Fifty-odd

[Peregrino]

In AmE is it common to hear something like "I have worked for this company for fifty-odd years.

This means "50 plus a few", "more than 50, but less than 60". Similar to "Fifty-something" (but NOT "fifty-ish", which means "around 50 - - perhaps 49, perhaps 52...").

Is there a similar 'frase hecha' is Spanish for "fifty-odd"?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

One possibility is:

Cincuentaytantos -> He trabajado para esta empresa cincuentaytantos años.

"...ytantos" is added to numbers counted in tens or hundreds:


Veintitantos -> twenty-odd
Ciento y tantos -> a hundred plus a few

[aleCcowaN]

You could say "cincuenta y algo" if your are guessing ("Debe tener unos 50 años, 50 y algo". 50 y pocos -50 y tantos-, 50 y muchos -50 y tantísimos-)

In Argentina it is said "cincuenta y pico". "Treinta y pico" was the name of the TV series "Thirty something".

Don't say it that way in Chile ["Una mujer como de treinta y pico" might be a transvestite]

[Luna Azul]

Cincuenta y pico
Cincuenta y tantos

These are the ways we say it.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

In AmE is it common to hear something like "I have worked for this company for fifty-odd years.

This means "50 plus a few", "more than 50, but less than 60". Similar to "Fifty-something" (but NOT "fifty-ish", which means "around 50 - - perhaps 49, perhaps 52...").

Interesting. I always understand it as meaning "around 50" (and "fifty-ish" just sounds wrong to me).

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Interesting. I always understand it as meaning "around 50" (and "fifty-ish" just sounds wrong to me).

Perhaps common usage is different in the UK compared to the US. I'm looking at a copy of The American Heritage Dictionary ((C) 1985, yes 25+ years old), and one entry under 'odd' reads "In excess of the indicated or approximate number, extent, or degree: 'thirty-odd guests' ".

To me, "thirty-odd guests" is an approximation where 30 is the lower limit of the range (perhaps 30 to 33), while "around thirty guests" or short answers such as "thirty or so" are approximations where 30 is the center of the range (perhaps 28 to 32).

[aleCcowaN]

In written language they use "pasa[ba] los 50" (51-55) instead of oral "50 y pico" or "50 y tantos" (52-58)

[Peregrino]

Muchísimas gracias a todos por las repuestas. Son muy interesantes. I will be careful with "pico".

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

Muchísimas gracias a todos por las repuestas. Son muy interesantes. I will be careful with "pico".

Don't worry. There are ways to practice safe talking...

[Elaina]

¡Chileno!!

[chileno]

What?