Question 1

Where do the words dieciocho and diecinueve come from?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, numbers 16 through 19 are formed by combining diez (ten), y (and), and the single digit. When they merge into one word, the z changes to a c, and the y becomes an i. So, diez y ocho becomes dieciocho, and diez y nueve becomes diecinueve.

Question 2

Do I need to change the endings of dieciocho or diecinueve to match manzanas (feminine) and libros (masculine)?

Accepted Answer

No, these numbers stay exactly the same regardless of gender. While adjectives in Spanish usually change to match whether a noun is masculine or feminine, most numbers do not. You use the exact same number word for both feminine apples (manzanas) and masculine books (libros). The main exception is the number one (uno), which changes to un or una.

Question 3

Can I write these numbers as three separate words, like diez y ocho?

Accepted Answer

No, for numbers 16 through 29, you must write them as a single word. Writing diez y ocho is considered incorrect in modern Spanish. However, later in this lesson you will see that once you reach 31, you will start using three separate words again (like treinta y uno).

Question 4

Why doesn't the sentence use yo (I) before tengo?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, the ending of the verb usually tells you who is doing the action. Because the -o ending in tengo already means I have, the word yo is understood. Native speakers usually leave it out unless they want to emphasize that they have something, rather than someone else.

Tengo dieciocho manzanas y diecinueve libros.

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