Large numbers

Question

I am still not quite sure how to say '200.200.200 women': Doscientos milliónes doscientos mil doscientas mujeres??

Answer 1

Only the last number takes the feminine from "mujeres". It should be: "Doscientos millónes, doscientos mil, doscientas mujeres".

My head exploded when I read that. I get it, but the male/female stuff isn't one of my favorite things about Spanish. - Jason_Bryant, Oct 9, 2009

Thanks, I had some doubts after I answered the question. Now I remember. - Nicole-B, Oct 9, 2009

Answer 2

jejeje, as you can see siggart, no fretting to get this wrong,

Even we natives have doubts. MY thought is:

Doscientos millones, doscientas mil doscientas mujeres.

Mil y cien cogen el femenino, millón no, no tengo ni idea por qué....:S

Estamos completamente de acuerdo Heidita - RicardoP, Oct 9, 2009

Querido Heidita. Voy a enviarle un beso. - Siggaard, Oct 11, 2009

Answer 3

After reading all this, I'm not sure either about the "doscientos mil". But "doscientas millones" sounds really awful, even if I can't find a rule about it.

Doscientos millones, doscientas mil mujeres, mi querido Guillo - RicardoP, Oct 9, 2009

Dear Guillermo. I am really happy you share my uneasiness about 'doscientas milliones'. But now I have found peace by knowing that I can use both. - Siggaard, Oct 9, 2009

Sorry, Doscientos millones, doscientas mil, doscientas mujeres, quise decir Guillo - RicardoP, Oct 9, 2009

Dear Ricardo, You sound as if you have a University degree in Spanish, so I think I will stick to your advice. - Siggaard, Oct 9, 2009

Answer 4

I follow a course in Spanish and the teacher, a native argentinean, was not sure. He tried to speak the numbers out loud, but so fast that neither the students nor himself could hear whether he said 'doscientas mil doscientas mujeres' or 'doscientos mil doscientas mujeres'. He was not in doubt that the last two hundreds has the feminine ending, but was in sincere doubt whether it is 'doscientos or doscientas mil' when followed by doscientas.

Answer 5

]To answer your previous question look at 200,000 in this chart.

doscientos mil, doscientas mil

Therefore, the 200 must modify the noun and not masculine mil or doscientas mil would not be possible.

This also negates the "only the last word" shows accordance as :

200,000 women or doscientas mil mujeres would not be possible since only the mil would be showing accordance.

[large numbers][1]

[1]: http://books.google.com/books?id=La8WS4uqKfAC&lpg=PA91&ots=IevymAAaop&dq=trescientas mil doscientas&pg=PA91#v=onepage&q=trescientas mil doscientas&f=false

Answer 6

Doscientas millónes, doscientas mil, doscientas mujeres.

I believe this is the correct answer. Remember, you are describing "women" so the adjectives you use must be feminine.

Yes but milliónes is masculine, and mil probably also. Therefore ??? - Siggaard, Oct 9, 2009