Pronouncing centuries in Spanish

Question

I want to know how to read historical dates such as los siglos XVI-XVII

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:) - ian-hill, Jul 18, 2015

Answer 1

My understanding has always been that in normal speech after 10 normal cardinal numbers are used, but both are technically legitimate. Here are a few useful links on the subject.

Your specific example I would most likely say: los siglos dieciséis y diecisiete

http://spanish.stackexchange.com/questions/418/cómo-se-pronuncia-un-número-de-siglo

Cuando se trata de siglos, los números romanos del I al X se leen indistintamente como ordinales o como cardinales y se da preferencia, en el lenguaje culto, al uso del ordinal, pero del siglo XI en adelante solo se utiliza en la lectura el cardinal. Así, por ejemplo:

• Siglo I: "siglo primero" o "siglo uno". • Siglo II: "siglo segundo" o "siglo dos". • Siglo III: "siglo tercero" o "siglo tres". • Siglo IV: "siglo cuarto" o "siglo cuatro". • Siglo V: "siglo quinto" o "siglo cinco". • Siglo VI: "siglo sexto" o "siglo seis". • Siglo VII: "siglo séptimo" o "siglo siete". • Siglo VIII: "siglo octavo" o "siglo ocho". • Siglo IX: "siglo noveno" o "siglo nueve". • Siglo X: "siglo décimo" o "siglo diez". • Siglo XI: "siglo once". • Siglo XI: "siglo doce". • Siglo XIII: "siglo trece". • Siglo XV: "siglo quince". • Siglo XX: "siglo veinte". • Siglo XXI: "siglo veintiuno".

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090114222510AAg5kgL

We can kill two birds with one stone here because something similar happens with kings and queens, like Carlos V and Alfonso XIII.

First, the bad news is you need to memorize your ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (first, second, ...ninth, tenth). The good news is that after 10, things switch back to normal cardinal numbers.

el siglo VIII = the eighth century = el octavo siglo el siglo I = the first century = el primer siglo el siglo XIX = the nineteenth century = (but) el siglo diecinueve

Carlos V = Carlos the fifth = Carlos quinto (they omit the "the") Alfonso XIII = Alfonso the thirteenth = (but) Alfonso trece

http://spanish.about.com/od/spanishvocabulary/a/ordinal.htm

For larger numbers, it is common to use simply the cardinal number, especially in speech. Thus el siglo veinte ("the 20th century") is more common than the cardinal form, el siglo vigésimo, and in writing the numerical form (el siglo 20) is often used. It is also common to word a sentence in such a way that the ordinal form is not used. So, for example, cumple cuarenta y cinco años would be the most common way of saying it is someone's 45th birthday. In general, the ordinal numbers for 11th and above can be considered mostly a formal usage

Wow! Great answer! The winner for sure! - Daniela2041, Jul 18, 2015

Gracias, Daniela. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 18, 2015

Thanks a lot, this was a very informative and useful answer. But how do you read the ranges of dates like the one above. - JWatson1992, Jul 18, 2015

If you want a range, one way would be desde el siglo dieciséis hasta el diecisiete. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 19, 2015