Be careful not to mix up fractions (to describe a part of a whole: half, third, fourth...) and ordinal numbers (to describe an order/rank: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th...).
For ordinal numbers, see Forming ordinal numbers in Spanish (1st, 2nd, 10th...)
Learn about fractions in Spanish
Look at these examples with fractions:
To express fractions in Spanish, you usually use both cardinal (un/dos/tres...) and ordinal numbers (cuarto/quinto...) the same way as in English (one fifth, two thirds...).
Note also that just like in English, the lower number (the denominator) is plural if the top number (the numerator) is greater than one. (dos quintos)
Half and Double in Spanish
To say half and double we normally use the definite articles el and la.
Have a look at these examples to see fractions in context:
Notice how, as we generally talk about a fraction "of" a whole, you will usually find "de" after the fraction.
Bear in mind that to say "half" [of something] you can also use "medio/media".
Notice how we use medio when we refer to a masculine noun (e.g., melón) and media when we refer to a feminine noun (e.g., sandía). It is only possible to use medio/a with singular nouns, not plural nouns:
"Medio pueblo salió a la calle a celebrar la fiesta."
"La mitad del pueblo salió a la calle a celebrar la fiesta."
"La mitad de los jóvenes salió a la calle a celebrar la fiesta."
"Medio/Medios jóvenes salieron a la calle a celebrar la fiesta."
Also notice above how medio/a are not followed by either "de" or "el/la".
Here is a list of fractions from half to a tenth:
1/2 la mitad [de] - medio/-a
1/3 un tercio [de]
1/4 un cuarto [de]
1/5 un quinto [de]
1/6 un sexto [de]
1/7 un séptimo [de]
1/8 un octavo [de]
1/9 un noveno [de]
1/10 un décimo [de]
Here are more examples of fractions:
See also Forming ordinal numbers in Spanish (1st, 2nd, 10th...) and Using numbers with nouns in Spanish
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