"Man-years?"

Question

How would I say the term "man-years" in spanish without translating it literally as "años-hombre" (which is what the current translation is).

I'm trying to say that something has taken 15 man-years to make, but that's the result of all of the work that has gone into it. ie, it could have taken 3 people, 5 years to make something. It only took 5 years, but it's more comprehensive this way.

Estoy tratando de traducir "Man-years" al español. Por ejemplo, quiero decir que algo ha tomado 15 "Man-years" para construir. No quiere decir que ha tomado 15 años porque puede ser que 3 personas han trabajado 5 años para construirlo - en total sería 15 "Man-years")

Welcome to SpanishDict, Priscila. - rac1, Jul 21, 2017

Here is the wiki for the man-hour equivalent, but I am not sure if the term is used in Spanish for years: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hora-persona - bosquederoble, Jul 22, 2017

Why not simply ,"15 working years " ? - ray76, Jul 22, 2017

Or years of work . - ray76, Jul 22, 2017

Ray: 15 years of work is ambiguous, it could mean 15 actual years of time as opposed to 3 people x 5 years = 15 man-years. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

Answer 1

Adding to Bosque and Polenta, I did find some examples of "años-hombre" on reverso-contexto, but it's possible these were direct translations from the English and therefore not a true reflection of native use.

What I'm wondering is how common the term is in English. If it were me I'd say 15 years worth of man-hours, or 15 years in man-hours, rather than 15 man-years. Perhaps the same is true in Spanish: 15 años en/de horas-hombre. Just a thought.

Across the "pond" in England "Man years" is often used. :) - ian-hill, Jul 22, 2017

"Man-hours", "Man-years" is also common here in MIdwest USA. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jul 22, 2017

jellonz at least in the U.S. 15 years worth of man-hours or 15 years in man-hours would sound very strange. 15 man years or 31,200 man-hours would sound fine. One man year = 52 weeks x 40 hours. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

This is really interesting. So it's common in both the UK and US, but I've never heard it used in NZ. For me a man-year sounds like a break a bloke might take to counter a middle-age crisis :) - jellonz, Jul 23, 2017

Lol, jellonz! That's what a man-year sounds like to me too. I've heard of man-hours but never man-years. - alba3, Jul 24, 2017

Answer 2

Hello!

I'm not sure if these two links are pertinent to this subject.

• man/hours
• días-hombre

Hope this helps.

Regards!

Answer 3

I suppose it's años-hombre. In fact what we use very much is horas-hombre. I am not sure but maybe I've never heard the expression años-hombre but I think I would understand it.