tres cuartos

Question

Hay tres cuartos que ni los van a usar.

Is there anything obvious in the above sentence (which I heard in an ad) that would tell the reader (listener) if tres cuartos means three fourths or if it means three rooms?

Answer 1

Hola:

As soon as I read it I inferred that it meant rooms...

Answer 2

I think the obviuosness will not come from the phrase, which is ambiguous, but from the context provided by that ad.

Note: You understand is 3 rooms because they say ´En esa casa, gigante. Y 3 cuartos que ni los van a usar´ and then they show you the ´kids´ room.

The ad doesn't provide useful context. It refers to a house which was left mostly empty. - hyrumt, Nov 5, 2010

ok, I saw the ad. 3 rooms because the ´children´ are 3. and the parents have a pool nj the kids room together with a ´fridge´. it´s an ironic ad. - mediterrunio, Nov 5, 2010

so, it does not mean 3/4. ´Cocinar para 2, !qué embole!´ is another phrase juxtaposed to a ´funny´ situation. - mediterrunio, Nov 5, 2010

I only heard the ad. I guess if I had been watching it might have been clearer. - hyrumt, Nov 6, 2010

oh, definitely! here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1kU7ZXuDjQ - mediterrunio, Nov 6, 2010

Answer 3

Hello Hy, I copied this from the dictionary on this site - so the third meaning for ` cuarto is just room

1. room (habitación) •cuarto, -a de aseo -> washroom, small bathroom •cuarto, -a de baño -> bathroom •cuarto, -a de estar -> living room •cuarto, -a oscuro -> darkroom; (para fotografía) voting booth (para votación) (RP)

Yes I knew that cuarto could mean room. It also means fourth. Thus the confusion. - hyrumt, Nov 5, 2010