How to Say 30 in Spanish | Treinta and Trigésimo Explained
Updated for 2026, learning numbers in a new language is essential for effective communication. If you're eager to learn how to say thirty in Spanish, "treinta" (IPA: /tɾeɪnta/) is the cardinal form used most frequently.
Fast track your vocabulary with the 10,000 most common Spanish words!
2,500 most common Spanish words with IPA pronunciation & bilingual example sentences
What is 30 in Spanish?
In Spanish, thirty is expressed as "treinta" (IPA: /tɾeɪnta/) for the cardinal form and "trigésimo" (IPA: /tɾiˈɣesimo/) for the ordinal form. The word “treinta” originates from Latin, where it was known as "triginta."
The formation of ordinal numbers in Spanish involves adding "-ésimo" to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:
- Primero (first) becomes "primer-o" /pɾiˈmeɾo/.
- Segundo (second) becomes "segund-o" /seˈɣundo/.
- Tercero (third) becomes "tercer-o" /teɾˈseɾo/.
- Cuarto (fourth) becomes "cuart-o" /ˈkwaɾto/.
- Quinto (fifth) becomes "quint-o" /ˈkinto/.
- Treinta (thirty) becomes "trigésim-o" /tɾiˈɣesimo/.
Pronunciation Guide for Treinta and Trigésimo
Want to improve your Spanish?
The Spanish Frequency Dictionary series covers the 10,000 most common Spanish words — ranked by how often native speakers actually use them, with IPA pronunciation, English translations, and bilingual example sentences at every level.
Browse all 4 volumes →The pronunciation of these numbers in Spanish includes:
- "t" in "treinta": pronounced as a dental flap /tɾ/.
- "r" in "treinta": pronounced as an alveolar tap /ɾ/.
- "ei" in "treinta": pronounced as a diphthong /eɪ/.
- "i" in "trigésimo": pronounced as a close front unrounded vowel /i/.
Common Mistakes When Pronouncing Treinta and Trigésimo
A common mistake is pronouncing the 't' sound too heavily, which should be more of a soft tap. Another frequent error is mispronouncing the diphthong "ei" as two separate vowels.
Sample Sentences Using Treinta and Trigésimo
The following sentences demonstrate how to use "treinta" and "trigésimo" in context:
- Treinta es el número que sigue a veintinueve.
- La temperatura hoy es de treinta grados Celsius.
- La fiesta empezará a las siete y media de la noche y terminará a las treinta.
- Hay treinta estudiantes en la clase de español.
- El trigésimo aniversario de bodas de mis padres será en mayo.
(Thirty is the number that follows twenty-nine.)
(The temperature today is thirty degrees Celsius.)
(The party will start at seven-thirty in the evening and end at thirty minutes past nine.)
(There are thirty students in the Spanish class.)
(The thirtieth wedding anniversary of my parents will be in May.)
Usage of Treinta in Dates and Time
"Treinta" is commonly used when referring to the thirty day of a month or at half past the hour, such as "las treinta," which means 30 minutes past an hour.
Build Your Spanish Vocabulary Systematically
The fastest way to grow your Spanish vocabulary is to start with the words you'll actually encounter every day. The Spanish Frequency Dictionary covers the 2,500 most common Spanish words, each with IPA pronunciation, an English translation, and bilingual example sentences.
Browse the full range of Spanish frequency dictionaries to find the volume that matches your level.