: 2,000,000 = dos millones.
- Use “de” between millones and a noun: dos millones de personas.
Un millón.
'Tres millones' (note spelling of 'millones').
Dos millones de personas.
3. Billions: mil millones
In Spanish, 1,000,000,000 is mil millones (not billón). Note that billón in Spanish means a trillion (1,000,000,000,000).
| Number | Spanish |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000,000 | mil millones |
| 2,000,000,000 | dos mil millones |
- 1,000,000,000 = mil millones.
- For 2 billion: dos mil millones.
- Don’t confuse mil millones (billion) with billón (trillion).
1,000,000,000 is 'mil millones.'
Tres mil millones.
'Billón' does not mean billion; it means trillion.
Conclusion
Spanish large numbers are built around a clear system of mil, millón/millones, and mil millones, not billón. Mastering these terms ensures you won't get lost in translation when dealing with big figures.
- 1,000 = mil; 1,000,000 = millón; 1,000,000,000 = mil millones.
- Use millones (with “de”) for plural millions + noun.
- Avoid confusion: billón ≠ billion; it means trillion in Spanish.