Cero grados?

Question

I just completed the Spanish lesson on "Weather" and I am wondering if it is really correct to say "cero grados". Would it also be correct to speak of temperatures as "zero degrees" or "one degrees" in English? Shouldn't the singular "degree" be used in such cases?

Answer 1

I would say "zero degrees" and 'one degree". I only speak from convention.

That is how I hear it too. - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2010

OK, so the lesson is correct then. I only realized now that zero can be a plural. I am from the tropics so such temperatures are never mentioned here. Muchas gracias! :) - Rikko, Apr 27, 2010

I agree with Nizhoni. - --Mariana--, Apr 28, 2010

Answer 2

Nizhoni is correct. Think of it like this: There is one degree or there are two degrees, etc. If the temperature is 0, then there are no degrees to speak of = zero degrees. The same is true in Spanish.

OK. I was earlier applying the idea of "greater than one". Gracias! - Rikko, Apr 27, 2010

Answer 3

HI Rikko,interesting question, I agree with Niz on this, cero is normally followed by a plural noun:

Cero personas

Cero grados

AS this would mean:

Hay cero grados: no hay grados , the noun would automatically take the plural.

I think the same happens in English:

Cero cars could be seen. Not a very common sentence, I guess, but possible.

I guess I was thinking along the line of "there is nothing" that's why I thought it had to be singular. Gracias! - Rikko, Apr 28, 2010

Answer 4

Completely right.

Not sure which one you are referring to, Morbo. :) - Rikko, Apr 27, 2010