Why does "cuantos' reduce the amount with unos?
Example: Unos días = some amount of days. Unos cuantos días = a few days.
Veamos a unos cuantos de estos. Let's look at a few of these. Or is unos cuantos just an idiom for a few? Gracias.
12 Answers
I was always thinking that "unos cuantos" = a few. Is that wrong? So "unos cuantos días" isn't a few days? and "unos días" isn't just some days, amount not specific? Gracias.
I don't agree with our famous green man
If I say:
Me he ido unos cuantos días a Méjico.
and
Me he ido unos días a Méjico.
In the first sentence I would understand, several days...not just a couple.In the second I would understand a couple of days, less than in the first sentence.
Tengo alumnos. I have some students.
Tengo unos cuantos alumnos. I have quite a lot of students actually.
I do not agree with that idea. I think it is just the opposite.
....
unos pocos días ---->a few days ---> El resfrío me duró unos pocos días /=/ El resfrío me duró unos días
unos cuantos días ----> several days -- more days than expected ---> No pensé que el resfrío fuera grave, pero estuve enfermo unos cuantos días.
They go on and on. If "unos cuantos" does not mean a few then I am totally lost,
It does mean a few, it depends on context and regional usage if you mean quite a few or just a few
From cogumela in Heidita's "if you could rob someone" thread........Si pudiera, les robaría a los franceses unos cuantos cuadros del Louvre. Does it mean a few, or more than a few, or quite a bit more than a few?
Here this could be interpreted either way, Jeezle, I would guess a few as in not many here, as it would be difficult to rob a painting
Conclusion: it means a few, depending on regional and personal usage and interpretation, it can mean quite a few, or just a few, or as Lorenzo says, some, jeje
unos cuantos = quite a few
Not to beat this thing to death and beyond, here's what WordReference has to say:
unos cuantos a few;
unos ~s amigos a few friends;
había unas cuantas personas there were several o quite a few people there
Again, I fully agree with Heidita's conclusion.
unos cuantos = quite a few
An indefinite and somewhat large number; more than a few but fewer than a lot; a fair number of.I've watched quite a few basketball games in my time.
He mirado unos cuantos partidos de básquetbol en mi época
I'd also interpret "internet para unos cuantos" as "internet for (just) a few". - Gekkosan
Hmm, well I wouldn't.
I would think for quite a lot of people.
Just a few...para unos pocos.
English--sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less
And let us not forget what a simple modifier like "quite" can do to the meaning. In many contexts "quite" is quite similar to "very" e.g. "She's quite beautiful." When used to modify "few", however, it completely reverses the usual meanings of "few" e.g. "He spent quite a few days there." means "a lot of days"
This is starting to sound like a discussion of whether "some" is more or less than "a few" in English--sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less and there is considerable variation in usage.
Carry on! 
I think everyone's sort of right here. "Unos cuantos" means "a few". You can use it in the literal way to mean "not many", "a handful", or you can use it in an ironic way, to mean "more than just a couple".
Eg:
"Internet ultrarápìda, para unos cuantos" ( ""Los servicios ... serán sólo para sectores de nicho, empresas o aquellos que tengan una solvencia económica muy alta y que en verdad necesiten esa tecnología") So in this case it clearly means "just a few (privileged ones).
"Unos cuantos envoltorios increíbles". This is a blog page that shows a sampler (a handful) of amazing packaging designs.
"Unos cuantos tiros más no nos detendrán". We won't be stopped by a few more shots.
"Duvalier se robó unos cuantos dólares durante su mandato" . Duvalier stole a few bucks during his term (he has been accused of stealing millions of dollars).
Me tomé unos días de vacaciones: I took a few day's worth of vacation / Pedro ya se ha tomado unos cuantos días de vacaciones - Pedro has already taken (quite) a few day's worth of vacation (meaning ironically that perhaps he's had more than his fair share.
Altogether, though, I agree that the most common, normal meaning is "a few".
I was always thinking that "unos cuantos" = a few. Is that wrong? So "unos cuantos días" isn't a few days? and "unos días" isn't just some days, amount not specific? Gracias.
My assumption, which I have believed for some time now, comes from these sources.
Word Magic - Definition of "unos cuantos"
Spanishdict.com Definition of "unos cuantos"
They go on and on. If "unos cuantos" does not mean a few then I am totally lost, and have been given numerous incorrect answers, and this site is full of them by natives if that is the case. I might just not be understanding your answer though.
From cogumela in Heidita's "if you could rob someone" thread........Si pudiera, les robaría a los franceses unos cuantos cuadros del Louvre. Does it mean a few, or more than a few, or quite a bit more than a few? I always thought it meant "just a few, a few" or a small amount? I don't mean to dispute a native, but I am quite sure that once upon a time Heidita told me that it meant a few as well. Gracias.
unos pocos días ---->a few days ---> El resfrío me duró unos pocos días /=/ El resfrío me duró unos días In this example of the cold I believe that the English translation would have the understanding - The cold lasted (only) a few days. (unos pocos días) Then *El resfrío me duró unos días** doesn't mean quite the same - but instead -The cold lasted a few days.
unos cuantos días** ----> several days -- more days than expected ---> No pensé que el resfrío fuera grave, pero estuve enfermo unos cuantos días.
unos cuantos días to me this is just 'a few days' and has no expectancy for more. I didn't ththink the cold was serious but I was sick a few days.
That's my take. Jeezle I agree with your post. Medit - not so much (!)
