"Estados Unidos"

Question

'EE.UU' Why do you need two EE and two UU to say Estados Unidos?

Answer 1

because both words Estados and Unidos are plural.

Answer 2

So by that rule shouldn't we say "NN.UU." for the United Nations?

It could have been, but it is Organización de las Naciones Unidas, and its a "sigla" (acronym). These "siglas" never show plurals or periods, like EUA, Estados Unidos de América, or OEA, Organización de Estados Americanos. Notice that "The compact discs" would be written as "Los CD", since CD is a "sigla" too.

"Abreviaturas" (abbreviations), on the other hand, do show their plural and each letter or double letter representing word is followed by a period. My examples above are all "abreviaturas".

I have another question, when do you use the definite article? - faliron, May 7, 2011

Answer 3

I have another question, when do you use the definite article?

Two of my thickest Spanish grammars dedicate about 140 pages each (with small print) to explaining the basic uses of the article in Spanish, and they are far from exhaustive. How am I supposed to answer your question? You are going to have to narrow down your question to something more specific.

I am very sorry for the confusion.I meant with abbreviations and acronyms and more specifically with these acronyms etc... - faliron, May 7, 2011

Aha! Articles are rarely -if ever- included in abbreviations or acronyms. - lazarus1907, May 7, 2011

Good! Thank you. - faliron, May 7, 2011

Answer 4

JJ. OO. = Juegos Olímpicos

vv. aa. = varios autores

FF. AA. = Fuerzas Armadas

CC. OO. = Comisiones Obreras

Very interesting! Thanks. - faliron, May 7, 2011

Answer 5

Because Estado(1) and Estados (2 or more)

EE (plural)

Answer 6

I have another question, when do you use the definite article?

This should get you started.

Answer 7

I totally agree with lazarus.

A safe bet, if ever there was one.

Answer 8

I totally agree with lazarus.

Sorry I came I bit late to answers the rest of the questions...

Answer 9

No. Because the name is Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) in Spanish

So the question is why not O.NN.UU. ?

Ok! why? - faliron, May 7, 2011

And then, why not America de Estados Unidos = AEU? - sylvialouise, May 7, 2011

I don't know if it's a rule, but I have only seen the doubling when all of the words are plural. - lorenzo9, May 7, 2011

Apparently E U A is occasionally used. - lorenzo9, May 7, 2011

Answer 10

Yeeesssss - I have been told not to use "los" before Estados Unidos, and to always put "los" in front of it (not by the same person - maybe not from the same country), double the initials, and never to double the initials (because that is a joke like abbreviating Ustedes as UU).... So, I usually specify country of origin as U.S.

Answer 11

No. Because the name is Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) in Spanish.

Answer 12

So by that rule shouldn't we say "NN.UU." for the United Nations?